Spanish Fly: Natural Aphrodisiac Or Empty Promise? - Healthline

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HealthlineSubscribeWhat Is Spanish Fly and What Is it Used for?

Medically reviewed by Kerry Boyle D.Ac., M.S., L.Ac., Dipl. Ac., CYT — Written by Adrienne Santos-Longhurst — Updated on August 1, 2025

Origins
Current use
Alternatives
Consent
Takeaway

Key takeaways

“Spanish fly” products sold today are typically ineffective and do not contain cantharidin, the substance from blister beetles that was historically used.
The original “Spanish fly,” derived from blister beetles, is a dangerous substance that can cause severe health issues, including organ damage and even death.
For those seeking to enhance libido or sexual performance, proven alternatives like regular exercise, adequate vitamin D exposure, and massage are safer and more effective options.

Spanish fly refers to a number of love potions and aphrodisiacs available on the market for decades.

Just a few drops of Spanish fly are supposed to increase sex drive or help people sustain an erection for longer.

In reality, most products sold as Spanish fly contain little more than water and sugar. The ingredient Spanish fly is named after is quite potent and can have negative health effects.

You’ll notice that the language used to share stats and other data points is pretty binary, fluctuating between the use of “male” and “female” or “men” and “women.”

Although we typically avoid language like this, specificity is key when reporting on research participants and clinical findings.

The studies and surveys referenced in this article didn’t report data on or include participants who were transgender, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, genderqueer, agender, or genderless.

Where does it come from?

True Spanish fly is made from blister beetles, specifically the substance produced by the beetles called cantharidin. The insect’s name is not for nothing; contact with cantharidin can blister skin.

Its use dates way back, and some of its many fans included:

a Roman empress who used cantharidin to encourage sexual behavior, worthy of blackmailing her family with
Roman gladiators who used it for orgies
queens who used it on their kings and those kings on their mistresses to spice things up

Dried beetles would be crushed and mixed with drinks or sweets — not always to the receiver’s knowledge — and consumed to promote feelings of warmth throughout the body and swelling of the genitals. But these warm fuzzies are due to inflammation, not attraction.

Along with long-lasting erections, Spanish fly was found to cause a number of serious side effects, including death. Yes, even death, as Marquis de Sade tragically discovered in 1772 after giving sweet aniseed balls laced with Spanish fly to sex workers who ended up dying horrible deaths from it.

Since then, the potential dangers of using Spanish fly have been well documented and include:

painful urination
blood in urine
vomiting blood
difficulty swallowing
priapism, or painful erections lasting more than 4 hours
abdominal pain
kidney failure
gastrointestinal bleeding
convulsions
seizures
coma

Can I still buy it?

You can still find products called Spanish fly online and in sex shops today, though they don’t contain cantharidin or the insect. Even those that claim to be “original” Spanish fly are made of ingredients found in most other products marketed as natural or herbal aphrodisiacs, such as maca, ginseng, and ginkgo biloba.

Researchers have studied the effects of cathardin on some conditions, including certain cancers, molluscum contagiosum, and warts. In 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a cathardin as a topical treatment for molluscum contagiosum. Ycanth (canthardin) is available for people 2 years of age and older.

Are there any alternatives?

Despite flashy ads and bold claims, there’s not much evidence to support the use of aphrodisiac products.

If you’re looking for ways to boost your libido or improve your sexual performance, there are things that you can do.

Get more exercise

Unlike Spanish fly, exercise has actually been proven to increase sexual arousal. A 2018 study linked chronic exercise to improved arousal and sexual satisfaction in women.

Some studies have also linked exercise to a lower risk of impotence, better erections, and improved sexual function in young and older men.

How can exercise accomplish all of this? It all comes down to its association with:

increased blood flow
higher stamina and energy levels
increased confidence
better mood and lower stress levels
the release of endorphins
increased genital response

Get some sunshine

There’s evidence that vitamin D increases testosterone in men with low sexual desire and causes a threefold improvement in sexual satisfaction.

Sunshine also makes us happier because it boosts vitamin D levels, which help regulate hormones related to mood that also happen to play a role in arousal, including serotonin, dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline.

Try massage

Massage increases serotonin and dopamine. It also reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

Indulging in a sensual massage with your partner will help you both de-stress and can work as foreplay. Some massage oil and your hands are all you need.

A note about consent

Consent is a must before you engage in any type of sexual contact.

Herbal aphrodisiacs may seem harmless enough, but dosing someone without their knowledge is dangerous and illegal.

if you suspect you’ve been given some
If you suspect that someone has given you some sort of aphrodisiac without consent, get help right away. Find someone who can help you, call the police if you feel comfortable doing so, and request to see a healthcare professional, even if the substance was supposedly “natural.”

The bottom line

True Spanish fly is very dangerous and nearly impossible to find these days. Products bearing the name still exist, though they’re probably ineffective.

If you or your partner are concerned about your low libido or sexual health, speak with a healthcare professional who can rule out an underlying medical condition and suggest proven treatments to boost your sex drive.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Almuqahwi A, et al. (2023). A systematic review on the relationship between physical activity and sexual function in adults.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38288234/
Del Rosso JQ (2019). Topical cantharidin in the management of molluscum contagiosum: Preliminary assessment of an ether-free, pharmaceutical-grade formulation
FDA approves first treatment for molluscum contagiosum. (2023).https://www.fda.gov/drugs/news-events-human-drugs/fda-approves-first-treatment-molluscum-contagiosum
Gerbild H, et al. (2018). Physical activity to improve erectile function: A systematic review of intervention studies. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esxm.2018.02.001
Karras DJ, et al. (1996). Poisoning from “Spanish fly” (cantharidin). DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0735-6757(96)90158-8
Stanton AM, et al. (2018). The effects of exercise on sexual function in women. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sxmr.2018.02.004
Su C-C, et al. (2016). Cantharidin induced oral squamous cell carcinoma cell apoptosis via the JNK-regulated mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum stress-related signaling pathways. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0168095
Ycanth (cnthardin). (n.d.).https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/212905s000lbl.pdf
Vakharia PP, et al. Efficacy and safety of topical cantharidin treatment for molluscum contagiosum and warts: A systematic review. (2018) 19: 791.https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-018-0375-4

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Medically reviewed by Kerry Boyle D.Ac., M.S., L.Ac., Dipl. Ac., CYT — Written by Adrienne Santos-Longhurst — Updated on August 1, 2025

Spanish Fly: Natural Aphrodisiac Or Empty Promise? - Healthline

Key takeaways

Where does it come from?

Can I still buy it?

Are there any alternatives?

Get more exercise

Get some sunshine

Try massage

A note about consent

The bottom line

How we reviewed this article:

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