About Vuka Vuka

From the villages of Zimbabwe has come a special herb that is threatening to give erectile dysfunction mainstays Viagra and Cialis a run for their money. It's called vuka vuka, and it literally translates to "Wake up." In this African country, people have been using the herb for years to energize their sex lives and give them the staying power and stamina that many Americans look to prescription drugs to find. Both CNN and the BBC have done reports on this "miracle herb." Can we expect to see it in the United States and other Western countries before long?

Benefits

• Proponents of vuka vuka say the herb offers a host of benefits, most of them visible under the covers. The herb allows men to experience a sturdier erection, and it should also increase their stamina. Vuka vuka also has benefits for women, including an increase in the amount of lubrication produced and more sexual desire. Some have also pointed out the herb's ability to enhance orgasm.

How It Works

• Vuka vuka, once put into bottled form, claims to work through a three-stage process. The first of these stages is releasing the body's natural testosterone. This energizes the sexual response system and puts both men and women in "the mood." From there, the product works by regulating the nervous system, enhancing pleasure. Finally, it increases blood flow to the genitalia.

In The News

• Vuka vuka was the focus of a special report by the BBC in 2008. In this report, a correspondent visited the African city of Harare to study the popularity of vuka vuka. They found many satisfied customers, including several men who had fathered 5 or 10 children and gave the herb credit for their vigor and stamina in the bedroom. CNN has also reported on the herb and its widespread use in Zimbabwe.

Cost

• While herbalists in African villages have had success selling their remedies for some time, only recently have they begun to turn their attention to tourists. Showing confidence in their product, while easily able to undercut the competition, these herbalists sell their bottles of vuka vuka for only $10, as opposed to Viagra, which comes at the princely sum of $9 a pill.

Dosage

• Because of the unregulated nature of the herb, it is difficult to come up with a failsafe, across the board dosage for vuka vuka. However, most herbalists recommend a dosage of 2 teaspoons following a meal. Unlike Viagra, it is recommended that vuka vuka be taken each day in a regular fashion to keep the levels constant. The FDA has not studied the herb and there are no government-sanctioned regulations or dosage recommendations.