Tiger penis

The penis of a tiger, when consumed, is said to be a potent aphrodisiac and an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction. However, there is no scientific evidence to support the usage of tiger penis in the treatment of any disorder. This persistent folk belief has contributed to the poaching of tigers for their presumed benefits, the penis being just one of the tiger's many supposed medicinal assets. The researchers surveyed 256 Chinese men, aged 50 to 76, who sought treatment at a large TCM clinic in Hong Kong over their methods to treat impotence. Although the studies indicated that older men in China are finding sildenafil (Viagra) to be a more effective treatment, they also indicated that they still resort to alternative treatments of (other) ailments such as arthritis, indigestion and gout. ==Cuisine==

People have been known to spend up to $5700 (£3000) on a particularly rare tiger penis dish, which needed to be ordered months in advance. The penis can be taken in soup, ground in wine (tiger penis wine), or soaked in rice. One method of preparation, particularly in the Mekong River Delta, is to place a dried tiger penis, with testicles still attached, into a bottle of French cognac or Chinese wine and let it soak for a number of weeks. Then, as it matures, the liquor is taken in sips every night. ==See also==