Refreshing aphrodisiac

— As postulated by the great naturalist Charles Darwin, propagation of the species is the primal driving force for all creatures, big or small. Plants too are no exception, being often armed with exotic instruments of seduction such as fragrant flowers or succulent fruits, to tempt others into aiding their propagation. Tiny insects, with barely a day’s life-span, complete their breeding pattern within that short period, as though propagation of the species was the sole raison d’etre of their existence. Being blessed with superior intelligence, the genus Homo sapiens has been highly successful in propagation. A tad too successful, cynics might say, given the population explosion and resource-crisis Planet Earth is being subjected to. However, there is a marked difference in attitude between man and other animals as far as the modus operandi adopted for propagation is concerned. While, to the rest of the animal kingdom breeding comes naturally and instinctively, human beings have made a fetish of the act, indulging in it as much for pleasure as for propagation! Simultaneously, since time immemorial, mankind has been on a quest to discover an elixir that might compensate for the loss of vigour and potency. Discovering a ‘love-potion’ that might do the trick had been a continuous and persistent aim of quacks and charlatans of medieval Europe, though how effective the end products were is anybody’s guess.Chinese pharmacopoeia, in fact, has made a profitable industry from this search and produced numerous aphrodisiacs. Unfortunately, since these require animal products such as rhino horn in powdered form, the price for human pleasure has been paid by other members of the animal kingdom. If today animals such as rhino, tiger, bear etc. have been finding it difficult to propagate, much of the discredit goes to Chinese pharmacopoeia. No doubt Western medicine has stepped into the picture with products such as Viagra, but these are not only expensive, but also hard to procure since sold only on prescription. Thus the easily available Chinese variety remains the common man’s aphrodisiac in much of Asia, with detrimental consequences to animal species. But now possible succour for beleaguered beasts has come from unexpected quarters! Scientists have discovered that the watermelon has ingredients that deliver Viagra-like effects to the body’s blood vessels and may even increase libido. So far, this humble but delicious fruit has been ingested during torrid summers for its cooling properties. If what scientists claim is true, in a strange reversal, the watermelon can be eaten for its heating properties too! For one thing, this fruit is easily available, and scientists can tackle the problem of it being a seasonal product. For another, it is a delicious fruit, and would surely prove to be nonpareil as a refreshing aphrodisiac. If only votaries of Chinese medicine could be induced to make the switch, imagine how many species could be saved! source: assam tribune