Unsettling as it may be, every person is controlled by psychological effects. Some are common, while others are thankfully rare. Either way, many of these complex processes are strong enough to override logic and empathy.

There are deep roots to why sexists rarely change or certain strangers win trust more easily. As with all mental arenas, things can also get deliciously weird. Science has discovered that humans can psychologically hibernate, that a person’s dark side has a number, and that the trauma of Santa Claus destroys trust in parents.

10 Why Reverse Psychology Works

Parents who use reverse psychology to make kids eat broccoli tap into an interesting psychological phenomenon. It is part of something called “reactance,” which is how easily someone reacts when they feel their freedom is threatened.

That, in a nutshell, is reverse psychology. You make someone think that something valuable is going to be taken away. In a kid’s eyes, broccoli is not valuable. Broccoli sucks. But the ability to choose is priceless. When a parent tells them not to eat the vegetable, choice is removed. That green horror suddenly looks a lot more alluring—eating it returns one’s ability to make choices.

Reverse psychology is not an ironclad form of manipulation. It depends on age and reactivity. Some kids will see right through their parents’ tactics. Others, mostly toddlers and teens, are reactive enough to get duped.

Agreeable adults with calm natures are less likely to be manipulated. Those who are fiery-tempered and emotional are more prone to fall prey to reverse psychology.^[1]

9 Distraction Erases Beauty

Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa hangs on a bare wall in the Louvre. One could be forgiven for thinking the iconic canvas needs more fanfare. However, there exists a reason for the minimalism.

Scientists are starting to understand something that art museums have understood for decades—distraction dulls one’s appreciation of beauty. As is sometimes the case, researchers arrived at a conclusion that ancient philosophers already expressed very well.

Immanuel Kant, an influential philosopher from Germany, once said that beauty is not a trademark of an object but rather subjective to the beholder. In other words, how many pleasing details the eye detects in a painting or another lovely item depends on how conscious the viewer’s thoughts are at that moment. Distraction blocks something in the mind, causing a person to see about 15 percent less beauty.^[2]

8 Familiar Strangers Effect

These days, strangers cannot be trusted on sight. However, a brain quirk works against the rules of safety.

In 2018, scientists found that people trust strangers faster when they resembled someone trustworthy from their past. Even if that “someone” was a beloved sitcom character. Similarly, a stranger resembling an abusive ex-husband or a movie gangster might struggle to win the trust of the wife who divorced her partner and was always creeped out by Al Capone.

Surprisingly, no dead ringers were required to trigger this nearly automatic effect. People judged strangers despite a minimal resemblance to good or bad past experiences. Researchers even discovered that study participants made these calls while unaware of the subtle links.

Volunteers were trained to mistrust certain “partners” on a screen who behaved selfishly during a money game. Even when the thieving characters were digitally morphed, participants subconsciously recognized them and made the choice to stay wary.^[3]

For some reason, this visual system has a bigger say than logic. The latter would dictate that there is no information available about the stranger to classify him as either good or bad.

7 Santa Scars Are Real

A surprising analysis found that there are plenty of mistrustful, angry adults—because Santa Claus was a lie. A large survey found that most children stop believing in Santa around age eight.

They had discovered the truth in different, sometimes bizarre ways. Some were told the truth. Others caught parental Santas in the act or realized that the fable’s facts failed to hold up against science—like flying reindeer and a man who manages to deliver presents to millions in a single night.

Most children survive this disillusionment. However, some develop real trust issues later on. At the core of this bewilderment rests the question, “What else did my parents lie about?”

Seems like no big deal, but this effect flares in some. The survey found that around 15 percent of adults still felt deeply betrayed and 10 percent were downright angry. It would appear that for some, their parents’ attempt to perpetuate a magical tradition is pure trauma.^[4]

6 Future Time Slack

Nearly everyone has experienced the following. A particular day is so full of commitments that it seems logical to reschedule some to a later date. After all, things should be less hectic by then. But then you arrive at said point, and life is as maddeningly busy as it was last week when the item was rescheduled.

This delusion that the future holds more time is called “future time slack.” The term was coined in 2005 when studies showed a curious human reaction. The participants believed that they would have more leeway in their schedules in the coming weeks or months but not money.

Apparently, more time did not equal more money. It could be because time is the primary concern. At the moment of rescheduling, one might not be in dire financial straits but instead uncomfortably strapped for time.

Future time slack is not just about getting backhanded by the things one postpones. Often, a person works hard to clear their coming days to enjoy free time. Unfortunately, this creates the same delusion. Life is unpredictable and busy. Despite the sacrifices to empty a schedule, even holidays are not as free as one imagined.^[5]

5 Invisibility Cloak Illusion

A curious conviction occurs whenever people get together. The “invisibility cloak illusion” happens when people wait in line, work with colleagues, or take the bus with strangers. One notices the mannerisms and details of these fellow passengers and workers while believing that they don’t take the same notice of you.

A 2016 study proved that people watch you more than you know. Participants were asked to wait in a room before an experiment. However, letting strangers sit together in the waiting room was the experiment, although they were only told afterward.

Each participant could describe intricate things that they noticed about the others in the waiting room. But they were convinced that nobody paid them much attention in return.

For some reason, this illusion makes people believe that they are the only ones absorbing information about those around them—kind of like wearing an invisibility cloak. The truth is that nearly everyone in that same room or waiting line also takes account of everyone else in the same studious way.^[6]

4 Transient Global Amnesia

Human memory remains a mysterious thing. One interesting link exists between emotions and memory. More precisely, emotions and other psychological factors appear to play a role in a medical mystery. Called transient global amnesia (TGA), it annually hits less than 10 people in every 100,000.

Amnesia hits out of the blue and wipes months of memories. Those around the victim might be concerned about a stroke or the start of dementia, but TGA lacks the accompanying muscle weakness, slurring, or permanent forgetfulness. In fact, every person with TGA regained their memory in full, and thus far, nobody has ever experienced the phenomenon twice.^[7]

This frightening episode is truly benign without any long-lasting effects. Nobody knows the cause, although researchers have identified possible triggers. They range from strong emotions and stress to people who had sex that wiped their minds. This rare condition remains one of the most mysterious neurological conditions in medical literature.

3 The D-Factor

The G factor measures someone’s intelligence. A bunch of tests leads to a number that can predict a person’s future success, income, and even health.

In 2018, researchers found they could accurately measure a person’s dark side. The D-factor is based on the fact that sadists, psychopaths, and narcissists all have a “dark core” within their personalities. At the very least, despite some differences, all three tend to put themselves first at the expense of other people. This harmful tendency is the D-factor.

To formulate an effective way to measure it, researchers looked at nine dark traits. They used three studies with thousands of participants to gain more information on narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, egoism, moral disengagement, psychological entitlement, sadism, spitefulness, and self-interest.

This epic amount of data was then analyzed to see if several traits clustered together in a single person. Very often, they did. More importantly, the study successfully designed a test that anyone can take. It measures the D-factor and likelihood of going to the dark side during an ethically questionable situation.^[8]

2 Why Sexists Rarely Change

Most women (and their male friends and family) can attest to the deeply damaging effects of gender discrimination, harassment, and sexual assault. In the past, this was pretty much the gold standard for masculinity.

Science recently confirmed that clinging to this outdated standard causes mental problems for men. A study of 20,000 men found that three traits encouraged a sexist’s higher tendency to harm women, dysfunctional social behavior, and toxic mental health issues. These included dominance over women, ultra self-reliance, and being a playboy.

Since this harmful behavior promotes violence and other unpleasant situations, such men are increasing isolated by society. Most offenders are not likely to change. Seeking help goes against social norms for ideal men to be independent and less emotional.^[9]

The more isolated and angry they get, the more they tend to break down others (such as women) and seek out like-minded men who validate them. It is a vicious cycle.

1 Winter-Over Syndrome

Humans do not hibernate, although something similar manifests in people facing long-term isolation. A 2018 study followed 27 researchers in Antarctica. Their 10-month stay included the dark winter months.

This revealed more about a coping mechanism that most people would never have to call on: winter-over syndrome. A form of extreme psychological hibernation, it develops whenever humans are stuck for long periods of time in situations like Antarctica.^[10]

The research staff had to fill out psychometric questionnaires, keep sleep diaries, and have their emotional health gauged as well as their personal coping strategies. It was not surprising that staying indoors during the winter interfered with sleep and killed their perkiness.

The unexpected part was how everything slowed down. Problem-solving abilities curved downward, and so did depression and denial of the situation’s reality. The last two were expected to rise. This unexpected dip induced indifference that kept worse psychological problems at bay.

There is a caveat: Winter-over syndrome can only develop if someone knows their isolation is not permanent.

Swallow. Do you feel a slight tickle at the back of your throat, a barely perceptible ache in your neck? Is your forehead just a little warmer than usual? Sure? Check again. Now take a deep breath, and try not to think about the weird pressure you’ve been feeling around your eyes for the past three hours. You’re probably just tired. Outbreaks caused by foodborne illnesses happen all the time—because only two people need to get sick for the CDC to consider it an official outbreak. That’s hardly cause for alarm.

SEE ALSO: Top 10 Poisonous Foods You Love To Eat

So should you be concerned about parasites and pathogenic bacteria festering in your happy meal? Probably not. But then again . . . maybe you should.

10 Amoebiasis Dissolves Your Organ Tissues

If you’ve ever traveled to a different country and come back with a bad case of diarrhea, you probably picked up what the medical world calls “traveler’s diarrhea,” a relatively minor affliction caused by food that’s carrying bacteria from fecal matter.

Amoebiasis is similar, but much, much worse. Like traveler’s diarrhea, you get it by eating or drinking something with tiny quantities of fecal matter in it. Unlike bacterial traveler’s diarrhea, it’s caused by an amoeba called E. Histolytica. The amoeba enters your body through the digestive tract as a cyst, sort of like an egg. Once inside your warm, incubating stomach, the cyst hatches into a hungry amoeba. At this point, it attacks the layer of mucus lining your intestines.

The mucus lining is intended specifically to block parasites like E. Histolytica from getting through, and it usually works. But sometimes, the amoeba is able to dig all the way through to the soft tissue of your intestinal wall, where it begins secreting enzymes that break down the tissue’s proteins.

Once the intestinal wall is sufficiently dissolved, the amoeba slurps up the resulting goo and begins reproducing. Some newborn cysts are swept away in the bowel stream to continue the cycle elsewhere, while others hatch and grow in the same intestines, spreading, eating, and digging. It’s incredibly painful.

9 Ciguatoxins Reverse How You Feel Hot And Cold

Every time you eat fish, there’s a chance that you’ll die a horrible death. And while there are many ways for that to happen, one of the worst is via ciguatoxin. Ciguatoxins bioaccumulate, which means they build up as they move up the food chain. They’re produced by a type of plankton called a dinoflagellate, and by the time the toxin makes it through the gauntlet of coral, then herbivorous fish, then increasingly larger carnivores, and finally onto your dinner plate, the toxin has accumulated to biblical proportions. And that’s when things get messy.

You start to feel the toxin about two hours after eating a tainted fish—indigestion, nausea, and cramps are usually the first signs. If you’re lucky, it stops there (and it often does). But if you’re particularly susceptible to ciguatoxins, they go to work on your nervous system. You might get lightheaded, tingly, or short of breath. Your heart will be racing a mile a minute and your lips will go numb.

