‘Viagra’ goes local (Part II)

HERBS, which are natural aphrodisiacs, help to raise libido and increase desire. There are quite a few of these natural viagras growing in the rainforests of Guyana, the most well known, which are reputed to be the most potent, are Kapadulla, Granny Backbone, Sarsparilla, Cockshun and Monkey ladder. Others less well known but said to be equally potent for men are Woman Piaba, Devil-doer, Kufa-rope, Wife Puller and Ow-me-daddy.

HerbsThere are some known facts, according to Guyanese folklore, about those local viagras:
Kapadulla: The scientific name of this herb is doliocarpus dentatus. It is a rope-like vine found in the many thickets and forests of Guyana. It‘s taste is reminiscent of chocolate milk. The stem and the bark are used to make a tea or drink which is said to be a natural Viagra, a cure for impotence in males.
According to the Evergreen Nature Study Club booklet on medicinal herbs, the chopped stem and bark of the Kapadulla have to be soaked in wine and drunk for the purpose of increasing libido and curing impotence in men.
The bark of the Kapadulla tree is also said to be a great tonic for men ‘to strengthen their backs’, particularly when mixed with Sarsaparilla, Devil-doer, Kupa Rope, and Monkey Ladder. The potency of the tonic is said to be enhanced if one were to add one teaspoonful of steel-drops into the mixture.
Kapadulla capsules, in strengths of 250 and 500 milligrams, are being sold at the Bakja Health Movement at Dr Miller St., Triumph, East Coast Demerara.
Granny Backbone: Scientific name is Lygodium sp. It is a climbing fern, the leaves and stems of which are used to make a herbal bark tonic to treat erectile dysfuntion. Potency of the Granny backbone drink is said to be enhanced if mixed with Sarsaparilla and Kapadulla bark, honey and steel-drops and/or ginseng.
Sarsparilla: The scientific name of this herb is Philodendron Sp. It is epiphytic, which means it is a plant which grows on another plant, upon which it depends for mechanical support but gets its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain.
According to ‘Evergreen’, the roots are boiled together with the stem of the Devil-doer, root of Cockshun, stem of Kapadulla, Kupa-rope and Granny Backbone to make a very powerful aphrodisiac.
Cockshun:The scientific name of this plant is Smilax Schomburgkiana: An aphrodisiac is obtained from a decoction of the root or bark, or woody stem.
Cockshun is said to be another good source of tonic for men with problems of sexual libido, again especially when mixed with other barks, like Sarsaparilla and Kapadulla, along with some steel drops and honey. It is said also that an infusion of the root is used to treat diseases of the bladder and nervous conditions.
Monkey Ladder: The Evergreen Nature Study Club Booklet states that Monkey Ladder has the scientific name: Bauhinia scala-simiae. It is a vine which is seen frequently on trees along the Essequibo River.
A decoction or tincture of the stem in wine is used as an aphrodisiac and/or tonic. The decoction is also said to be particularly useful for patients suffering from headaches.

Safety concerns
It should be noted, however, that there are some safety concerns about the side effects of the abuse of these aphrodisiac herbs. (To be continued next week)

(By Clifford Stanley)

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