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Vuka-vuka may offer new sexual dysfunction cure

Move over Viagra, there's a new "V" in town that may be equally effective for the treatment of male sexual dysfunction.

"Vuka-vuka" is an African plant that has been used traditionally in Malawi and Zimbabwe as a treatment for low sex drive and sexual dysfunction, the Council of Agriculture said yesterday at a press conference.

But Chen Yuan-wu (陳榮五), director-general of the council's Taichung district agricultural research and extension station, said that more research was necessary to determine vuka-vuka's effects before it could be sold as a treatment.

Vuka-vuka, which means "wake up, come alive" in the African language of Nguni, is a vine that is grown for its roots, Chen said, adding that the plant is high in nutritional value, containing vitamins A, D, E and K, as well as minerals such as zinc, iron and calcium.

"Vuka-vuka is known as the `African Viagra,'" said Chen, whose team have ground the root into powder and produced capsules.

What sets vuka-vuka apart from the "little blue pill" is its hormonal influence, Chen said.

"It has been documented that shortly after ingestion of vuka-vuka roots, one's face and head warm up as blood circulation increases. But beyond that, we have found that when fed to male rats, their male hormone level and sperm count also increases," he said, citing a study the station had completed.

"Our studies also indicate that there are no detectable negative effects to the function and structure of the rats' sexual organs, nor have we found vuka-vuka to be toxic," he said.

In addition to treating male sexual dysfunction, Chen's team believe the root may alleviate sciatic nerve pain and enlarged prostates, he said, adding that the effects were more prominent in subjects over 50 years old.

"Further research must be conducted before the plants can be marketed as medicine," Chen said. "The product is full of potential and we hope to work with research institutions to identify the active ingredients in the plant as well as their medical functions."

Chewing on a piece of vuka-vuka, Chen, who introduced the plant to Taiwan three years ago, said he had also come up with recipes combining the roots with traditional Taiwanese foods.

"Vuka-vuka makes a tasty chicken soup," Chen said.

"In the Taichung station we have named vuka-vuka `African ginseng.' It fits very nicely in soup. The plant has a very pleasant smell and was used as a spice and herb by Zulus in Africa as early as the 19th century," Chen said.
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