# What can and can't I build up a tolerance to? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 23, 2005, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-and-cant-i-build-up-a-tolerance-to/313820 "2005-07-23T18:01:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-and-cant-i-build-up-a-tolerance-to/313820/41 "2005-07-30T02:21:09Z")
Some of the burn from Listerine comes from the thymol which is a strong germ killer. It’s the same compound that gives thyme its flavor, used in seasoning food. When just the leaves of the plant are used, it imparts a savory aroma to cuisine. When the essential oil is concentrated, it can cause severe irritation, worse than capsaicin, on contact. That’s what’s in Listerine. Ancient legends of the kingdom of Pontus tell of the king Mithridates who fought the Roman Empire. He was said to have taken minute quantities of poisons beginning when he was a boy, and was reputed to have built up enough of a tolerance to them to be able to survive poisoning attempts. He gave his name to the verb “mithridate” meaning to gradually build up such a tolerance. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote a bizarre poem titled “Mithridates” in which he imagined the king of Pontus omnivorously devouring all kinds of non-food objects in a sort of indiscriminate appetite. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-and-cant-i-build-up-a-tolerance-to/313820/42 "2005-07-30T02:35:33Z")
> [@alterego](#): > > Is it true that you can slowly build up a tolerance to poisons? According to [this report](http://www.dartmouth.edu/~toxmetal/TXQAas.htm) from Dartmouth University you apparently can, at least as far as arsenic is concerned. From the article: > [@](#): > > There is evidence that humans and other animals can build up tolerance to the toxic effects of arsenic. A society of “arsenic eaters” who deliberately consumed arsenic-laden soils in their religious practices developed a high tolerance for arsenic. Rasputin was reported to regularly ingest arsenic to build tolerance and to protect himself from poisoning. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-and-cant-i-build-up-a-tolerance-to/313820/43 "2005-07-30T02:38:52Z")
I can already eat Jalapeños and not (generally) find them very hot, but they do make me feel rotten (as do banana peppers, green chiles and raw onions). Can that sort of tolerance be increased? ---
**Author:** ![Ring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Ring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ring)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-and-cant-i-build-up-a-tolerance-to/313820/44 "2005-07-30T03:39:17Z")
> [@samm](#): > > you guys! you guys! this is SO important that i had to register to tell you all: > > you know how water will stay in a straw if you hold your finger over one end of it? and it will run right out if release your finger? > > the same principle applies to onions! do NOT cut one end off and none (fewer) of the juices/vapors will run out and make you cry! > > try it! it’s amazing! you can practically get your face inches from it and barely notice. > > shame on all you chefs for not knowing this! I find this hard to believe, but nonetheless I’m going to give it a try. If your expenditure saves my poor eyeballs I at least will consider it to be money well spent. And BTW welcome to the good ship SDMB. Also anybody know how I should of punctuated “….eyeballs I at least will consider…” ---
**Author:** ![jawdirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@jawdirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jawdirk)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-and-cant-i-build-up-a-tolerance-to/313820/45 "2005-07-30T05:54:47Z")
> [@Ring](#): > > If your expenditure saves my poor eyeballs I at least will consider it to be money well spent. And BTW welcome to the good ship SDMB. If your expenditure saves my poor eyeballs, at least I will consider it money well spent. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-and-cant-i-build-up-a-tolerance-to/313820/46 "2005-07-30T06:24:11Z")
I’ve had just the opposite reaction as the OP to Listerine. I’ve gotten so used to it that using Scope or something similar has no effect. It feels so weak. Same thing with alcohol. My favorite tipple these days is Old Weller Antique bourbon, at 107 proof. If I have some Jim Beam, it tastes like water. Same with chilis. I eat jalapenos like they were Tic-Tacs. 😃 Guess I can get used to just about anything. ---
**Author:** ![RandomLetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@RandomLetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLetters)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-and-cant-i-build-up-a-tolerance-to/313820/47 "2005-07-30T06:31:28Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > [hijack] > > Are swimming goggles sufficient protection against airborne sulfur compounds from onions? Or are they not sufficiently airtight? > > [/hijack] _ **The goggles, they do nothing!** _ ---
**Author:** ![Kegg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Kegg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kegg)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-and-cant-i-build-up-a-tolerance-to/313820/48 "2005-07-30T08:24:59Z")
I’ve tried the “do not cut the root end” and it works sort of. * * * Spelling and grammer subject to change withour notice. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-and-cant-i-build-up-a-tolerance-to/313820/49 "2005-07-30T11:44:42Z")
Agreed with Kegg, except it doesn’t work at all for me. However, I have a pretty severe reaction to onions (lasts an hour or two usually) with tearing so bad I can’t see and a lot of pain. I just don’t cook with onions, it’s easier. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-and-cant-i-build-up-a-tolerance-to/313820/50 "2005-07-30T14:59:45Z")
It doesn’t work. The standard chef’s way of dicing an onion involves not cutting off the root. You still cry like a motherfuck when you do it though. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-and-cant-i-build-up-a-tolerance-to/313820/51 "2005-07-30T15:34:23Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Guess I can get used to just about anything. Bet you wouldn’t say that after meeting my ex. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-and-cant-i-build-up-a-tolerance-to/313820.md?page=2)