“Supplements for Male Sexual Enhancement Questioned”
There is the old adage that “sex sells” and that is certainly true for dietary supplements promising an enhanced and vigorous sexual life, i.e., “Herbal Viagra.” The underlying concern is for their effectiveness and their safety. Repeatedly, I have cautioned you to disregard wild claims made by supplement advertisements (and Dr. Oz). Male sexual enhancement products have been promoted throughout history and both erectile dysfunction and reduced libido are not a condition limited to modern civilization. The Ebers Papyrus, dating back to around 1,600 BC, recommended topical application of baby crocodile hearts mixed with wood oil. A Sanskrit text written six centuries earlier suggested a man could visit 100 women after consuming a mixture of goat testes boiled in milk, sesame seeds, and the lard of a porpoise. Erectile dysfunction affects an estimated18 million men in the United States and prevalence increases with age. The dietary supplement industry markets hundreds of products for reversing impotence and enhancing male sexual performance.