Finally, your neurological processes will start to misfire. One of the strangest examples of this is a reversal of your perception of hot and cold. Ice will feel like it’s burning while a lit stove will feel like, well, ice. It would almost make an interesting superpower if it didn’t signal complete neurological degeneration.

8 Cryptosporidium Corrodes Your Intestines

We’ve talked about cryptosporidium in the past. It’s usually found in contaminated drinking water, though it can also be transmitted through unwashed food. But we haven’t till now covered what happens after the bug gets inside you.

Cryptosporidium is a protozoan parasite that needs a living host to reproduce. It enters your body as microscopic oocysts, which hatch in your belly and travel through the digestive system into your intestines. There, they make a new home among your villi, a forest of tiny, finger-like tentacles that line the inside of your intestines and pull nutrients from the passing food.

But like humans on the world of Pandora, they’re not content to live among the trees. The longer they stay, the more they erode at the life-giving villi. Eventually, the intestinal wall is laid completely bare for long stretches, a condition known as villous atrophy. Give it enough time, and cryptosporidium will corrode the intestines right down to the naked tissue. The most common victims are children.

7 Salmonella Melts Your Bones

Salmonella is one of the most well-known pathogenic bacteria in the world; it’s why you always cook chicken before you eat it. Usually, salmonella stays in the gastrointestinal region, causing a few days of diarrhea and stomach cramps. But sometimes, it goes exploring. And when that happens, you’re in for a rough experience.

For some reason, rogue salmonella bacteria often migrate to the bones, especially leg bones that have a strong blood supply. The bacteria swim through your bloodstream until they reaches the marrow and cause an infection, a condition known as osteomyelitis.

Streams of white blood cells arrive to flush out the threat and begin releasing enzymes that have a very unique effect: They “lyse” the bone, or break down the cells into a fluid. The result is thick pockets of pus where solid bone once stood—prisons for the salmonella, where they’ll eventually undergo necrosis and die.

6 Yersinia Exactly Mimics Appendicitis

Yersinia bacteria are ingenious little monsters. They’re what’s known as facultative anaerobes—they breathe oxygen if there’s oxygen around; if not, a biological switch flips and lets them “breathe” through fermentation. And it all happens inside your body. You usually end up with yersinia after eating salad—the bacteria can survive at temperatures as low as 4 °C (39.2 °F), which lets it thrive on vegetables in restaurant refrigerators.

One of the most dangerous effects of a yersinia infection is pseudoappendicitis, which looks and acts exactly like regular appendicitis. In appendicitis, a major passageway in the appendix gets blocked, and over time the appendix fills with pus and mucus, expanding and putting pressure on the surrounding tissue. Eventually, it bursts, releasing that cesspool of fluids into the body cavities. Yersinia does the same thing, only the bacteria causes the initial blockage that makes the appendix swell.

5 Cryptococcosis Grows Mold On Your Brain

If you’ve ever needed a reason to wash your fruits and vegetables before eating them, here it is.

Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungus that’s found all over the world. Pick up a random handful of dirt and there’s a good chance some of this fungus will be living in it. Now drop that dirt and don’t take any deep breaths, because Cryptococcus is a merciless killer.

The fungus enters your body through your respiratory system, sending a cloud of basidiospores into your lungs and nasal passages. The first thing you’ll feel is a light tickle in your throat that quickly grows into a hacking cough. You’ll get a fever and some of the most intense headaches of your life. The fungus is now spreading across your lungs and releasing toxins into your bloodstream.

After a week or two, the fungus will spread to your central nervous system, sending fingers along your spinal cord that weave their way closer to your brain stem. There, the fungus spreads over your meninges, a thin layer of tissue that blankets the brain. You’ll begin to hallucinate. You may not die, but there’s a good chance of permanent neurological damage.

4 Trichinella Worms Create Colonies Inside Your Tongue

Trichinella is a parasitic nematode that lives in the bodies of omnivores—especially pigs, horses, rats, and humans. Since pigs are the only member of that group we eat regularly, trichinella is usually associated with raw or undercooked pork. And it’s devious.

The worm’s larvae live in cysts in the animal’s muscle tissue. When the animal is killed, packaged, and sent to the grocery store, the cysts hitch a ride down in the meat, waiting for an ideal place to wake up and begin reproducing. More often than not, that ideal place is a person’s stomach. The larvae make their way to the small intestine, latch onto its mucus lining, and begin pumping out babies. In the four weeks they’re alive, adult trichinella can produce more than 1,000 larvae.

These larvae are born diggers—their mouths are equipped with a stylet, a long serrated needle that tears the intestine’s walls so the larvae can swim into the bloodstream. There, they can pick and choose their destination like passengers on a subway. Ideally, they’re looking for thin, active muscle tissue. And nothing fits that description better than a tongue. Sometimes colonies of more than 1,500 worms form gram of tissue. And, sometimes, you never know they’re there.

3 Anisakiasis Forces You To Firebomb Your Own Tissues

In an undersea parallel to pork, squid meat often contains a dangerous parasitic nematode that migrates to humans when it’s not fully cooked. The worm in question is Anisakis simplex, a roundworm that lives in the gastrointestinal tract. Surprisingly, A. simplex by itself isn’t terribly harmful, unless you happen to have an allergic reaction to it. The real danger comes from what it forces your body to do.

Enter eosinophils, our second player in this diminutive drama of death. Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that are mainly responsible for dealing with parasites. But like a bumbling detective in a David Zucker film, they end up doing more harm than good. Eosinophils mass around the nematodes and launch cytotoxins at them, toxins which do zero damage to the shell of the parasite. Instead, they hit the surrounding tissues and cause more damage than A. simplex could ever dream of doing.

And since the threat is still there, they call in reinforcements, until the entire site is a flashing barrage of crossfire that hits everything but the intended target. And you can die from that.

2 Brucellosis Slowly Rips Your Spinal Cord Apart

There’s a laundry list of alternate names for Brucellosis, including Maltese fever and Bang’s disease. All of them are really the same thing: an infection of brucella bacteria, which is usually found in soft cheese and unsterilized milk. To inject some optimism into this list, Brucellosis is fairly rare, and you’re unlikely to get it if you drink pasteurized milk.

But now for the bad news: It’s a chronic condition that lasts for life, and it can tear your spine in half. See, one of the major complications of Brucellosis is a spinal condition called arachnoiditis, and the combination of those two often leads to syringomyelia, a condition where cavities begin to appear along the spine. The cavities expand over a period of years, forcing apart the spine’s discs and rupturing the whole column along several points. Ouch.

1 The Chicken Superbug Triggers Cellular Suicide

Calling the antibiotic-resistant bacteria that’s being found all over chicken a “superbug” is great for shock value, but it’s really just another version of E. Coli. That being said, it’s still something to watch out for, because it’s causing a surprisingly high rate of hemolytic-uremic syndrome.

Hemolytic-uremic syndrome is the wholesale suicide of red blood cells. Most cells in the body are programmed to be able to self-destruct when needed. It’s called apoptosis, and it usually serves a purpose. For example, when you were still an embryo, your fingers were meshed into a single clump until the cells in between the individual digits underwent apoptosis and allowed your fingers to separate.

But E. Coli contains something called Shiga toxin, which hacks the programming of red blood cells and forces them to commit suicide. The result is near-total kidney failure. Since we’re having trouble stopping this new breed of E. Coli with antibiotics, complications like this are becoming more common. Right now, it’s estimated that about 50 percent of chicken in stores has the superbug.

Who’s hungry?

Genetic diversity is essential to the survival of a species. We all inherit a mix of genes from our parents, some of them passed down along several generations. Along the way, these genes are often mutated – for example, a single base in our DNA may be randomly swapped for another during replication, or a whole segment can be mistakenly deleted or multiplied. Many of these DNA mutations are silent and can only be detected on a molecular scale by a geneticist in a lab. However, there also exist some pretty strange mutations that can have some very noticeable effects on their carriers.

See Also: 10 Foods That Have Been Genetically Modified Beyond Recognition

8Double eyelashes

Elizabeth Taylor was famous for her gorgeous eyes, but it turns out that the dark lining around her eyelids wasn’t simply a trick of make-up. Rather, the actress benefited from a genetic mutation known as distichiasis. Due to a mutation in the FOXC gene, a gene responsible for embryo tissue development, Elizabeth Taylor and other carriers of this mutated gene have double eyelashes. While these extra eyelashes may have enhanced Taylor’s beauty, this is not always the case with distichiasis – many carriers have eyelashes that grow inwards, potentially damaging their corneas. This mutation has also been linked with the development of lymphedema-distichiasis syndrome, which can sometimes be associated with congenital heart disease and other health complications.

7 Satiety

While excessive weight gain or weight loss can certainly be influenced by outside factors, genetics can have a strong influence on eating habits as well. In particular, the melanocortin 4 receptor gene (MCR4) can be mutated to either increase or decrease feelings of hunger in affected individuals. The MCR4 protein plays an important role in establishing a feeling of satiety – it essentially tells your brain when you are full. When this gene is mutated in a person, there exists a possibility that they will never experience the feeling of satiety, leading to overeating and obesity. However, the opposite may be true as well. Certain mutations in this gene can actually make a person feel constantly full and never hungry, thereby protecting them against obesity.

6 Alcohol Flush

We all have that friend, or perhaps are that friend ourselves, who turns as red as a tomato whenever drinks are served. While facial flushing is often associated with alcoholics, some people simply have a genetic mutation that renders them incredibly sensitive to even small amounts of alcohol.

When we drink alcohol, the ethanol content must be broken down in order to be flushed out of the body. One of the products of alcohol metabolism is called acetaldehyde, and it is extremely toxic. The enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase 2, coded for by the ALDH2 gene, plays an important role in breaking down the acetaldehyde before it begins to build up in the body, but for about 8% of the population, the ALDH2 gene is mutated. The mutated ALDH2 enzyme cannot efficiently break down acetaldehyde, which builds up very quickly as alcohol is metabolized. This causes the blood vessels in a person’s face to dilate, causing a red flush soon after imbibing in alcohol. The facial flushing does not pose a direct danger to the affected person, but symptoms such as nausea may accompany the redness, making drinking alcohol an uncomfortable experience. Some research also suggests that this mutation may be associated with increased risk of high blood pressure development.

5 Painlessness

A woman in Scotland baffled scientists when it was discovered that she did not feel pain or anxiety and had gone about 60 years into her life before realizing that this was not normal. After an operation on her hand that would typically cause discomfort caused her no pain, her doctors became aware of her seemingly pain-free life and referred her to a geneticist. The woman, named Jo Cameron, reported that she did not realize she was burning herself on a stove until she could smell the scent of burned flesh, and had actually found childbirth enjoyable. Analyzing her DNA revealed that her FAAH gene was suppressed and her FAAH-OUT pseudogene was missing information. The FAAH gene codes for a protein, fatty acid amide hydrolase, that normally breaks down anandamide in the body, a chemical that buffers pain and anxiety. For Jo Cameron, this anandamide is not broken down because she does not produce the FAAH protein, meaning she feels no pain, never worries, and never gets anxious.

