'Animal parts don't work'

[Guest guest]

SINGAPORE

The Straits Times

16 Nov 02

 

Improving sex: Root vs horn

Early results show men being more virile after taking tongkat ali and

Malaysia

now plans on bigger trial, says doctor

 

By Sharmilpal Kaur

 

MEN may stand a better chance of boosting their performance in the

bedroom by

turning to help from a plant rather than exotic remedies.

 

 

The tiger's powerful image leads some people to think that its penis

is an

aphrodisiac.

Preliminary tests show that tongkat ali, a herbal aphrodisiac made

from the

root of a plant known by the same name, can add to a man's libido and

sexual

prowess.

 

Known as pasak bumi in Indonesia, tongkat ali in Malaysia, and also

as eurycoma

longifolia, its scientific, Latin name, the plant grows all over

South-east

Asia.

 

Dr Ismail Tambi, who heads the Human Reproduction Specialist Centre

at

Malaysia's National Population and Family Development Board, said

that 30

healthy males between the ages of 31 and 52 were given two capsules

of tongkat

ali a day for three weeks.

 

They reported that their performances in bed had improved - erections

were

stronger and, in some cases, lasted longer. Overall, they felt more

virile.

 

Their levels of testosterone, the male hormone that plays a

significant role in

spurring desire and performance, doubled within three weeks.

 

 

It is the root of tongkat ali that is made into a drug available in

capsule,

liquid and powder form.

At the same time, the level of another hormone that inhibited sex

fell.

 

But Dr Ismail, who is here for the seventh Asian Congress of

Sexology, told The

Straits Times that this was just an initial trial.

 

Starting next year, about 200 healthy males will be involved in a

much bigger

trial to determine if tongkat ali really does the trick.

 

He said that Malaysians spend about RM6 billion (S$2.8 billion) a

year on

potions and drugs to enhance their sexual performance and the

Malaysian

government is planning to invest in a trial that is estimated to cost

RM500,000.

 

The government wants to determine if this is an industry that can be

nurtured

and developed.

 

While there are a few side-effects to using the herbal drug, such as

headaches

or flushing of the face, these fade away after a few days, said Dr

Ismail.

 

But he warned that the medication, which is readily available in

capsule,

liquid and powder form, should be bought from a reputable source.

 

Recently, there had been concern over a large batch of tongkat ali

capsules

that were laced with Viagra, he said.

 

Next on the cards is research to see if tongkat ali works for women.

 

The area he wants to look into is whether the herbal medication can

be modified

to treat post-menopausal women.

 

While tongkat ali seems to have the makings of the next big thing,

using animal

parts to boost virility may well get the boot.

 

Professor Ng Soon Chye, a senior consultant at the National

University

Hospital's obstetrics and gynaecology department, said consuming a

tiger's

penis would not make you a stud in bed. Nor would taking a

rhinoceros' horn.

 

He said there was no scientific evidence to show that animal parts

were

aphrodisiacs though some people feel that they work.

 

Prof Ng, who will also be presenting his findings at the conference,

told The

Straits Times: 'They work through the placebo effect because people

feel it is

going to work.'

 

Some people think that since the tiger is a 'magnificent and

powerful' animal,

consuming its penis will enhance their performance in bed.

 

Similarly, a 'rhinoceros horn looks like a penis' and some people

believe it

has sex-enhancing powers.

 

But he said the horn was made up of just hair and keratin, which is

found in

fingernails. 'They all don't work,' he said.

 

----

 

ANIMAL PARTS 'DON'T WORK'

'All cultures have aphrodisiacs but the Chinese use a alot of animal

parts. For

the Chinese, the tiger's penis and rhinoceros horn play an important

role. But

they don't work. The important things is to educate people that the

use of

animal parts to enhance sexual performance should not be done.'

 

- Professor Ng Soon Chye, a senior consultant at the National

University

Hospital's obstetrics and gynaecology department

 

BUT THIS PLANT DRUG MIGHT

' During the preliminary trial, we found that the testosterone levels

of

another substance that inhibits testosterone also went down. The men

also said

their sexual performance improved.'

 

- Dr Ismail Tambi, who heads the Human Reproduction Specialist Centre

at

Malaysia's National Population and Family Development Board, on the

tongkat ali

test