Can saltpeter cause impotence?

It is a longstanding rumor across the services that the sudden onset of impotence experienced by new enlistees is a result of being drugged with potassium nitrate, more commonly known as “saltpeter.” Allegedly, the ionic salt has been used for generations.

Correspondingly, does saltpeter make you impotent?

“Saltpetre,” (the term refers either to potassium or sodium nitrate) has no effect on carnal urges. The story that this chemical was put into soldiers' food to decrease their sex drive is a total myth. Now on to the more serious aspects of saltpeter.

Likewise, what happens if you eat saltpeter? Saltpeter (potassium nitrate) has been used in fertilizer and fireworks. It was also once used to cure meats. Potassium nitrate can be dangerous if consumed. It can cause kidney damage or anemia, as well as headaches and digestive distress.

Subsequently, one may also ask, what is saltpeter used for in the Army?

The term saltpeter refers to potassium nitrate, a salt used in explosives, which is supposedly also an anti-aphrodisiac. Military experts were unable to say when or where this rumor started, but representatives from each of the services strongly denied it.

Does antihistamine cause erectile dysfunction?

Antihistamines like Benadryl, Dramamine, and Phenergan can also cause erectile dysfunction. Antihistamines block the action of histamine, a chemical in the body that is involved in allergic reactions, but also, healthy erections.

24 Related Question Answers Found

Does military use saltpeter?

It's a rumor that dates back decades: To keep the sexual appetites of recruits in check so they can focus on basic training, the military services sneak saltpeter into the food served to new soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines.

Do they put saltpeter in jail food?

Is it true prisons put something in the food to lower inmates' libidos? No, but it's a good story and one that has been around in one form or another for ages. The fact of the matter is that saltpeter — potassium nitrate — is a naturally occurring chemical compound that has nothing to do with your sex drive.

Does Walmart sell potassium nitrate?

Potassium Nitrate Powder - KNO3 - 1/2 Lb. - Walmart.com.

How do you make potassium nitrate?

Potassium nitrate can be made by combining ammonium nitrate and potassium hydroxide. An alternative way of producing potassium nitrate without a by-product of ammonia is to combine ammonium nitrate, found in instant ice packs, and potassium chloride, easily obtained as a sodium-free salt substitute.

What does saltpeter taste like?

Potassium nitrate is white in colour and soluble in water; it has a vitreous lustre and a cool and salty taste.

Where is saltpeter mined?

Saltpeter Mining. Potassium nitrate, or saltpeter, is a naturally occurring mineral that is vital to the production of gunpowder. Found in limestone caves in the Arkansas Ozarks, it became one of the state's most important chemical industries during the Civil War due to the Confederacy's demand for arms.

What is gunpowder made of?

Gunpowder, also known as black powder to distinguish it from modern smokeless powder, is the earliest known chemical explosive. It consists of a mixture of sulfur (S), charcoal (C), and potassium nitrate (saltpeter, KNO₃). The sulfur and charcoal act as fuels while the saltpeter is an oxidizer.

Did the army put bromide in tea?

Rumours that the British Army put the 19th century anticonvulsant and sedative potassium bromide in soldiers' tea during World War II to damp soldiers' lust appears to be an urban myth.

What is the Forge in the army?

The "Forge" is a grueling, 96-hour, cumulative training exercise that puts week-seven trainees in a patrol base as they encounter a multitude of combat and logistical scenarios. It emphasizes battle drills, tactical operations, and numerous foot patrols.

What are the effects of potassium nitrate?

* Breathing Potassium Nitrate can irritate the nose and throat causing sneezing and coughing. * High levels can interfere with the ability of the blood to carry Oxygen causing headache, fatigue, dizziness, and a blue color to the skin and lips (methemoglobinemia).

What does potassium nitrate do in toothpaste?

Potassium nitrate is a common active ingredient in toothpaste, exerting an anti-sensitivity action. It provides increasing protection against painful sensitivity of the teeth to cold, heat, acids, sweets or contact ¹³^,¹⁴.

What is blasting powder?

Definition of blasting powder. : black powder usually containing sodium nitrate manufactured in grains or pellets and used especially for blasting soft materials (as in coal mines) — called also black blasting powder.

What causes low erection?

Erection problems can have many causes. These include: Physical problems, such as injury to nerves or loss of blood supply to the penis. Other health problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, and depression.

How do you fix erectile dysfunction?

Lifestyle and home remedies

If you smoke, quit. If you have trouble quitting, get help.
Lose excess pounds. Being overweight can cause — or worsen — erectile dysfunction.
Include physical activity in your daily routine.
Get treatment for alcohol or drug problems.
Work through relationship issues.

Are there pills to stop horniness?

Cyproterone belongs to a group of medicines known as anti-androgens.

About cyproterone.

Type of medicine	Anti-androgen
Used for	To treat prostate cancer in men; to control hypersexuality in men
Also called	Cyprostat® (used for prostate cancer); Androcur® (used for hypersexuality)
Available as	Tablets

Do beta blockers cause erectile dysfunction?

ED is an occasional side effect of BP drugs like thiazide diuretics, loop diuretics, and beta-blockers, all of which can decrease blood flow to the penis and make it difficult to get an erection. However, other BP drugs, such as alpha-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and angioten-sin-receptor blockers, rarely cause ED.

What drug is best for erectile dysfunction?

The best treatment for ED is the one that is best for you. Viagra (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil) are the most commonly prescribed, and are equally safe and effective.