4 Addictions

For the most part, addictions like alcoholism have not been exclusively linked to a specific gene mutation, but they may be linked to gene expression. Epigenetics is an interesting field of study that is concerned with external modifications to genes. Rather than an error in the DNA code itself, epigenetics suggests that outside influences can alter how our cellular machinery is able to read a gene in order to build proteins and other chemicals. For example, DNA methylation is the addition of methyl groups to part of a DNA sequence, and the presence of methyl groups on DNA can block the genes on that DNA segment from being expressed. Therefore, even though the gene itself has no errors or mutations, this methylation can interfere with the function of the gene. Studies suggest that alcohol exposure can alter gene expression associated with the neuronal circuits in the amygdala and other regions of the brain, such as those involved with behaviors like dependence and tolerance. There have also been studies linking epigenetic changes and their pattern of inheritance in offspring. Essentially, if a parent is an alcoholic and experiences epigenetic changes to their gene expression as an effect of ethanol exposure, it is possible for those epigenetic changes to be passed down to their offspring. As a result, the children of addicts may be predisposed to their parent’s addictions.

3Mountaineering

When climbing a mountain like Everest, it is often recommended to bring along a Sherpa as a guide, and for good reason. Sherpas, or members of the ethnic group native to the mountainous regions of Nepal and the Himalayas, are often genetically predisposed to function far better than the rest of us at high altitudes. Hypoxia, a fall in tissue oxygen levels, is a very serious concern when mountain climbing due to the lower levels of oxygen as you ascend higher, and it can lead to nausea, delusion and death. Although not completely immune to the effects of high altitude on the body, Sherpas have historically lived at higher altitudes and have adapted to the low-oxygen environment in some pretty incredible ways. There are numerous genetic variants commonly found in the Sherpa population that help them to thrive better than us ordinary sea level folk do way up in the mountains. One of these variants is found in the EPAS1 gene.

The EPAS1 gene regulates hemoglobin production in low oxygen environments. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to tissues and carbon dioxide away from tissues. The mutated EPAS1 gene found in Sherpas regulates their body’s response to high altitude by allowing them to maintain the same hemoglobin levels at high altitude as they would have at sea level. In contrast, a non-mutated EPAS1 gene at high altitude would lead to the excessive production of red blood cells. While having more red blood cells does increase the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood, it also leads to thicker blood and slower blood flow, which can result in serious mountain sickness, excessive strain on the heart, and hypoxia.

2 Pungent Smell

Trimethylamine is a very odorous chemical that has been described as smelling like rotting fish and garbage among other unpleasant things. The FMO3 gene codes for an enzyme that breaks down compounds like trimethylamine present in our diets to eliminate the strong smell, but for an unlucky few, this gene is mutated so that the enzyme is either completely missing or limited in activity. The result of this mutation is a disorder called trimethylaminuria, which is characterized by a very strong odor released in the sweat, urine or breath of an affected person. This odor comes from the build up of trimethylamine in the body due to the missing enzyme, and it can be an incredibly isolating disorder. Depression and social isolation are possible side effects of this unlucky mutation, often referred to as stale fish syndrome.

1 Female Infidelity

Men cheating on their partners has sometimes been blamed on a biological need to “spread their seed,” so to speak – in other words, having multiple partners makes it more likely that they will have many offspring, which is important for the survival and evolution of a species. In women, however, cheating is less of a biological necessity, as women are typically limited by their own capacity to carry a certain number of children rather than by a lack of multiple partners. Now, clearly this is a very narrow, scientific explanation of cheating behavior; it does not consider the fact that male partners may be infertile, and disregards everything other than the biological urge to reproduce (such as emotional intimacy or commitment). However, the basic concept is simply that women do not have a strong biological need to cheat on their partners – so why do they?

Well, clearly there are many reasons why, but what you may not have considered is that some women are actually predisposed to cheat because of mutated genes. Specifically, a large study on human mating behaviors found that mutations in the vasopressin receptor AVPR1A gene seem to be associated with infidelity in women, but not in men. Vasopressin is a hormone that plays an important role in bonding between partners, as well as in sexual motivation, or the desire to engage in sexual acts. Essentially, mutations in this gene may affect how a female responds to vasopressin, and therefore, how they connect emotionally with their partners, and how drawn they are to look for sex outside of their relationship. As this is a genetic mutation, it may also be passed down to a cheater’s offspring, giving them the same predisposition as their parent. More research needs to be done to confirm these findings (or potentially disprove them), but these results are promising in that they provide a biological reason why some women may be attracted to the idea of infidelity – it’s simply in their genes.

Humanity has long been drawn to the great unknown, the untamed wilderness of unexplored lands. Often, that call is answered by a small group intent on setting up a colony and starting a new life.

However, intermarriage and a suspicion of outsiders often lead to a lack of genetic diversity, resulting in what are known as founder effects. Here are 10 examples of these unexpected occurrences.

10 Ellis-van Creveld Syndrome

Though this particular syndrome isn’t exclusive to the Old Order Amish of Pennsylvania, it is unusually prevalent among them. For the general population, it only occurs in 1 in 60,000 to 200,000 births. For the Amish, it is many times more common than that.

The reason: Around 200 German immigrants formed the initial settlement in the 18th century. Also, they tended to marry within their own community, failing to see the pitfalls concerning genetic diversity.

Ellis-van Creveld syndrome was first described in 1940. It has two distinct abnormalities which are a result of mutated genes. First, dwarfism is the main characteristic of those afflicted, with their forearms being particularly short.^[1] Second, extra fingers (aka polydactyly) is often cited, and it is usually found in both hands. There are other less common maladies, including abnormal hair, nail, and tooth development.

It’s also unusually prevalent among the indigenous population of Western Australia.

9 Sickle Cell Disease

For most of humanity’s existence, sickle cell disease usually meant an early death, most likely as a young child. (It still does in underdeveloped nations.) In fact, the average life span for a sufferer in the US in 1973 was only 14 years. Now it’s 40–60 years in the US.

The cause of this disorder: genetic changes meant to protect against malaria. As a result, those who suffer from sickle cell disease overwhelmingly come from tropical areas or places where malaria is common.

Basically, sufferers have abnormally shaped hemoglobin within their red blood cells. These abnormalities can cause painful blockages (aka pain crises) which prevent oxygen from reaching various parts of the body.^[2]

Young children are normally pain-free in between these attacks, but older children and adults often have chronic, lifelong pain. Anemia is also quite common as the sickle cells only last 10 to 20 days, whereas healthy red blood cells last 90 to 120 days.

Effective treatments are available, which improve both the quality and length of one’s life. There is a cure as well, but it is unavailable in most cases.

8 Meleda Disease

A relatively unassuming island among the Adriatic islands of Croatia, Mljet is home to one of the rarest diseases in the world. (Although no one knows the exact prevalence, it has been estimated at 1 in 100,000.)

Formally known as Meleda, the island was used by the Republic of Ragusa from 1358 to 1808 as a quarantine for those suffering from ailments such as leprosy or plague. Sometime in the intervening centuries, inbreeding and a lack of genetic diversity ended up spreading mal de Meleda throughout the population.

A genetic disorder, Meleda disease presents with thick skin on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet, often in early infancy. The condition, known as palmoplantar keratoderma, is also found on the backs of the hands and feet as well as the wrists and ankles. (Some sufferers also have thickened skin on other joints on their bodies.)

First identified in 1898, it was thought to only exist on Mljet. Since then, examples have been presented in a number of different countries.^[3]

7 Fumarase Deficiency

Although Mormons are stereotypically said to practice polygamy, the truth is that it largely died out in the 19th century. However, there are small sects where the practice was maintained and those in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) continue it.

Due to polygamy as well as the cousin marriages which come from isolating yourself among those who share your fundamentalist beliefs, the children of the community are much more likely to suffer from something known as fumarase deficiency.^[4]

Fumarase is an enzyme which aids in the process of providing energy to all cells. As our brains account for nearly 20 percent of our energy usage, it is the brain which suffers the most from a deficiency, leading to mental and physical retardation.

This disorder is unbelievably rare, especially as both parents need to have the recessive gene responsible for it. Fumarase deficiency has only been identified in a handful of cases worldwide. However, nearly half of those have come from the FLDS. (The story circulated throughout the religious sect: The water was to blame for the affliction.)

6 Huntington’s Disease

Huntington’s disease (aka Huntington’s chorea) is a genetic disorder which results in slowly progressing brain cell death. The condition most often presents around age 40, with death usually occurring 15–20 years after diagnosis. In those of European descent, the prevalence ranges from 4 to 15 in 100,000 births. However, there are two distinct populations in which the disorder occurs much more often.

The first group is the Afrikaner population of South Africa. Nearly the entire population can be traced back to one shipload of predominantly Dutch immigrants. Thanks in no small part to the racism which permeated the colonists, interfamily marriages were common. That close-minded attitude led to the increased chances of the disorder occurring.

The second group is the residents of the Lake Maracaibo region of Venezuela. Sometime in the 18th or 19th century, a woman who carried the allele responsible for Huntington’s moved to the area and had 10 children.^[5] Many of the current residents are descended from her. (The prevalence is as high as 700 in 100,000 births there.)

5 Retinitis Pigmentosa

A group of genetic disorders which affect the cells in the retina, retinitis pigmentosa often results in difficulty seeing at night as well as other forms of partial blindness. Eventually, most sufferers lose nearly all their sight, often presenting as a severe form of tunnel vision.

Retinitis pigmentosa affects as many as 1 in 4,000 people. However, one small subset of people has a much higher rate of occurrence: Ashkenazi Jews.

Formed as a result of the Jewish diaspora out of their ancestral homeland, the Ashkenazi Jews coalesced as a unique community toward the end of the 10th century. While there are multiple mutations responsible for retinitis pigmentosa, mutations in two particular genes are overwhelmingly responsible in this particular population.^[6] When compared to the general population, these mutations are about 12 times more likely to occur in Ashkenazi Jews.

4 Maple Syrup Urine Disease

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is characterized by an odor that smells remarkably like maple syrup in the urine and earwax of its sufferers. The disorder results from the deficiency of certain enzymes which inhibits the breakdown of various amino acids in the bodies of those afflicted.

If left untreated, MSUD can be fatal. Rare in the general population—only 1 in 185,000—this genetic disorder is unbelievably common within the Old Order Mennonites.^[7]

Having immigrated to Pennsylvania in the early 18th century, the Old Order Mennonites suffer from increased incidences of a number of genetic disorders. MSUD is said to occur in 1 of every 358 births (over 500 times more likely than the general population.)

Like many religious sects, especially those which are fundamentalist, the Old Order Mennonites have married one too many cousins, resulting in a significant decrease in their population’s genetic diversity.

3 Deafness

Today, Martha’s Vineyard is best known as the playground of the rich, a summer home for the most affluent Americans. However, in the 19th century, it was best known for the sky-high levels of deafness occurring in its population.

In fact, the residents were known for their own form of communication: Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language.^[8] Thanks to the genetics of a man named Jonathan Lambert and intermarriage between the inhabitants of the islands, 1 in 25 people in the small town of Chilmark were deaf. (For comparison, deafness occurred in 1 in 5,700 people at this time across the entire US.)

A small village in the Jammu and Kashmir state of northern India is also home to a remarkably high prevalence of deafness. Much like their Massachusetts counterparts, those living in what is known as “The Village of Silence” can trace their affliction to intermarriage and the genetics of one man. In this case, a man named Mir Ali who established the settlement in 1901 is to blame. (His brothers also had the same genetic problem.)

