Does the thought of spiders give you goosebumps and make your hair stand on end? They might raise more than hair. It sounds kind of scary, but according to a study recently published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, spider venom (from the Brazilian wandering spider, to be precise) may hold a cure for erectile dysfunction. The study found that the spider toxin PnTx2-6 improved erectile function in aged rats by increasing the availability of nitric oxide. Researchers think this may be of benefit to older men whose ED does not respond to Viagra, since the toxin uses different chemical channels.
How did researchers come up with the idea of testing spider venom as an ED cure? Well, priapism is a side effect of this particular spider's bite.
People use Botox, the toxin that causes botulism, for cosmetic procedures, so this doesn't seem much different. If it had to be administered by spider bite, that might be another story.
