When you buy through nexus on our site , we may earn an affiliate delegation . Here ’s how it works .
There is n’t much that ’s aphrodisiacal about lichen , the easy - growing fuzz found on rocks , walls and tree diagram bark . But apparently not everyone check . expert in New Zealand are warn world not to consume a type of lichen that ’s being touted as a " naturalViagra " and alternate discussion forerectile dysfunction(ED ) , according to newsworthiness story .
This type of lichen is known scientifically asXanthoparmelia scabrosa , but it has been dub " aphrodisiacal paving lichen " due to its similarities with ED drugs , according to the New Zealand - based news outletNewsroom . The lichen grows naturally on roads and pavements and is abundant in New Zealand . It contain a chemical compound similar to the active ingredient in Viagra and other ED drug , which is part of a class of drug known asPDE5 inhibitors , Newsroom reported .
Thankfully , there have been no reports of anyone actually lick lichen off the paving material in the hopes of treating erectile dysfunction . But pulverization from earth upXanthoparmelia scabrosais being market as an ED handling — for example , the Taiwanese e - commerce site Alibaba lists hundreds of varieties of lichen powder available for leverage , agree toNewsweek .
But consumingXanthoparmelia scabrosain any form could be severe . The chemicals in the lichen could be toxic , Allison Knight , a lichenologist at the University of Otago in New Zealand , told the Newsroom . What ’s more , in urban surface area , this lichen can contain high grade ofheavy metal , let in copper , lead and Zn .
" I always say in my lecture that I do n’t advocate going out and licking the pathway , " Knight said .
In increase , if you buyXanthoparmelia scabrosapowder , there ’s a opportunity it may not even contain natural lichen .
One analysis of aXanthoparmelia scabrosaproduct find out that it was 80 % Viagra and 20 % grass clippings , Newsroom reported .
Knight noted that farm vast amount of money of this lichen for function in alternative medication product would be hard .
“ Most lichens acquire very lento , just a few [ mm ] per year , so it would be scarcely sustainable to reap them , " Knight said .
Originally publish onLive scientific discipline .
