As we aged, our sexual drive significantly reduces. This is most noticeable in women after menopause. But as menopause is true in women so is andropause true in men. Andropause though not commonly mentioned but was coined from two Greek words “andras (human male)” and “pause (to stop, cessation)”. So, by definition andropause is a syndrome associated with a decline in sexual satisfaction or a reduction in the feeling of general well being as a result of low levels of testosterone in older men.

This literarily means that both men and women will all start to have potency issues as we reach certain age. But this age varies from one person to the other. So, it is common that when this occurs, especially in men, they resort to the use of sexual enhancement drugs to improve their performances between the sheets, so as to sexually satisfy their partner(s) and to remove the toga of being referred to as a lesser being by their sexual partner(s).

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Sexual dysfunction in men is not only their inability to achieve erection but it includes a gamut of other signs and symptoms associated with the inability to achieve sexual intercourse. The list includes premature ejaculation, retrograde, retarded or inhibited ejaculation, orgasmic disorders, failure to return to calmness after sexual arousal, reduced libido and compulsive sexual behavior.

There are ample examples of sexual stimulants. Viagra (sildenafil) was the first pharmacologically approved medication to treat sexual dysfunction. Though researches into finding such pharmacological products predated Viagra by many millennia. These drugs are also called aphrodisiacs an adaptation from ëAphroditaeí, the name of the Greek goddess of love.

Aphrodisiacs are synthesized from plants animals or minerals. Many natural substances, though with little or no scientific evidence, like yohimbine, mandrake plant, rhinoceros horns and “Spanish fly” are being used as aphrodisiacs. So also are some food substances like strawberries, raw oysters, chocolate, coffee and honey are believed to have some aphrodisiac properties.

In Nigeria, carpolobia lutes, commonly called “poor man’s candle or “cattle stick” is commonly used to treat male erectile disorders and to ease birthing by traditional healers. It is called Egbooshunshunby the Yorubas, Angalagalaor Agba(Igbo), Ikpafun/Ndiyan/Nyayanga(Ibibio) and AbekpokIbuhu(Eket). Derivatives from this plant are also used to treat malaria, inflammation, arthritis and worm infestation.

Burantashi, a Hausa word meaning “penis get up”, is acommonly used powder by the Hausa-Fulani to treat erectile dysfunction. It is from the bark of the African tree Pausinystaliajohimbe. This powder is also commonly used to garnish a local delicacy called “suya’ in Nigeria. It’s active ingredient is the earlier mentioned alkaloid yohimbine. It is called agboidiagbon by the Yorubas.

Another wave making sex stimulants of late is called Kayanmatameaning “women things” in Hausa, these are for women. The male version of this is “maganinmaza”, which means “men potions”.

Locally produced aphrodisiacs are so popular in Nigeria, that they are hawked as “paraga”, burantashi” etc., in all manner of places, from street corners, to filling stations to big malls etc., and even sold over the internet. They are unashamedly bought and used with the presumption that it had little or no side effects.

However, researches have shown that these aphrodisiacs have serious side effects, especially, after prolonging their use  They can result in abnormal sperms production and consequently, male infertility. They can also cause heart attacks and other potential serious heart problems, as well as mini-strokes, vision and hearing losses. It can as well cause blood pressure to drop to a dangerously low level and some even make blood sugar levels to precipitously become too low leading to coma and many a time death.

It is thus imperative to point out in concluding this article and without mincing words with it, that sex stimulants when used over a long period of time may eventually cause a total loss of penal erection and even death. This fact is not far fetched, since there are daily reports of men dying on top of their lovers after fortifying themselves with sex enhancers with the thinking that the more they function on bed, the more manly they are. But to the wise amongst men, never go beyond nature to sexually satisfy any woman, your life is more important.

Punch