In unfamiliar places, in stressful situations, and after eating unusual things, my digestive system sometimes gets backed up. A large dose of nicotine or caffeine fixes this for me. Caffeine has other side effects in large doses, so I prefer nicotine. I'll take a 6 mg zyn, and 20 minutes later, I will have the bowel movement that I've needed for days.

The issue is that nicotine is famously habit-forming. It is addictive enough that I don't have the willpower to keep it in a medicine cabinet, unused, until the need to defecate arises. I, and many people I know, will use it for any moment that feels uncomfortable and would be smoothed over by a light buzz.

A large part of the habit, for me, is the signal of the tingling in my mouth and the ability to divert attention to something in my mouth. Mints satisfy the latter, but not the former.

Cloves (the spice) satisfy both. They have a strong taste, they make your mouth feel numb and tingly, and they also make your breath smell nice. They're also super cheap and don't have any sweeteners like mints that ruin my pallete. 

My conclusion? Maybe it will work to keep nicotine in a medicine cabinet for digestive emergencies if you carry a little tin of cloves around to satisfy the habit. 

This post was written during the silent hour of LessOnline after a particularly satisfying visit to the restroom.