RESUMEN

Giacomo Girolamo Casanova was born in Venice, the son of actors, on 2 April 1725. After studying theology and law, he was ordained as an abbé, but after 3 years he left the clergy. In 1742 he graduated with a degree in law but never seriously practiced as an attorney. Occupational episodes included stints as a soldier, secret agent, lottery operator, embassy secretary, and violinist. He became world famous after his escape from "The Leads" (a famous Venetian prison), which he described in detail in his 15-volume, French-language memoirs. Because of his countless romantic adventures, which he also described in great detail, we want to generate a kind of "vita sexualis."His not-so-insignificant medical knowledge, together with his unruly libido as well as his pronounced imagination, led to a more than astonishing career. His experiences and descriptions appear today to be very relevant and testify a great deal about medical laymen's knowledge and ingenuity. For Casanova, the use of different aphrodisiacs or love amulets served only one purpose, and that was to continuously broaden his frivolous adventures.When he died as a result of chronic bladder disease on 4 June 1798 in Bohemia, he left behind - besides the broken hearts of countless women - a fascinating biography that provides a comprehensive and intriguing portrait of the customs of the 18th century.

Asunto(s)

Asunto(s)

Asunto(s)

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Ao estudar os herbários produzidos entre os séculos XVI e XVIII, Henrique Carneiro rastreia a construção social das noções desenvolvidas na Era Moderna acerca do uso de diferentes plantas, com conseqüências que chegam até nós. Nesse período são redescobertos e traduzidos textos clássicos do primeiro século da Era Cristã; começa o trabalho empírico de comparação entre as plantas descritas naqueles livros e as plantas então existentes na Europa; e, finalmente, há descoberta pelo Ocidente das floras americana e oriental. A botânica e a farmácia nascem, então, como ciências inextrincavelmente ligadas, cuja motivação principal é a busca de novas dorgas. Seus usos, como aponta Henrique, ao lado da cura de doenças ou lesões, também visavam ao domínios do sexo, do sonho, do transe, da alucinação, da morte e do prazer. Recebiam, assim, especial atenção as plantas consideradas afrodisíacas, anafrodisíacas e alucinógenas. [AU]

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Ao estudar os herbários produzidos entre os séculos XVI e XVIII, Henrique Carneiro rastreia a construção social das noções desenvolvidas na Era Moderna acerca do uso de diferentes plantas, com conseqüências que chegam até nós. Nesse período são redescobertos e traduzidos textos clássicos do primeiro século da Era Cristã; começa o trabalho empírico de comparação entre as plantas descritas naqueles livros e as plantas então existentes na Europa; e, finalmente, há descoberta pelo Ocidente das floras americana e oriental. A botânica e a farmácia nascem, então, como ciências inextrincavelmente ligadas, cuja motivação principal é a busca de novas drogas. Seus usos, como aponta Henrique, ao lado da cura de doenças ou lesões, também visavam ao domínios do sexo, do sonho, do transe, da alucinação, da morte e do prazer. Recebiam, assim, especial atenção as plantas consideradas afrodisíacas, anafrodisíacas e alucinógenas.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

The article is a survey of plants foods and drugs that Greeks and Romans thought to be aphrodisiac and to have a specific effect on the male libido. The article is a useful support to study the sexual therapy in ancient world.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

The drug Viagra (sildenafil) has drawn public attention to aphrodisiacs. The search for such substances dates back millennia. Aphrodisiacs can be classified by their mode of action into 3 types: those that increase (1) libido, (2) potency, or (3) sexual pleasure. Various substances of animal and plant origin have been used in folk medicines of different cultures; some have been identified pharmacologically, allowing for understanding of their mechanisms of action. For increasing libido, ambrein, a major constituent of Ambra grisea, is used in Arab countries. This tricyclic triterpene alcohol increases the concentration of several anterior pituitary hormones and serum testosterone. Bufo toad skin and glands contain bufotenine (and other bufadienolides), a putative hallucinogenic congener of serotonin. It is the active ingredient in West Indian "love stone" and the Chinese medication chan su. The aphrodisiac properties are likely of central origin, as are the other effects of the drug. For increasing potency, Panax ginseng used in traditional Chinese medicine, works as an antioxidant by enhancing nitric oxide synthesis in the endothelium of many organs, including the corpora cavernosa; ginsenosides also enhance acetylcholine-induced and transmural nerve stimulation-activated relaxation associated with increased tissue cyclic guanosine monophosphate, hence the aphrodisiac properties. For increasing sexual pleasure, cantharidin ("Spanish fly") is a chemical with vesicant properties derived from blister beetles, which have been used for millennia as a sexual stimulant. Its mode of action is by inhibition of phosphodiesterase and protein phosphatase activity and stimulation of beta-receptors, inducing vascular congestion and inflammation. Morbidity from its abuse is significant. The ingestion of live beetles (Palembus dermestoides) in Southeast Asia and triatomids in Mexico may have a basis similar to cantharidin. It is of paramount importance for the physician to be aware of the options available to help his or her patients, and to advise them in using the correct drugs while avoiding "miracle" remedies that could be potentially harmful.

Asunto(s)

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

The nightshades (solanaceae) were used as intoxicants since the ancient civilisations and are still in use today. Their alkaloids, atropine and scopolamine, were the major active substances of the ointments of witches, of medieval "anaesthetics", and of modern poisons for murder. In a medium dose-range the predominant symptoms are hallucinations and illusions. This explains the use of nightshades in fortune-telling and religious rituals. In higher doses the alkaloids produce coma and apnea. Scopolamine enjoyed a particular popularity as a poison for murder. In the 19th century the nightshade alkaloids were also in clinical use. This article focusses on the medical history of the psychosis due to intoxication with solanaceae.

Asunto(s)

Asunto(s)

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

This article publishes for the first time a hematite uterine amulet in the author's possession. After a brief look at this amulet I offer a summary of previous scholarship on uterine amulets, and then focus on three specific aspects -the amulets' relation to Greek medical texts on gynecological topics; evidence for the use of perishable and non-perishable amulets by Greek women prior to the proliferation of the hematite examples in the Roman period (ca. II CE). I conclude with a discussion of the derivation and meaning of ororiouth, based on my correspondence with Dr. Roy Kotansky.

Asunto(s)

Asunto(s)

Asunto(s)

Asunto(s)

Asunto(s)

Asunto(s)

Asunto(s)

Asunto(s)