Love potion

Such plants may have included belladonna, angel's trumpets, jimsonweed, black henbane, European scopolia or autumn mandrake, which contain alkaloids (atropine and scopolamine, which are hallucinogenic in higher doses) characterized by a narrow therapeutic index.

[3] Other alleged aphrodisiacs include Spanish fly, lizard necks, flowers, mashed worms, sacramental bread, and "sweaty cakes" (made from human hair, glandular excretions, skin and blood).

Medieval Europe saw a rise in love potion use among commoners and nobles alike, with witches and herbalists crafting them using herbs like belladonna and henbane, despite the associated risks of toxicity.

[citation needed] In Renaissance Europe, Spanish fly (derived from the blister beetle Lytta vesicatoria) were widely used despite their toxic effects, which could cause severe inflammation and kidney damage.

Studies suggest that oxytocin release during physical touch or eye contact can strengthen emotional connections, mimicking the perceived effects of love potions in creating intimacy and desire.