Ups and downs of aphrodisiacs

Ups and downs of aphrodisiacs

Recently, scientists in Uncle Sam's country have been able to
concoct a drug by the name of Viagra, which has become an instant
best seller throughout the world. I do not know whether this
wonder drug has reached Indonesia, but in other countries it is
being sold at US$80 per tablet, although the official price in
the U.S. is only $10 per tablet, quite expensive even there.

I am confident that the scientists who produced this wonder
tablet will undoubtedly become as rich as the inventor of
computer software. Why on earth have I made such a long prologue?
Because it will make a septuagenarian feel young again as if he
were a teenager and married couples who for years hoped for an
offspring may regard this wonder drug as a godsend.

Now I have to disclose the function of this wonder tablet. It
is an aphrodisiac against impotence. But in Indonesia there is a
generic medicine which has the same effect and has been known
since time immemorial.

It is called Pasak Bumi and originates from the jungles of
Kalimantan. Actually, it is the name of a tree and the bark is
cut into small pieces and boiled in water; the boiled extract
gives this medicine its magical effect.

Here is my colleague's story about trying the potent medicine.

After having drunk it, he immediately felt as though his body
was on fire and he was highly aroused. Naturally, his spouse was
surprised at her husband's extraordinary newfound virility. Only
a dousing of ice-cold water could bring things back to "normal",
so to speak.

But the after effect was severe hemorrhoids and severe
bleeding every time he answered the call of nature. It was also a
big drain on his wallet but he could not seek help from a
practitioner of Western medicine. In the end, only a Chinese
quack remedy delivered him from his nagging affliction. I share
this anecdote with the benevolent intention of warning readers of
the side effects of such aphrodisiacs!

A. DJUANA

Jakarta