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#106629 - 06/29/03 02:01 PM botanicals
Buffalo Shrdlu Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 06/24/02
Posts: 7184
Loc: Vermont
http://www.geefarms.com/terms.htm

thought that the gardeners amongst us might find something worthwhile in this list. and Dr. Bill can have a field day!

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#106630 - 06/29/03 03:32 PM Re: botanicals
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 01/18/01
Posts: 13858
Dear etaoin: I remember being told in biochemistry that "belladonna" the plant, was so named because Italian ladies thought that the atropine effect of dilating pupils made them more attractive. I am sceptical that this could ever have been popular, because those who took it would also have their vision blurred disagreeably. I once almost cut off a finger using a circular saw before the effects of
atropine given me for a refraction had worne off, and my depth perception was badly impaired. I went to pick up a cut piece, and put my hand right into the saw.


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#106631 - 06/29/03 07:28 PM Re: botanicals
habrotrocha Offline
stranger

Registered: 05/17/03
Posts: 4
Loc: Florida
Belladonna ladies operating circular saws? Try to get your teeth, if you can, into that scene. Belladonna ladies had to operate (at most) the draping of an arm across a dancing partner's shoulders or the lifting of that last glass of wine to their pouty, expectant lips.

J. Potter
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#106632 - 06/29/03 07:56 PM Re: botanicals
of troy Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 10/17/00
Posts: 5400
Loc: rego park
it is normal for human pupils to dilate when they are sexually excited..

so i suspect the belladonna was used to make it seem like the ladies were enjoying themselves.. and looking excited, i suspect, also made them look more attactive.. (and by looking at them through bleary eyes, perhaps their companions, as well!)

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#106633 - 06/29/03 08:12 PM Re: botanicals
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 01/18/01
Posts: 13858
Dear habrotrocha: Glad to see you post. I have sent you
a PM. Bill


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#106634 - 06/30/03 07:47 AM Re: botanicals
dxb Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 03/06/02
Posts: 1692
Loc: UK
it is normal for human pupils to dilate when they are sexually excited..

You are speaking from experience as a teacher?


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#106635 - 06/30/03 08:11 AM Re: botanicals
Faldage Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 12/01/00
Posts: 13653
it is normal for human pupils to dilate when they are sexually excited

This was confirmed in a study that was mentioned in Scientific American many years ago. I would also imagine that the helplessness engendered by the fuzziness of vision resulting from the use of belladonna was also a turn on for the gentlemen of the time.


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#106636 - 06/30/03 08:30 AM Re: botanicals
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 01/18/01
Posts: 13858
I searched for "belladonna aphrodisiac" and got a bunch of hits. Here's one:
http://www.alchemy-works.com/scopolia.html
You wouldn'catch me trying it. Anyway, I never needed any.


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#106637 - 06/30/03 10:20 AM Re: botanicals
Buffalo Shrdlu Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 06/24/02
Posts: 7184
Loc: Vermont
Anyway, I never needed any.

ah, you old rapscallion!

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#106638 - 06/30/03 02:49 PM Re: botanicals
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 01/18/01
Posts: 13858
Mentioned in Plutarch's Live of Lysander"
"the Cretan storax"

storax
n.
5ME < L storax, styrax < Gr styrax, of Sem orig., as in Heb tsori, terebinth resin6
1 the aromatic balsam exuded by liquidambar trees, used in medicine and perfumery
2 a fragrant, solid resin obtained from a small, E Mediterranean tree (Styrax officinalis) of the storax family, formerly used as incense
3 any of a genus (Styrax) of chiefly tropical trees and shrubs of the storax family, with drooping clusters of showy white flowers
adj.
designating a family (Styracaceae, order Ebenales) of widely distributed dicotyledonous trees or shrubs, as the snowbell



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