2 Tay-Sachs Disease

Tay-Sachs disease has a number of different forms, although the most common strikes during infancy. A progressively destructive disorder, it attacks neurons within the brain and spinal cord. Unfortunately, those afflicted often only live into early childhood. There is no treatment or cure for the disorder.

Extremely rare in the general population, Tay-Sachs is estimated to affect 1 in 320,000 newborns. However, there are a number of groups who suffer from likelier occurrences.

The Ashkenazi Jews are one of them, with the disorder affecting as many as 1 in 27 people in this community in the United States. Other high-frequency groups are less likely to have Tay-Sachs than the Ashkenazi Jews. These include the Old Order Amish, certain French Canadian communities, and the Cajun community of Louisiana.

The disorder hasn’t faded from these communities because both copies of the gene need mutations for the person to suffer from Tay-Sachs. Many of the people in these groups probably have one copy and get to live normal, healthy lives.^[9]

1 Twin Births

Somebody call Alex Jones: There’s a Nazi conspiracy afoot. For years, a remote Brazilian town was held up as an example of research conducted by the notorious Dr. Josef Mengele. The reasoning: Candido Godoi has a twin rate nearly 1,000 percent higher than the rest of the world.

However, more recent research has led people to point to a genetic founder effect as the real reason.^[10] The small town of around 6,000 was formed by a small number of families, specifically German immigrants.

Moreover, during the years that Mengele was allegedly in the town, there was no increased occurrence of twinning. However, in support of the founder effect hypothesis, women who had given birth to twins were likely to have inbreeding present in their families.

During its short known existence, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) has created quite a name for itself—profound for some and obscene for others. The popularity and infamy of LSD is a rather mixed bag.

It’s been used for everything from lab experiments to party drugs. LSD has also been tested on subjects in a wide range of applications—from a medication to aid in the quest for mental health to a powerful weapon of war. Still, there is much to learn about this wonder drug.

On his deathbed from cancer, Aldous Huxley, the author of Brave New World, instructed his wife to bring a syringe filled with liquid LSD so that he could go on the world’s craziest trip. She gave him a 100-microgram shot of LSD and repeated that dosage one hour later. He died on what is probably the biggest dose of the powerful hallucinogen that the world has ever known.

But what was it like? What can science and studies of the brain tell us about how LSD makes us feel and how it alters our perception and experience? For those of you curious about these sorts of questions, here is a list of 10 things that LSD does to the human brain.

10 Awakening

While not all is known about the effects of LSD on the brain, researchers have been able to find out quite a bit about this elusive mystery: “What the hell happens to your brain when you take LSD?”

For anyone who’s taken LSD, it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that the drug activates many of the otherwise inactive parts of your brain. In fact, it’s quite astonishing that the dormant areas of the brain light up like a candle on fMRI machines when a person on LSD gets a scan.

For the brain, the LSD experience is like a symphony of neurons firing. Science has shown that LSD awakens even the parts of the brain which are usually dark, hibernating in the deepest of slumbers.^[1]

9 Full Power

Another unexpected discovery is that this activation of parts of the brain that are normally sleeping isn’t modest or negligible. As shown in the image above, almost all of the brain is activated, using all of its neurons and potential at the same time.

Without a doubt, scans have shown that LSD affects the entire brain at once, creating a cacophony out of ordinary experience. What parts of the brain does LSD actually affect? All of them!^[2]

8 Regulation

LSD strongly affects the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is also impacted when people take other drugs such as MDMA (aka Ecstasy). Although MDMA, like LSD, works on several neurotransmitters, its most popular and pronounced effect is the classic “euphoria” feeling caused by flooding the brain with serotonin.^[3]

As a regulatory neurotransmitter, serotonin keeps your body’s systems in balance so that you feel “normal” and stable. Serotonin regulates the body’s mood, temperature, hunger, sleep patterns, and much more. That’s why messing with these drugs can sometimes get people into trouble. When their bodies receive too much serotonin, they can’t regulate these important functions.

7 Hallucination

With the body’s serotonin levels in disarray and the regulation centers of the brain out of whack, the body starts to perceive things inaccurately on LSD, otherwise known as having hallucinations. On LSD-induced hallucinations, the United States government notes:

Ingesting hallucinogenic drugs can cause users to see images, hear sounds, and feel sensations that seem real but do not exist. Their effects typically begin within 20 to 90 minutes of ingestion and can last as long as 12 hours. Experiences are often unpredictable and may vary with the amount ingested and the user’s personality, mood, expectations, and surroundings.

The effects of hallucinogens like LSD can be described as drug-induced psychosis—distortion or disorganization of a person’s capacity to recognize reality, think rationally, or communicate with others. Users refer to LSD and other hallucinogenic experiences as “trips” and to acute adverse or unpleasant experiences as “bad trips.”

On some trips, users experience sensations that are enjoyable and mentally stimulating and that produce a sense of heightened understanding. Bad trips, however, include terrifying thoughts and nightmarish feelings of anxiety and despair that include fears of losing control, insanity, or death.^[4]

To some, this sounds like an absolutely awful experience that no one would want. But others will pay good money for it. A user’s mood and overall mental state going into the psychedelic LSD experience plays a pivotal role in the outcome of that episode. The trip appears to be in the eye of the beholder in more ways than one.

Although LSD is known to have a particularly strong effect on the serotonin receptors, namely the 5-Ht2A receptor, it’s not clear exactly how LSD produces hallucinations. One belief is that the drug causes receptors to fire at random and misfire, resulting in a sort of total brain “static” or “noise” on the otherwise calm backdrop of normal neural functioning. This static noise is said to lead to profound alterations of consciousness.

6 Harmless?

Although we’re not going to say that LSD is harmless, it is considerably safer than drugs like alcohol or opiates according to DrugAbuse.com and some other sources. In addition, overdoses are rare.^[5]

Have you ever met someone who overdosed on LSD? Probably not.

In fact, there is some recent evidence (confirming old information) that LSD may be useful in the treatment of alcoholism. AA founding member Bill Wilson mentioned that he tried LSD as a cure for alcoholism with moderate success. However, the effects wore off and he ended up drinking again.

5 Commitment

The use of LSD requires a definite commitment to these altered brain states. Most studies and observations claim that the LSD “trip” typically lasts 8–12 hours (usually 12). That’s half a day for one dose. Needless to say, LSD users had better be prepared for their brains to be completely changed and uninhibited for quite a long time.

VeryWellMind.com notes that LSD impacts your body and mind for at least 12 hours after you take it. As the drug is made and sold illegally, you can’t be sure how pure it is or what dosage you’re taking. Those factors influence your “trip” and how long the drug stays in your system.^[6]

4 The Loss Of Self

Many users report feeling a loss of the “self,” which is the lack of differentiation between the self and the world or the environment. They often report being one with each other, with nature, or with some other object that obviously isn’t the self. There may be a neurological reason for this.

In 2012, researchers undertook the first study in the UK to actually administer LSD to patients. (It had been illegal to do so for the previous 40 years.) Of course, the study showed that LSD activates the brain. But the researchers also found that the “seat of consciousness” in the brain (the part that’s called our “default mode”) receives less blood under the influence of LSD.

The default mode network is the “resting” portion of the brain, which is most active when the brain is at rest. This part of the brain is mainly made up of the medial prefrontal cortex, the medial temporal lobe, and the posterior cingulate cortex. These regions largely control things like daydreaming and imagination, which explains why LSD affects the proper functioning of the pictorial imagination and users experience visual hallucinations.

As the retrosplenial cortex and the parahippocampus in the default mode network become more disconnected from one another, LSD users experience greater “ego loss.” Together, these regions of the brain appear to produce the typical “sense of self” that we experience when we’re awake. In addition, brain networks that are usually segregated begin to communicate with each other in a major way when influenced by LSD.^[7]

3 Psychosis

In a very real way, LSD creates a temporary psychosis in the brain, albeit a mild and some would say an enjoyable one. This isn’t surprising because the default mode network also plays a role in diseases such as Alzheimer’s, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism, schizophrenia, and bipolar depression. Changes in this region of the brain are correlated with these types of mental illnesses.

Since the 1960s, when research into LSD was banned, there have been widespread fears about permanent psychosis occurring after an LSD experience. However, research in the 21st century showed that these concerns were entirely unfounded.^[8]

2 Rehabilitation

Although it is groundbreaking and brand-new, some evidence shows that LSD helps a variety of mental illnesses, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and bipolar depression. However, these results seem to be paradoxical.

On the one hand, LSD sends the brain into an acute, temporary state of psychosis by altering its natural resting state on a base level. On the other hand, the drug seems to alleviate psychoses and other mental illnesses for at least several months after consumption. This is like an odd chemical version of electroshock therapy.

LSD shows particularly strong promise in the treatment of depression. Doctors and researchers are hopeful that the drug will help those diagnosed with terminal cancer to treat their ongoing battles with depression.

According to a Cambridge study, LSD elevated mood and made users more optimistic two weeks after taking the drug—without increased delusional thinking. So it seems like the symptoms of psychosis occur shortly after taking LSD, but the longer-term effects include a more positive well-being caused by “loosened cognition.”^[9]

With its long-term effects on serotonin receptors, LSD seems to act like many of our modern-day antidepressants, particularly SSRIs which enhance the functioning of serotonin receptors. Any enhancement of the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) may prove to have similar effects to drugs like Prozac. Time will tell as more studies are performed.

1 The Religious Experience

In one of the first studies on LSD, researchers from Harvard University conducted an experiment with the drug in a chapel basement on Good Friday 1962. They gave 10 divinity students LSD to see if it would create a mystical or even religious experience. The results were considered a success as the participants did share a religious experience.

This was the start of what would become a massive movement in the United States to study LSD at colleges. Then the government stepped in and banned LSD research on humans.

Studies have shown that the left hemisphere of the brain controls and dictates our sense of self. The right hemisphere has something to do with a sense of “presence.” This has been evidenced by the God Helmet, a helmet with electrodes which stimulates a sense of presence, often divine, when put on regular people.

This isn’t pseudoscientific hocus-pocus, either. This is legitimate neuroscience. Current research suggests that LSD may stimulate the same regions or function in the same manner as the God Helmet. Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris, who conducted the previously mentioned 2012 experiment about the loss of self, has stated:

Our results suggest that this effect underlies the profound altered state of consciousness that people often describe during an LSD experience. It is also related to what people sometimes call “ego-dissolution,” which means the normal sense of self is broken down and replaced by a sense of reconnection with themselves, others, and the natural world. This experience is sometimes framed in a religious or spiritual way—and seems to be associated with improvements in well-being after the drug’s effects have subsided.^[10]

Modern research may someday link the God Helmet and the LSD user experience. It’s possible that LSD stimulates right-hemispheric activity while sedating the left hemisphere (loss of the sense of self and ego) to create what users have reported as the religious LSD experience.

Brain scans also show that LSD affects the temporal lobe most of all. The temporal lobe is responsible for memory and is aggressively stimulated when wearers experience the mild-altering changes of the God Helmet. The brain is a curious organ, and there is much to be learned. In time, our society may realize that many illegal substances may provide a deeper understanding into the workings of the human mind, the last great frontier.

I like to write about dark stuff, horror, philosophy, and history. This article will be shared on Beautifully Disturbed, my Facebook page with several thousand followers, as well as in Acid Math groups and other such applicable places where the audiences will read and enjoy it.

