Why alcoholic bitters boost virility, libido

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Why alcoholic bitters boost virility, libido

Written by Sade Oguntola Thursday, 16 August 2012

alt It is named after Swedish bitters, an old remedy marketed as a digestive aid and sometimes as a detoxifier. Action bitters is a concoction of various herbs mixed with alcohol and meant to satisfy the populace interested in other brands of bitters.

Action Bitters, which takes its credence from its herbal constituent, is however different from other bitters on sale because of its high alcohol content, making it a safe substitute for many alcohol decoctions sold in many towns and cities under such names like “paraga”.

Paraga is a mixture of unrefined or poorly refined alcohol and herbs which is periodically ingested, as a form of self-medication against certain illnesses. It is one of the most popular forms in which herbal medicines are dispensed on the street.

For instance, a 2012 study published in BMC research notes on the prevalence and pattern of paraga use, among intercity commercial drivers operating out of motor parks in Osogbo, Southwest Nigeria indicated that about 25 per cent believe it has therapeutic values, which include treatment of back pain, pile, boost libido and appetite, ensure alertness, energiser and to ward off colds. This, they continue to take as long as which they felt they still had the illness for which paraga was being used.

Understandably, chronic illnesses like back pain or coping with stress related conditions which appear very difficult to manage. For example, chronic back pain, which is an occupational disease of drivers can be very difficult to treat satisfactorily and thus, many resort to trying different types of treatment, including the use of paraga.

However, “Action bitters is a mixture of refined alcohol and natural herbs, with proven medicinal benefits to alleviate backaches, piles and stomach upset and so on that commercial drivers can take as a substitute to paraga,” stated Mr Adekunle Makinde, the Sales Operation Manager, Intercontinental Distillers Limited at the presentation of the product in Ibadan.

Mr Makinde declared: “Action bitters is different from other bitters in the market. It was produced to satisfy customers demand for an alternative to existing bitters in the market that has alcohol in it and still medicinal, restorative and invigorative.

“The combination of herbs used in preparing this brand of bitters, which was approved by NAFDAC and other regulatory bodies, is to help treat conditions such as backache, stomach upset, piles, menstrual pain and so on.”

According to Mr Makinde, herbal constituents of Action Bitters include extracts of bitter kola, Symphonia globulifera (commonly called agérigbédé in Yoruba) and Tetrapleura tetraptera.

Bitter kola is eaten widely for different purposes. Aside being a rich source of caffeine and threobromine, researchers confirmed in the 2009 edition of African Journal of Biotechnology that bitter kola boosts libido because of its aphrodisiac properties.

Bitter kola is a wonderful nut in terms of its antibiotic effects. If eaten properly or administered correctly, it cures effects of most bacterial attacks. Extract from garcinia kola nuts exerts antibacterial effects against E. coli, according to a study published in the April 2008 issue of African Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine.

Action Bitters supports good health is understandable because bitter kola also helps to boost immunity, thus prevents cold. A study in the 2008 issue of The Internet Journal of Pulmonary Medicine, performed on mice, reports that garcinia kola improved respiratory function after 28 days of use of a garcinia extract. The study carried out by David A. Ofusori from Igbinedion University in Nigeria, indicated that garcinia kola was beneficial to the lungs because of its high antioxidant content.

In Nigeria, Tetrapleura tetraptera is commonly known as Aidan or Aridan in Yoruba, dawo in Hausa, and ashobo or ashosho in Igbo.

Tetrapleura tetraptera is a medicinal plant with many folkloric uses. Some of the folkloric uses of this popular West African plant have been authenticated in laboratory and field experiments. Tetrapleura tetraptera is reportedly used as a spice, a medicine and as a dietary supplement rich in vitamins.

The plant is claimed to be therapeutically useful in the management and/or control of an array of human ailments, including arthritis and other inflammatory conditions, asthma, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, convulsion, leprosy, epilepsy, schistosomiasis, among others.

The plant is also reported to have magico-medicinal attributes to cure cough and haemorrhoids. For instance, Professor Clement Adewunmi of the Drug Research and Production Unit in the Faculty of Pharmacy at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria in collaboration with other experts working on Tetrapleura tetraptera had found it helpful in ameliorating pain in conditions such as arthritis as well as prevent convulsion in children.

“A two-year study was carried out on Action Bitters; it was subjected to taste panels just to be sure that the variety’s efficacy is comparable with those in the market. It is a medicinal brand unlike our other products, meant to help with backaches that many drivers experience due to long sitting.”

“Unlike paraga that is patronised in commercial garages, Action Bitters when taken twice in a day does not cause diarrhoea. Of course, the quality of its alcohol content is higher than what is in paraga around town and has been found helpful in enhancing sexual vitality.”

Ironically, Mr Makinde pointed out that individuals wanting to prevent malaria should take Action Bitters twice in a day. According to him, the product can be used by all age groups.

Mr Kareem Atanda, a 23-year-old resident of Lagos, in his comment on Action Bitters stated, “Action Bitters boost my health.” He stated that despite his hectic lifestyle, regular daily intake of Action Bitters keeps his energy and virility high.

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