PESHAWAR, Nov 14: Kept at front showcases with alluring names and pictures, the sale of aphrodisiacs is no more a taboo and they are as easily accessible as other medicines in the market, a survey conducted by Dawn here on Wednesday revealed.

Promising miraculous results the bulk of these medicines are available in the shops of homeopathic doctors and Hakeems. Chemists too are no longer exception in this regard as they have also started selling these drugs without doctor’s prescription.

During the survey, however, it also became evident that these medicines are not the only stimulants available in the market, but there are many other substances like chewing gum, sprays, and food supplements which are used as aphrodisiacs.

Until recent past, the businesses of aphrodisiacs was confined to Bara market, particularly the Karkhano market. However, this is no more the situation. Now, these are as easily available in the city markets.

A wholesale dealer of homeopathic medicines in Sikandarpura bazaar said it was unfortunate that people expect them to serve them with aphrodisiacs also.

Prof Raza Mohammad Khan, a skin and VD specialist in Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH), talking to Dawn said: “Aphrodisiacs are the most exploited things in a traditional society like ours,” which offers enough chance to quacks who take advantage of the situation and deceive the people.

He said the high margin of profit in aphrodisiacs business make them primarily commercial and secondly a lucrative business. Whether imported or locally manufactured, most of these drugs, are sold without physicians’ prescription, he observed.

Dr Raza said: “Locally manufactured aphrodisiacs are mostly herbal whose efficacy has never been tested by any health authority. Similarly, no body has so far bothered to examine the side effects of these drugs which are abundantly available in markets”.

Furthermore, the VD specialist opined that the most dangerous aspect of these medicines is that they are given indiscriminately with hormonal level.

Criticizing the role of health department, the physician said faulty process  of checking by drug inspectors had paved the way for many quacks  to play with the lives of people. “The proliferation of these ‘healers’ have made the availability of aphrodisiacs very easy,” he pointed out.

He demanded of the authorities to take strict measures for stopping proliferation of such quacks and unregistered drugs in the society and sought tough legislation in this regard.