It’s common to expect that medications are going to cause side effects. Some are barely noticeable and some may be worse than the condition the medication treats. We understand that’s a risk associated with medicine, though. 

Sometimes people seem to forget that side effects aren’t limited to the realm of medications. Many things we eat can have their own effects, and some of them are far more surprising than you’d imagine.

10. The Scottish Health Pea Suppresses Hunger But Provides Energy

The Scottish health pea, also called bitter vetch, was a crop once cultivated in medieval times. The tuberous plant is said to taste like leather licorice and was used as an appetite suppressant before potatoes became a staple crop. Those who eat it lose the urge to eat and drink. 

There’s evidence that the plant does more than just stave off hunger. Stories tell of Highlanders using it to perform impressive feats of strength and Roman soldiers using it to sustain themselves during long battles against their enemies.

Performance enhancing abilities aside, the potential use as a diet aid has been the focus in the modern age, as a plant that can convince you to stop eating and therefore lose weight would be worth a lot of money. 

One of the big hindrances to cultivating it on a mass scale is that it’s hard to grow and harvest, but a plant that gives you extensive energy and allows you to forget your hunger is worth trying to cultivate, at least for some.

9. Miracle Berries Block the Taste of Sour

For a few years, many sites on the internet sold something called Miracle Berries as a novelty. You can still find them for sale in many retailers but they’re not as well known as they were. The fruit, also called miracle fruit or Synsepalum dulcificum, hails from West Africa and has the unique ability to alter your ability to taste other foods.

The selling point of miracle fruit is that it eliminates your ability to taste sour foods. Thus, anything you eat that is normally sour will taste sweet. This is owing to something called miraculin, a glycoprotein found in the fruit. It binds to taste receptors on your tongue and will activate in the presence of acid found in sour foods. For maybe up to an hour or two, you can perceive sour as sweet.

There were attempts in the past to use the fruit as a replacement for sweeteners so diabetics and others on restrictive diets could enjoy the taste of sweet things without adding sugar, but those efforts were stumped by the need for further testing. The plan was abandoned and now the multi-billion dollar sugar and sweetener industries continue as they ever did.

8. Salema Porgy is a Hallucinogenic Fish

There are over 32,000 kinds of fish in the world but when it comes to food, there are only a few dozen that humans regularly consume. Some fish are inedible or unpleasant tasting, some exist in small numbers, and some are impractical to catch. The ones we make use of often have fairly mild flesh and are easy to cook or prepare in ways most seafood lovers enjoy. 

There are also a small subsection of fish out there that aren’t often eaten because of what they do to people who consume them. Consider the pufferfish which is potentially toxic and, even when well prepared, can cause your lips to tingle with that hint of poison. Or the Salema porgy, which makes you trip out and hallucinate.

They call it “the fish that makes dreams” in Arabic and these little fellows can be found in the eastern waters around Europe and Africa. Some people can safely eat the fish and nothing at all happens while others may be plagued with hallucinations for up to three days.

Before you think it sounds like a great time, be aware that the hallucinations aren’t fun. One person reported hearing the screams of humans and birds while another was surrounded by giant arthropods which, to you and me, are giant centipedes.

Something called ichthyoallyeinotoxism is what sets off the hallucinations, but science is still unclear how the porgy causes it and why only some parts of the fish do it.

7. Ice Cream Can Cause Breathalyzer False Positives  

A breathalyzer test measures alcohol in your breath to determine if you’re legally fit to drive a vehicle. Some foods contain alcohol which might cause a false positive. There’s a whole cottage industry of law firms that want you to believe bread can cause a false positive since they’re hoping to snag you as a client to fight unfair tickets. The science doesn’t really back them up. 

One item that has been shown to trigger breathalyzers is ice cream. A man who had a history of drinking and driver was on trial after registering what he insisted was a false positive. He claimed he’d just had some Bubble O’Bill ice cream and the breathalyzer device on his vehicle refused to unlock for him. Prosecutors demanded proof so the man’s level was tested by police in court and registered at 0.00. He ate the ice cream and was tested again, registering a 0.18. The judge allowed the device on his car to be removed. 

6. Persimmons Can Form a Tannin Brick in Your Gut

Persimmons are bright yellow or orange fruits that taste a bit like a mild, sweet tomato. If you get one that’s not ripe it can be very bitter, however. That’s thanks to the high amount of tannins in the fruit, and that’s also the part that can be dangerous. 

Tons of different plants have tannins in them from tea to wine to spices. They’re a chemical compound that binds to certain components in plants and mostly their job is to make a food taste unpleasant. The tannins will fade as some fruits or plants age or ripens because the plant needs to be eaten to spread its seeds at that point.

Humans have developed a lot of uses for tannins, like tanning hides for instance, but in foods we rarely want them and try to wait them out whenever possible. But some foods, like persimmons, have a lot and they build up. 

If you eat a lot of persimmons, those tannins can bind with your gastric juices, cellulose and other compounds to make a phytobezoar. In simple terms, this is like a brick made of bark in your gut. 

These bricks cannot be digested, and they can become painful blockages over time. They may require surgery to remove or, a much more pleasant option, you can potentially dissolve them by drinking Coca-Cola, a treatment which doctors will prescribe before resorting to surgery.. 

5. Beef Jerky Seems to Cause Mania

Bad news if you’re a beef jerky fan, that salty, chewy meat may cause psychiatric conditions. It’s not the jerky specifically, rather the nitrates in it you may need to worry about. That means other cured meats like salami or Slim Jims could have the same effect.

In a study of over 1,000 people hospitalized for various conditions, the numbers showed those who had been in for psychiatric conditions were 3.5 more likely to have been admitted for mania than the control group if they’d eaten jerky or cured meats.

Experiments on rats have shown that, after a few weeks on a diet high in nitrates, they exhibit manic behavior. 

4. Margarine Can Make You Aggressive

The history of margarine dates back to Napoleon’s time when the French emperor wanted a cheap alternative to butter. Back then it was beef tallow churned with milk and probably got pretty ripe if it was left out in the heat for too long.

These days most margarine is made from various vegetable oils and lasts for around two to three months after it’s opened which is on par with butter, but it’s still cheaper overall. One thing they don’t advertise about margarine is how it can affect your mood.

To be specific, it’s dietary trans fatty acids that have been showed to lead to aggression. In the UK, research on the diets of prisoners showed that supplementing vitamins, minerals and especially omega-3 fatty acids showed a 37% drop in violent offenses. The research also pointed out that omega-3 fatty acids were consumed far less in modern times than decades passed, having been supplanted chiefly by omega-6 fatty acids like the kinds found in fast foods and products like margarine. 

Today, trans fats are considered “bad fats” but the reason for this is usually related to heart health and cancer rather than how they affect your mind. Artificial trans fats are banned in the US but not naturally occurring ones. 

3. Looking at Red Meat Calms Men Down

Men and their love of red meat has been a long-standing joke. Men love steak and burgers and BBQ and testosterone. It turns out there is more science behind this old stereotype than you might think. Meat has a calming effect on men.

Slightly weirder than meat calming men down is that this has nothing to do with eating. This is a side effect of just looking at meat. In what is arguably a very odd experiment, a group of men were asked to both look at an assortment of photos while listening to an actor recite lines. If the actor messed up a line, the men being studied could inflict loud noises on them meant to be a punishment. 

Results showed the men were less inclined to inflict harsh punishments while they were looking at pictures of red meat. This ended up being a counterintuitive result since the expectation was that blood and meat and death would rile up aggression. 

2. A Toxin in Some Shellfish Can Cause Amnesia

Shellfish can be dicey at the best of times. Some people have very serious shellfish allergies that can be deadly. Everyone else needs to be wary of poorly prepared or stored shellfish as it’s notorious for causing food poisoning if it hasn’t been safely handled. And we all need to worry about a potential shellfish toxic that can cause amnesia.

The particular toxin infects bivalves like clams and mussels. They can be steamed and seem safe but the steaming is not always enough to kill the toxin. Though the condition, called amnesic shellfish poisoning, doesn’t sound exceptionally dangerous at first, that’s only because it focuses on that one symptom.

A 1987 outbreak, when the toxin was first identified, led to three deaths and over 100 cases of infection. Besides memory loss, victims may suffer vomiting and diarrhea, disorientation, dizziness and muscle weakness. Some patients developed long term cognitive issues. 

The cause is not the shellfish themselves but domoic acid which can contaminate the shellfish. Domoic acid is created by diatoms, a kind of algae, and they are not killed by heat.

1. Ciguatera Toxicity From Fish Reverse Hot and Cold Sensation In Your Mind

Ciguatera toxicity is one of the most bizarre conditions you can contract after eating food and you don’t want to experience it. It comes from certain reef fish, things like grouper, eel, or red snapper, infected with microorganisms that produce ciguatoxin.

The condition causes many of the symptoms you’d expect, such as cramping and diarrhea. The thing that sets ciguatera toxicity apart from most conditions is sensation reversal. Cold things feel hot and hot things feel cold. Ice cream would feel like it’s burning your mouth while a hot coffee would be cool and refreshing. 

Aside from being confusing, there’s also danger in not being able to tell hot from cold. In addition, victims can suffer burning itch all over their bodies and the sensation that their teeth are falling out. Just to be clear, their teeth are not falling out but it feels like they are.

Chinese medicine has been around an extremely long time. Systematic records of medical techniques first appeared in China around the second century BC. Since then, hundreds of thousands of doctors have worked their magic, eventually giving birth to the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) of today.

TCM is well-known for its bizarre and unorthodox approach to medicine. We are only just beginning to understand how it works from a contemporary scientific perspective. Although few comprehensive studies exist to make sense of everything, there is just enough research to let us put together a list of interesting, sometimes scary, and downright weird TCM treatments.

10 Cupping

If we take a look past the bruise-covered Michael Phelps, a whole new world of cupping promises a lot more than a little placebo. Beyond aiding athletic performance, cupping is generally used to help chronic pain. It may also be a treatment for cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and high blood pressure.

According to recent research, cupping can increase vasodilation and blood circulation, allowing your body to get rid of waste and toxins faster. Although there might not be evidence that cupping will rid you of your heart condition anytime soon, it may be an effective treatment for relieving all sorts of aches and pains with minimal side effects.^[1]

With the pain out of the way, you’ll be ready to hit the pool again. But you may want to take a lesson from Phelps and keep your shirt on.

9 Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a tried-and-true practice that is becoming more accepted around the world. Historically, it was thought to be able to stimulate life force and heal a myriad of diseases. Today, it is a common treatment for chronic pain. In China, it is even used as a form of anesthesia during surgery.

Studies have shown that patients have a good response to acupuncture as a treatment for chronic pain and fibromyalgia. Its effectiveness as a supplemental therapy is becoming more apparent as time goes on.^[2]

Although not for the faint of heart, acupuncture gets the job done with a deceptively little amount of pain—as long as you can get past the idea of being simultaneously stabbed in multiple places in the name of health.

8 Ginseng

One of the most iconic ingredients in any TCM concoction, ginseng is translated as “person plant root” for its stark resemblance to a human with limbs. The obvious visual similarities shared with the human body have made ginseng a symbolic cure for all human ailments in Chinese medicine. However, beyond the mysticism, this root is known to have many beneficial effects that can promote well-being in the long run.

