Firstmed Blog

Alternative medicines for the treatment of erectile dysfunction have been used all over the world for thousands of years with varying levels of success. We at Firstmed are always interested in stories about new treatments and one such story came my way this morning.

It is being reported that Ugandan males suffering from ED are increasingly turning to a species of tree in a bid to achieve an erection.

The West African Omuboro tree is believed to have properties similar to drugs like Viagra, but its beneficial elements are proving to be its downfall, it has been warned.

Citropsis articulata, as the tree is scientifically known, grows slowly in tropical forests and is being harvested at a faster pace than it can reproduce. “Locals strip the tree of all its roots, leaving it with no chance of survival,” said Hannington Oryem-Orida, a professor of botany at Makerere University, the Independent reports.

Local people told the website that they use extracts from the plant - which can be found in the Mabira Forest - to treat erectile dysfunction or just to give their sex lives a boost, although the effects of the tree have yet to be scientifically proven.

This is another case where Viagra could perhaps prove useful in nature conservation. Traditional medicine has often relied on a bizarre mix of animal and plant parts to cure ailments ranging from gout to erectile dysfunction. This folk-medicine industry is known to supply much of the incentive for poachers who are slaughtering animals in places as widely separated as Africa, North America and Asia.

But if men switch from traditional remedies to drugs such as Viagra that may be changing, and a wide range of animal and plant species that have traditionally been sought for their virility enhancing properties may be offered a new lease of life.

Whether this will eventually have a positive impact on endangered animals and plants is as yet interesting speculation.