Due to its potent antioxidant effects, ginseng is thought to reduce inflammation. Research has shown its potential to reduce oxidative stress in the human body. This reduction of inflammation may significantly affect your health, with links being drawn to improvements in brain health, erectile dysfunction, and even cancer prevention.^[3]

7 Seahorses

One of our favorite sea-dwelling creatures, seahorses are defined by their unique ability to have male pregnancy. They are used worldwide as pets in aquariums and even as food, with TCM finding a myriad of potential health benefits in the majestic little creatures.^[4]

Seahorses are touted for benefiting the kidneys as well as sexual performance and libido, with links drawn to general well-being and vigor. Practitioners claim that seahorses bolster kidney strength as well as stimulate nerve activity.

6 Softshell Turtles

Softshell turtles are an expensive ingredient thought to have cooling properties. It is believed that a soft turtle shell can moisturize skin, nourish blood, treat diarrhea, and boost the overall immune system.

According to some research, soft turtle shell promotes the production of immune globulin, which can prolong the existence of certain antibodies. This boosts the immune system and protects us from disease.^[5]

Beyond medical practice, softshell turtles are considered a delicacy in certain areas of China as they are full of minerals and collagen.

5 Cockroaches

Cockroaches have really taken off in TCM over the last decade. Many farms all over China house billions of the hair-raising crawlers for use in medicine. In 2013, there was even a disaster where millions of cockroaches escaped from a cockroach farm.

Cockroaches are thought to help with burns and are used in many cosmetic products in China and South Korea.

They are also believed to help gastroenteritis, duodenal ulcers, and pulmonary tuberculosis. In fact, a Sichuan-based pharmaceutical company is developing a medicinal syrup that promises just that.^[6]

4 Deer Sinew

Another medicinal staple in Chinese households, deer sinew is thought to potentially benefit everyone with its ability to strengthen bones and tendons, reduce muscle spasms, and even bring temporary relief from arthritis. These effects are believed to be related to the high level of collagen peptide and proteins contained inside the sinews. Studies show the ability of this tissue to reduce bone loss and the progression of osteoporosis in rats.

Should you ever decide to invest in some deer sinew for bone health, do try to find a reliable source as there have been many reports of pharmacies selling cheap cattle tendons in place of the real deer.^[7]

3 Sea Stars

Sea stars (aka starfish) are also known for their potent anti-inflammatory properties. With inflammation linked to many ailments such as arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, allergies, asthma, and even cancer, it’s easy to see how an ingredient with anti-inflammatory effects would be sought-after.

These effects are even being explored in Western medicine. There, the slimy goo of a particular sea star is being investigated for its application in treating inflammation-related illnesses.^[8]

2 Caterpillar Fungus

Known as “worm grass” in China, caterpillar fungus goes by the name Cordyceps in the scientific community. It is a scary fungus that starts life as a little spore infecting the backs of moth caterpillars that live high in the mountains.

Once the unsuspecting caterpillars die, the fearsome fungus grows out of the hosts’ bodies in the form of stringy, alien-like fingers. Thankfully, the infectious properties of the fungus don’t affect humans.^[9]

Cordyceps is known to help kidney and liver problems, and some athletes use it to boost performance. New research is even showing activity against cancer cells that could reduce the size of tumors, particularly in lung and skin cancers.

1 Gecko

Geckos are used to fight coughs and colds with their supposed ability to affect the lungs and kidneys (both of which are linked to coughing in TCM). By nourishing the kidneys and strengthening the lungs, your cough will be gone in no time—and all with a simple pinch of dried lizard. Practitioners commonly prescribe it as a cure for impotence and premature ejaculation, too.

If you’ve ever wondered what that gross dried creature hanging ominously from the window of your local Chinese pharmacy is, now you know exactly what it does and just how magical its effects are.^[10]

I’m a first-year student recovering from myalgic encephalomyelitis. Looking forward to writing again and excited about learning lots of weird and cool new facts.

Medicine has come a long way from the “good old days” of garlic-filled masks and astringent herbal teas. Even in relatively recent times, drugs have been used which have horrific effects on the human body. But—and this is a big but—they can and often do work. At the time, they were the best we had, despite the bizarre ways that they could kill you.

Today’s “Big Pharma” has much more stringent regulations than in the early to mid-1900s. All the items on this list are taken from Grollman and Slaughter’s 12th revision of Cushny’s Pharmacology and Therapeutics, an amazing pharmacopoeia of unusual and bizarre old-world drugs.

10 Metrazol

In 1926, F. Hildebrandt tested a new drug on animals and found two primary clinically significant effects. In high doses, it caused epileptic-like convulsions. In more reasonable doses, it merely stimulated the heart and increased respiration in cases of depressant poisoning (i.e., too much chloroform).

Guess what physicians used it for primarily?

If you said “as an antidote to poisoning,” you would be wrong. (After all, we had pure stimulants for that.) Instead, in 1934, scientist Ladislas J. Meduna pioneered its use in humans to induce convulsions to treat mental illness.

His primary interest was in schizophrenia, for which Metrazol was the first officially recognized treatment. But its use in convulsive therapy expanded to other psychiatric disorders such as depression. In general, patients were sent to a hospital, received Metrazol, and waited for its rapid action to begin. Typically, patients could be discharged within a few hours.

It was considered to be an effective treatment for those diagnosed with psychoses lasting less than three years. At the time, the side effects of this treatment were limited but potentially horrendous. They included spinal fractures, tuberculosis, and brain damage. Luckily, Metrazol quickly fell out of fashion. It was replaced by the “much more efficient” electroconvulsive therapy, which has reduced physical side effects.

Despite its horror, Metrazol is still in use today, just not in hospitals. In labs, it is used to induce convulsions or anxiety in rodents to test treatments for similar disorders. There has also been a recent spike in interest surrounding its potential use in the treatment of Down syndrome, although it wouldn’t be curative.^[1]

9 Tribromoethanol

As you might guess by the “ethanol” in the name, tribromoethanol is related to the wonder drink, alcohol. Tribromoethanol has very similar properties, but it is stronger and has a broader range of potential side effects. Cushny’s revised work states that Willstatter first synthesized it in 1923. Later, in 1926, Duisberg used it as an anesthetic.

Rectal administration is remarkably effective. Half the dose is absorbed within 10 minutes and 95 percent within 25 minutes. The effect is predictable: a deep sleep—typically lasting about two and a half hours.

However, there was just one tiny problem: It was almost impossible to alter the hypnotic state. Once you were under, no known drug at the time could wake you. For this reason, tribromoethanol was seldom used. It was just too difficult to control.

Other side effects included injury to the circulatory system, degeneration of the liver and kidneys, slowed metabolism (by around 15 percent), depleted glycogen stores, increased blood sugar levels, and even death.

These days, there are no clinically significant uses for the drug. Instead, it is used to sedate mice in laboratories.^[2]

8 Bulbocapnine

This lovely drug was known to be used in the infamous MKUltra program. Similar in structure to apomorphine, bulbocapnine is found in Corydalis cava. It is one of those exciting drugs with a different effect on different animals. In cold-blooded species, it acts in a similar way to morphine by reducing sensitivity to pain and causing sedation.

In warm-blooded animals, however, bulbocapnine induces catalepsy, which is a stiffening of muscles within a given posture that is unable to be moved. The users are frozen in place.

The more highly developed the animal (humans, apes, dogs, etc.), the more pronounced this condition becomes. Also, the higher the dose, the higher the likelihood that narcolepsy will occur. In many cases, bulbocapnine stimulates the bowels, leading to defecation, and invokes the secretion of saliva. Strangely enough, this only occurs in neutered animals.

Luckily, low doses of around 0.1 mg can be tolerated without ill effect, but bulbocapnine has almost no positive clinical uses. Instead, it is used in laboratories and wicked government torture programs. Nowadays, it is being investigated for its potential use in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.^[3]

7 Picrotoxin

You know a drug is going to be fun when it has “toxin” in the name. Picrotoxin is found in the Anamirta cocculus plant. The symptoms from its use were well-known but delayed.

The first signs of poisoning included vomiting, increased salivation, rapid breathing, and a slowed heart rate with palpitations. Following this was unconsciousness and then violent seizures with periods of respiratory paralysis, which only ceased a few moments later. Well, most of the time. There were instances where patients had died of asphyxia when they failed to restart breathing.

Nevertheless, picrotoxin does have its uses. Traditionally, it was used to treat barbiturate poisoning as it was found to have a stimulating effect on anesthetized patients. It is believed that picrotoxin has a competitive action against the neurotransmitters upon which barbiturates act.

Strangely enough, however, comatose patients can tolerate many times the lethal dose without ill effect. In most patients, picrotoxin is given in 1–3 mg doses at regular intervals. The lethal dose can be as low as 0.357 mg/kg, or 28 mg for an 80-kilogram (176 lb) person.

Even so, some comatose patients have been given doses as high as 300 mg within a day or two with no ill effects. In one reported case, 2.134 grams administered over eight days proved nonfatal.^[4]

6 Thymol

Derived from the herb thyme, thymol is one drug that you may recognize as it is one of the constituents in the toothpaste product Euthymol. Traditionally, however, it was used to treat tinea, ringworm, and hookworm infections in humans.

Unfortunately, it has some disturbing side effects when ingested for the treatment of ringworm. Of course, there are the usual poisoning symptoms: nausea, vomiting, and headaches. More unpleasant side effects include a deep depression, paradoxical giddiness, eventual collapse, and possibly death. As always, the key is the dosage: 1–2 grams every couple of hours, followed by a saline purge and emptying of the bowels, is often sufficient and safe.

For the previous skin conditions (tinea and ringworm), a 1:10 preparation of thymol and typically alcohol is applied directly to the skin which eventually rids the patient of the disease. This is primarily because thymol possesses antimicrobial properties. (Thus, it is used in toothpaste.)^[5]

However, of all the spices, thyme isn’t the most effective. In order of their power to kill microbes, some favorite herbs with such properties are oregano, clove, coriander, cinnamon, and then thyme. So if you’re thinking of spicing up your lunch when you have a cold, you’d be better off with a carrot and coriander soup than a cinnamon latte.

5 Isonipecaine

In the search for opioid-like painkillers, isonipecaine was developed by and introduced by Eisted and Schaumann in 1939. It is perhaps better known under its other name, pethidine, as a common painkiller used in modern maternity wards for women in labor.

Although isonipecaine is an excellent painkiller known for its mild respiratory depression (compared with morphine) and suppressed vomiting reflex, it is also known for its high rates of euphoria (up to 90 percent) and potential addiction liability when used chronically.

In general, however, its side effects profile is far superior to those of morphine and similar natural opiates. Isonipecaine has little to no effect on respiration, circulation, or metabolic processes.

It is just a shame that it is short-acting (peaking in 45 minutes and lasting around two hours) and less effective than a standard starting dose of morphine. We have also discovered today that isonipecaine is just as addictive despite earlier claims of its lower addiction liability.

It is also grossly toxic in cases of overdoses. If dosed highly multiple times in a short period (3-4 hours), isonipecaine can cause disorientation, rapid heartbeat, and severe respiratory depression.

Its use in labor is well established. However, as it has a less depressive effect on respiration than morphine or diamorphine, isonipecaine is thus comparatively safer for the infant as well as the mother.^[6]

Given that it also acts on the smooth muscles within the body, isonipecaine possesses muscle relaxant properties, which can be advantageous in reducing tension and pain during contractions. However, the drug does prolong labor and have an effect on the baby.

4 Intocostrin

Alongside the use of Metrazol in electroconvulsive therapy was another critical drug: introcostrin.

It’s worth noting that introcostrin is derived from curare, which was used by native South Americans in a poison concoction to lace the tips of their arrows when hunting. Curare stops all voluntary movement.

As it was put by Cushny et al.: “The muscles give way one after another until the animal lies helpless on the ground . . . and becomes totally paralyzed.”

Eventually, it suffocates the victim when the respiratory system ceases to function. In essence, this is a fatal form of locked-in syndrome. So yeah, deadly stuff. Fun fact: Oral ingestion is practically harmless. So you can suck the poison out of a wound and have a chance of survival.

Curare has minimal therapeutic use. It is entirely dependent on getting a dose high enough to relax muscles but not freeze breathing. This is a tricky process, so it is often avoided in favor of intocostrin.

As it was much easier to control and dose, intocostrin was chiefly used to relax patients undergoing convulsive or electroconvulsive therapy. The drug reduced the severity of the violent convulsions. This was generally thought to lower the prevalence of spinal fractures, a significant issue for such patients. Intocostrin also reduces spasms and is used as an adjunct agent for anesthesia.^[7]

3 Dinitrophenol

This is one of those drugs that seemed like a great idea at the time. However, it soon became apparent that there were significant issues with its use. Dinitrophenol was first discovered during World War I in munitions workers who died from contact with the chemical. You’d think that would be the end of the matter, but the drug was quickly investigated to see if there were any therapeutic uses.

Applied at a dose of 3–5 mg per kilogram of body weight, dinitrophenol was found to increase metabolism by 20–30 percent for days on end as a result of increased oxygen consumption. This seemed to be a tremendous potential treatment for obesity.

However, as the dose slowly crept up, it could begin to induce profuse sweating and an increase in body temperature by up to 3 degrees Celsius (5.4 °F). In toxic doses, this was followed by numerous symptoms including rapid breathing.

This latter problem and the increased oxygen requirement eventually meant that the patient’s breathing couldn’t possibly keep up with and supply the body’s oxygen needs. Hypoxia could develop along with a fever of 43 degrees Celsius (109 °F) or more—and that’s just the start. Common side effects at standard doses included a range of internal and external illnesses which could easily result in death.^[8]

Although used for a time to treat obesity, dinitrophenol quickly fell out of favor due to its highly toxic chronic effects and potential for fatal syndromes. In fact, its primary use these days is as a pesticide or as part of an explosive mixture called shellite.

2 Ergot

Ergot is an infamous fungus that grows on rye and other grasses such as wheat. This fungus is known to cause the notorious gangrenous condition of ergotism (aka “St. Anthony’s Fire”). This may be partially responsible for the witch hunts in the Middle Ages as symptoms can include psychoses and delirium.

Despite this, it did and still does have its therapeutic uses.^[9] Ergot is powerful at inducing contractions of the uterus, inducing labor, or causing abortions.

However, it is preferable that it only be used after the second stage of labor, after the placenta has been delivered, to ensure that the child does not suffocate. When applied at this stage, ergot reduces bleeding and prevents postpartum hemorrhaging.

Indeed, it was believed to be useful in all cases of internal hemorrhaging since it contracts the walls of blood vessels and reduces bleeding. However, prolonged treatment can quickly lead to the development of gangrene. Even so, ergot or a derivative may be useful in the treatment of parkinsonism.

1 Santonin

Bitter to the taste, santonin, a drug developed in the early 1800s, used to be the primary treatment for roundworms and pinworms before being replaced by safer compounds. It continued for a while longer as a treatment for whipworm. However, the drug was completely ineffective against tapeworm.

The side effects were nasty but bizarre and somewhat humorous.^[10] For example, patients reported that their vision was altered. Not in any particularly bad way, but everything took on a blue tint.

This was very brief before another visual disturbance took effect. Bright objects appeared to have illustrious yellow auras, blues turned to greens, and the previous blues would get darker and darker until they were indistinguishable from black. The more santonin that was ingested, the more vivid and intense these perceptions were.

In addition, patients experienced nausea, vomiting, and some confusion. In higher doses, convulsions occurred with the potential for asphyxia. The drug is also excreted in almost every way possible: in the feces with the worms, in the urine which is turned neon yellow, and even in sweat which takes on a yellow tinge.

The theory of how santonin kills the parasites can be summarized simply: It kills them before it kills you.

Freelance researcher and writer on a range of topics. I’m always looking for new work, so feel free to contact me at [email protected] with any ideas!

Every drug can have side effects, but we don’t usually pay attention to the labels on the bottles, probably because generally, only a minority will experience the side effects. And they’re not usually that terrible—maybe a rash or a bad bout of diarrhea.

However, some drugs have some weird and often nasty side effects, like those that can make people violent and suicidal. Sometimes, the unintended consequences are good, such as making people less racist. Here we go.

10 Propanolol Makes Users Less Racist

Propanolol is used to treat heart disease, high blood pressure, the physical effects of anxiety, and migraines. But in 2012, researchers at Oxford University found that it can also reduce racism.

Researchers made this discovery after a study revealed that the drug made users less racist. The experiment involved 36 white people who were divided into two equal groups. One group received doses of propanolol, while the others received a placebo. Then both groups were given a test used to detect subconscious racism.^[1]

Results showed the group that took propanolol was less racist than the group that took the placebo. Researchers believe this happens because propanolol works on the amygdalae, the areas of the brain that control emotional responses like fear.

9 Lariam Makes Users Murderous And Suicidal

Lariam is used to treat malaria, but it has the terrible side effect of making users murderous and suicidal. The severity of this is worsened when we realize that the drug used to be the top choice of several militaries deploying soldiers overseas.

In 2009, the US military stopped giving the drug to its special forces after it was linked to several killings and suicides. In one incident, a US soldier killed 16 people in Afghanistan after taking the drug. Today, it is considered a severe offense to administer Lariam to serving US military officers.

Several Irish soldiers have also fingered Lariam for causing a range of symptoms, including memory loss, anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, restlessness, and permanent brain injury. The terrible side effects have caused several militaries to ban Lariam. Others, like the German military, only administer it if other drugs do not work.

In 2013, the FDA had Roche add a black box warning to the drug. A black box is the most severe warning the FDA can have a manufacturer add to their product. The warning states, “Neurologic side effects can occur at any time during drug use, and can last for months to years after the drug is stopped or can be permanent.”^[2]

8 Aripiprazole Makes Users Gamble

Aripiprazole, (aka Abilify, Aristada, etc.) has been blamed for causing weird side effects like excessive shopping, gambling, sex, and eating in users. Aripiprazole is used to treat autism symptoms, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and Tourrette’s syndrome.

Most users complain of the excessive urge to gamble. Strangely, even non-gamblers started gambling after taking the drug. One former user said he gambled so hard that his parents kicked him out of their home.

A Las Vegas woman who was prescribed Abilify to treat her depression said she gambled so much that she lost her home and kids. She’d never had a gambling problem before. The woman claimed she spent between $1 and $2 million on gambling in five years. Once, she was so engrossed in gambling that she missed her flight. She rescheduled the flight and continued gambling but also missed the rescheduled flight.

Researchers believe this happens because aripiprazole affects the dopamine receptors of the brain. Dopamine is released from the brain during pleasure.^[3] The weird side effects stopped when users were taken off the drug.

7 Ambien Makes Users Cook And Eat While Sleeping

Ambien is used to treat insomnia. While the drug works at getting people to sleep, its side effects can see users getting up from their bed, cooking, and eating—all while sleeping. They remain in the kitchen or return to their bed, where they eat and doze off again.

Users have no memory of cooking or eating and will usually be surprised when they find messes in their kitchens and beds the next morning. The weird cooking habit often leads to obesity because for some unknown reasons, users tend to choose high-calorie foods.^[4]

If the sleep-cooking side effect isn’t scary enough, Ambien has also been linked to sleep-driving. However, those arrested for sleeping while driving under the influence of Ambien had taken the drug just before driving, a gross misuse of the medication. There is no recorded instance of a driver waking up from sleep to drive after taking the drug.

6 Capecitabine Can Make Users Lose Their Fingerprints

In 2009, a 62-year-old man was denied entry into the US because he was suspected of being a threat. The reason? He did not have fingerprints. As it turned out, the man lost his fingerprints because he was on capecitabine, which he took as part of his cancer treatment.

Some researchers think the loss of fingerprints could be linked to hand-foot syndrome and hand-foot skin reaction, two other side effects of the drug. Both side effects cause the fingers to swell and peel. However, this is inconclusive.

In one study, 14 percent of capecitabine users lost their fingerprints after eight weeks on the drug. However, a third of those who’d lost their fingerprints regained them within four weeks of stopping treatment.^[5]

5 Mirapex And ReQuip Cause Sudden Sleep

Mirapex and ReQuip are used to treat Parkinson’s disease. Their major side effect is sudden sleep, as in the user just dozes off without warning. Patients have reported falling asleep while driving, sometimes leading to disastrous consequences.

In one incident, a 72-year-old woman crashed her vehicle and killed a pedestrian after falling asleep at the wheel. Beforehand, her physician had prescribed some drugs, including Mirapex and Ultram, a pain reliever she took for her back pain. She noticed she often fell asleep without warning, prompting her to return to her physician.

The unnamed physician blamed her sudden sleep pattern on Ultram (instead of Mirapex) and replaced it with Vicodin. A week later, she was involved in the accident. She fell asleep at the wheel and ran over a pedestrian, causing serious brain injuries that led to death. She’d taken Mirapex, Ultram (despite the prescription change), and Sinemet with a bit of alcohol before the accident.

The sleep-related incidents linked to Mirapex and ReQuip were such that Health Canada asked the drugs’ makers, Boehringer and GlaxoSmithKline, respectively, to inform physicians to advise patients not to drive or engage in activities that require alertness because the drugs can cause sudden sleep.

Some physicians in some cities were also advised to inform local vehicle departments whenever they administered the drugs to a patient. Younger Parkinson’s patients who need to drive regularly often will not take the drugs.^[6]

4 Chantix Makes Users Violent And Suicidal

Chantix is used to help smokers quit smoking. It can also make people suicidal and violent. Users become suicidal and aggressive within two days of taking the drugs and less aggressive when they stop taking the drug. They are also more likely to become more aggressive if they’re taking other drugs with Chantix.

In one incident, a 24-year-old woman beat her boyfriend and attempted killing herself. A 21-year-old woman threatened to shoot her mother, a 42-year-old man punched another person for no reason, and a 46-year-old man thought of committing suicide.

The incidents have sometimes turned deadly, like in 2007, when a musician turned aggressive after taking the drug. He was shot and killed while trying to break into the home of his girlfriend’s neighbor.

Today, the FDA requires Chantix’s manufacturer, Pfizer, to include a warning that the drug can cause violence and suicide. Pfizer disagrees. While the drug company probably agrees that Chantix could be dangerous, they say its benefits are more important than its side effects.^[7]

3 Thalidomide Caused Severe Birth Defects

Thalidomide used to be the go-to drug for depression, insomnia, and morning sickness. It was approved in the UK in 1958 but was banned in 1961, after it was discovered to cause deformities in babies, especially in the limbs.

Within three years, thousands of women who took thalidomide during pregnancy birthed over 10,000 children with shortened or even absent limbs. Its manufacturer, Distillers, quickly found itself in trouble and was forced to pay millions of pounds in settlement. This includes the £200 million it is still paying to 455 limbless children affected by the drug. Payment will be completed in 2037.^[8]

While children in Canada, Europe, and the Middle East suffered from the effects of the drug, American children were less affected because the drug was never approved for widespread use in the United States. This was because of Dr. Frances Oldham Kelsey of the FDA, who insisted that the William S. Merrell Company of Cincinnati (which was trying to get the drug approved in the US) provide more information about thalidomide.

The company could not provide more information and was so distraught with the refusal that they ringed Dr. Kelsey’s supervisors and told them she was a “petty bureaucrat.” By 1961, the effects of the drugs were already clear.

Dr. Kelsey received a medal for service to humanity from Congress and the highest federal civilian service award from President Kennedy. Decades later, she received the Order of Canada from the Canadian government. Congress also passed laws to ensure that drugs were safe before they could be approved for sale in the US.

2 Viagra Can Cause Prolonged Erection

Viagra is used to treat erectile dysfunction. So it should be no surprise that its side effects include priapism: prolonged erection.

Normally, the penis becomes erect because of blood flowing into the spongy tissue inside. The blood leaves after ejaculation. However, in rare instances, something stops blood from leaving the penis, causing priapism.

Priapism affects one in every 1,000 Viagra users and is more common among leukemia and sickle cell anemia patients. It is also more likely in people who’ve been administered Caverject, an injection used to treat erectile dysfunction. Because users may find it difficult to differentiate between a regular erection and an adverse reaction to Vigara, doctors categorize any erection that lasts for over four hours after taking Viagra as reason to seek medical attention.^[9]

1 A Number Of Drugs Can Make Users Blind

One of the worst drug side effects might be Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS). Stevens-Johnson syndrome causes the top layer of the skin and mucous membranes to peel off. This includes in sensitive areas like the eyes and the lungs. Having the top layer of the eyes peeled off is one of the easiest ways to go blind.

In one notable incident, 13-year-old Veronica Zenkner ended up with Stevens-Johnson syndrome after taking mere ibuprofen for a headache in 2004. It started with a fever and rash that spread from her neck and face to her back, arms, and throat within days. She ended up with toxic epidermal necrolysis, the worst form of SJS.

Zenkner had to be admitted to a burn facility and placed in a coma during treatment. She later went blind in her left eye, while the right eye remains red, itchy, and light-sensitive. She has to wear sunglasses all the time.

As terrible as this side effect sounds, it is not unique to ibuprofen. In fact, SJS can be caused by almost any drug. However, it is more common among users of drugs like penicillin, sulfonamides, naproxen, ibuprofen, and Lamictal (lamotrigine). In fact, the label on Lamictal warns that Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a possible side effect.^[10]

The “Mandela Effect” describes the phenomena in which a group of people all share a collective “false” memory of an event, detail, or occurrence. The phenomenon is attributed to the existence of multiverses and results from the collision of two or more realities merging. It is suggested that there is a dominant reality and that the memories are fragments from the previous shift.

Named after former South African leader Nelson Mandela, the term was used to describe the collective experience in which many believed that he had died in the 1980s while in prison. The fact, however, (at least according to our current reality) is that he was released in 1990 and died at the age of 95 in 2013.

Nowadays, the Mandela effect is used to describe these false memories, details, and occurrences. Could you be from another reality? Keep reading to discover these 10 mind-blowing Mandela effects to see if you remember them correctly…or if you are from out of this universe. Prepare to have your reality shattered!

Related: Top 10 Mandela Effects (Movie and TV Edition!)

10 Berenstain Bears or Berenstein Bears?

Perhaps one of the more well-known Mandela effects is that of the “Berenstain Bears,” a popular children’s book franchise. The book series remains well-loved in many children’s memories and even went on to become an animated TV show. However, many remember it as “Berenstein” instead of Berenstain. Within the official records of the Library of Congress, the name of the series has always been “Berenstain Bears,” attributed to the authors Stan and Jan Berenstain.

This caused quite the stir, as many fans swore they knew it as -stein instead of -stain. As the Mandela effect increased in popularity, pictures and old memorabilia began popping up depicting books written as Berenstein. Are these relics from an alternate dimension? Or photoshop?^[1]

9 Pikachu’s Tail

From anime, video games, toys, and books, the world of mythical creatures called Pokemon exploded thanks to creator Satoshi Tajiri gaining traction from not only Japan but also overseas. The franchise developed a worldwide fanbase with dedicated followers, so it raises some questions when many of these fans claim that Pikachu, one of the most well-known Pokemon, is no longer what it used to be. Specifically, Pikachu’s tail!

Fans have sworn up and down that Pikachu’s tail used to have a red or black stripe. Images depicting Pikachu today do not show a stripe on the tail, which has left many fans who grew up drawing, watching, and playing Pokemon games shaken up!

This can be attributed to the fact that many old internationally released sprite versions of Pikachu from the game versions Red and Blue had black-shadow detailing on the tail. In more recent versions of Pikachu, like the movie Detective Pikachu, some renditions and images depict a black stripe or shadow. Still, many swear that the stripe has always been there. Mandela effect, or just trick of the lighting?^[2]

8 Looney Toons or Looney Tunes?

The popular children’s TV show from Warner Bros with characters such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig has a fond place in many people’s memories. This American cartoon classic ran from 1930 to 1969, beginning with movie shorts in film theaters and becoming a highlight of America’s animation golden age. In 1960, The Bugs Bunny Show debuted on TV.

The famous line “That’s all, folks!” would close every episode.

However, one little detail about the closing sequence was up for debate. Did it say “Looney Toons” or “Looney Tunes” above that line? Many remember the original as Looney Toons and swear by it. But it has always been Looney Tunes! But why tunes and not toons–it makes more sense, right? Well, Disney produced a series of cartoon shorts in the 1920s titled “Silly Symphonies.” Warner Brothers just used that format for two of their animated shorts: “Looney Tunes” and “Merrie Melodies.” ^[3]

7 Febreeze or Febreze?

If you’ve been watching TV for the past 10 years, chances are you’ve seen the commercial for the air freshening spray. Groups of people have alternate memories of the name being “Febreeze,” but today, all evidence in this reality points to it being “Febreze.”

Perhaps we’ve added in an extra “e” because the word “breeze” just seems appropriate for an air freshener. Still, many swear it always had the double “e” instead of just one. Oh, and the maker of Febreze? Procter and Gamble, which has its own Mandela effect as people swear it used to be Proctor and Gamble.^[4]

6 Chick-fil-A or Chic-fil-A?

Known for its famous chicken sandwiches, Americans have enjoyed Chick-fil-A since 1967. But many across the U.S. remember the popular food chain to have always been spelled “Chic-fil-A” instead. And throw in another spelling, “Chik-fil-A,” and you’ve got even more confusion—or misremembering. You can easily see how this may have happened after looking at one of their famous taglines: the intentionally misspelled “Eat Mor Chikin” expressed by their mascot cows.

This is one of those Mandela effects that attribute to dimensions being stuck in a motion of “flipping” back and forth. Many have claimed to have seen it frequently change between both and have even caught the discrepancies! Real-time dimension shifting or editing? You decide.^[5]

5 Kit-Kat or Kit Kat?

Many recall the chocolate-covered wafer bar “Kit Kat” spelled as “Kit-Kat,” with a dash. However, according to all public records, the logo recalls no dash between its names. People have claimed that the dash used to be there. Reddit user th3allyK4t says, “I was brought up on Kit Kat, and I very clearly recall the day I noticed the dash had gone and thought it sad they changed the logo. Only now I realize they didn’t change it. And I never mistook a dash.”

Whenever “evidence” or the “smoking gun” from other realities bleeds into our current reality, many in the Mandela effect conspiracy world will refer to this as residual traces from an alternate timeline.

Many are convinced that there was once a dash, and there has been proof to better support these convictions from ages past. With proof that it once held a dash between the names, people speculate that in this current reality, they just got rid of the dash a lot earlier. Technically, It has always been Kit Kat after Nestle renamed the candy in 1937 from its original name, “Rowntree’s Chocolate Crisp,” a UK treat. Named after the “Kit-Cat” Club in London, the candy was also known as a Kit-Kat before Nestle began making them. Today, Hershey’s produces the Kit Kat in the U.S., and Nestle sells the KitKat (no space or dash) elsewhere in the world.^[6]

4 Fruit Loops or Froot Loops?

The popular Kellogg’s breakfast cereal was originally named “Froot Loops” when it was put out in 1963; however, many have remembered it as “Fruit Loops” instead. To be honest, Kellogg’s introduced “Fruit Loops” in 1959 with three flavors and Toucan Sam as the mascot. However, Kellogg’s was sued over the name as it contained no fruit, so the company renamed the cereal and relaunched it in 1963, where it has been Froot Loops ever since.

This is another one of those Mandela effects that have been claimed to flip and change frequently, as many have complained. Reddit user The_Pudcast says, “I may have experienced a ‘flip flop.’ Wasn’t Froot Loops, Fruit Loops a month or so ago, and now it’s Froot Loops again? When I first started diving into this stuff, I was balls to the wall with it, so I might have gotten my wires crossed.”

Many in the comments have agreed to have similar experiences. How do you remember the sweet breakfast cereal?^[7]

3 Mona Lisa’s Famous Face

Many know of one of the most famous paintings in the world, the Mona Lisa by Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci. This piece of artwork is one of the most talked-about, written about, sung about, and speculated about paintings in the world. However, many claim that the Mona Lisa never had a smile on her face.

People have recalled her expression to be blank. The fact that so many remember this famous painting without a smile is unusual, and believers swear it is more evidence of the Mandela effect phenomena. If the Mona Lisa is smiling in this reality, maybe it’s a good sign.^[8]

2 Hitler’s Eyes

The infamous Austrian-born German dictator Adolf Hitler and his rise to power with the Nazi Party is a subject not likely skipped over in history class. Many remember learning about the war horrors of World War II, specifically about Hitler’s goals for a “master” blond-haired, blue-eyed race. Likewise, many were quick to point out the irony of how Hitler himself had brown eyes, yet he was making such atrocious demands.

It was something many recollected, yet according to Hitler’s medical records, he was noted to have “blue eyes with a faint tinge of gray.” Some of the differences are likely due to many of the photos and videos of Hitler being black and white, but many sources talk about his “extraordinary light blue eyes with a touch of greenish-gray.” ^[9

1 The Matrix, “What if I told you…”

We all remember the famous starting line from the movie The Matrix, “What if I told you…” delivered by Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus. In fact, the line has become so popular it turned into a meme, quoting “What if I told you…” and often followed by a truth bomb or witty commentary.

But what if I told you that the line wasn’t just wrong, but that it never existed? You read that right; the quote was nowhere to be heard in the movie.

Many attributed the line to the scene in which Morpheus presents our lead Neo, played by Keanu Reeves, with a red pill or blue pill. The original lines were actually, “Do you want to know what it is…” Followed by the classic reveal, “The Matrix is everywhere. It is all around us. Even now, in this very room. You can see it when you look out your window or when you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work…when you go to church…when you pay your taxes. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth.”

Still many claim that the line was there originally. Maybe this is some existential proof of our own glitch in the Matrix.^[10]