Please let us know what your experiences are after a few weeks. Many of us are in the same boat. Thanks!

Post a list of ingredients for the product and we can probably tell you what if any effect it might have. My aunt was using a new product the other day and when I looked at the ingredients, the first was soy in two forms. Of course it made her feel just like she would have using estrogen! Something to be careful with if you can't take or don't need the estrogen.

The ingredients of a day's 6-capsule dose are listed as: L-Arginine (2500 mg), Korean Ginseng (100 mg), Ginkgo Biloba (50 mg), Damiana leaves (50 mg), Vitamin A (5000 IU), Vitamin C (60 mg), Vitamin E (30 IU), Thiamin (1.5 mg), Riboflavin (1.7 mg), Niacin (20 mg), Vitamin B-6 (2 mg), Folate (400 mcg), Vitamin B-12 (6 mcg), Biotin (300 mcg), Pantothenic Acid (10 mg), Calcium (500 mg), Iron (9 mg), Zinc (7.5 mg)

Aside from the fairly normal vitamins, which might require an adjustment to any other vitamin doses you are currently taking to avoid excess, the other ingredients are the amino acid arginine and the traditional herbals gingko, ginseng and damiana.

They all have skimpy research, but it looks like there at least may be a passing link to the same action as Viagra: boosting blood nitrous oxide which improves circulation to genitalia (specifically, the clitoris). There is also some support and considerable recommendation for several of these as brain-active compounds that increase dopamine and serotonin and stimulate testosterone. Several have hormone-like actions, so perhaps (perhaps) interfere/enhance the effect of existing hormones. Weil and Collins both endorse damiana for libido problems, if they are sources you find credible. Arginine is also recommended by Larraine Gillespie for hot flash suppression. Gingko has a few early results indicating that it may help counteract the libido suppression of SSRI antidepressants.

Aside from the clotting time prolongation caused by the gingko, there doesn't look to be a whole lot of risk (except for the statistically-insignificant person for whom, surprise, there may be an unforseen risk) in experimenting with this stuff. It's expensive--possibly more so than assembling these ingredients from other, less pricey sources--and requires a committment to taking all 6 caps. Taking arginine may only be helpful if you have a deficiency in it--and it's found in chicken, dairy stuff, chocolate, so it's hardly obscure.

Will it work? Hard to know. Some may feel that even for a placebo effect, it's worth the try for the return of libido. My personal opinion is that it's going to be an individual thing, not a guaranteed cure-all. But I'm watching the results here and elsewhere with interest.

Framboise

Who is Larriane Gillespie and why are ?her/?his recommendations credible?

Her (and my apologies for the misspelling: it's Larrian Gillespie) The Menopause Diet book and website (http://www.menopausediet.com/) have a large following. Whether or not you find her a credible source depends on how you feel about her writings. I'm not interested in debating her level of authority, but am simply pointing her out as someone who has spoken on the utility of one of these compounds for the sake of those who do find her credible.

For the sake of those who are not familiar with the other two names I referred to, they are Andrew Weil (http://www.drweil.com/) and Joseph Collins (http://yourmenopausetype.com/).

All of these people claim various credentials, claim to have done research, are selling things. I trust that the intelligent women on this board are capable of evaluating for themselves how much credibility they wish to give their and every other opinion expressed here.

Framboise

I agree with Garden Girl. I am not ready to give up sex, but I have had absolutely no libido for over a year.

I ordered Damiana Leaf capsules (1000 mg) which suggests I take 1 per day. From the internet research I've done on this herb, it may help my libido problem.

I have no problems with hot flashes; just no libido.

Good luck to everyone, and PLEASE SHARE your experiences with these herbs -- good or bad!
Tally

Thank you for correcting the spelling since it allows one to check on the credentials of the individual. I think I am not impressed by the recommendations of a doctor whose license has been suspended since 1997 and who claimed the title of urogist when she has failed the board exams both times she took them. The FDA also banned her from clinical testing of drugs in 1989 and that suspension remains in effect. YMMV of course as to the qualifications you expect of your "experts.".

I read "The Menopause Diet" and was not at all impressed. I found little or no solid medical information in the book. I believe she practices in the L.A. area. But Leigh, how did you get all this info about her? Can you practice medicine in California without a license?

See: http://www.ic-network.com/editorials/296.html. The FDA info is also available on their page if you search for "suspended researchers." Information regarding the current status of her (or any other CA doctor's) license is available on the CA State medical board Docfinder site. This info is available on line for most states. CA now includes specifics regarding malpractice suits on this page as well but it did not begin this practice until 1998 and it was not made retroactive.

Gillespie is no longer practicing medicine in CA, or anywhere else to my knowledge. However, if she were doing so, a complaint would have to filed and investigated before she could be stopped.

Thanks for the info.

Is there any data on Weil and Collins, as I am still interested in Damiana Leaves. I'm on day 3 of this herb for low libido. I'll check in periodically with my progress :)

Sure, Weil and Collins can be debunked on various grounds as well. That's the problem with unregulated herbals: there is neither the government regulation to require standardized testing of them nor a great deal of credible research. You can look for clues in their writing, you can look through the supporting bibliographies they offer, you can email them and ask. It all comes down, at this point, to observational stuff (as in, "I've seen women who used XX respond by..."). That's how your doctor handles diagnosis and treatment, too, so don't be too quick to throw that reasoning out: a doctor learns in med school, observes throughout his/her own practice (which is a profit-making business), reads when she has a chance, and is continuously lobbied by drug reps on a commercial mission. There are no perfect answers, so sometimes we have a choice of doing nothing or keeping our eyes open and cautiously going where indications look promising. The most rigorous of research only speaks to statistics and average, not personal certainty. Only you can evaluate where enough promise lies for you to balance against the risks of uncertainty. The fact that these questionable but popular figures recommend something can be taken with as much faith as you happen to have in them: all, none, or deep suspicion. Tally and Gardengirl have made the leap of faith (or hope) to start taking this and obviously have chosen to accept the risks. I look forward to their personal, experiential reports.

Framboise

Still waiting, 1.5 weeks.

I think if this stuff actually worked, we'd be hearing a lot more about it than we are.

That's also my thinking Cindy. On the other hand, I've seen a few first-person favorable reports that seem well thought out. Of course there is always the placebo factor (although to some extent, who cares, if the substance seems benign and the benefits are real?) as an active part of that, too.

I still think that there are probably women with specific biochemical shortages or defects who may be helped by one or another or the combination of the herbal and vitamin ingredients. After all, you have to consider that an experiencial body of herbalist experience has targeted some of these herbs, out of the zillions available, as libido-enhancing. That by no means suggests that this is the best approach, simply one that may move beyond mere coincidence or wishful thinking. For those who want to move beyond the proven, into the data-gathering, it has more to recommend itself than, say, chewing on cardboard boxes or howling at the moon.

It wouldn't be the approach I'd take, but for women who feel that a vitamin/herb regimen is the best for their own particular body and belief system, it may be worth looking at (not necessarily that commercial product, but that approach/ingredients). It's a place to start. Whether it's a dead end remains to be seen. Given that the widespread publicity has attracted a lot of users who might not otherwise have stumbled on it, we certainly have a large, if uncontrolled (with all the flaws that implies), trial population. If there is widespread applicability for its claims, they should be showing up over the next few months. My expectation is that a majority will, at that price and dosing frequency, abandon it during or after the first bottle. I am, nonetheless, waiting and listening with an open mind: I don't believe we have all possible answers in hand.

Framboise

Hi again!

I've been on Damiana Leaves (1000 mg/day) for over 10 days, and the one thing I've noticed so far is that I have stopped grinding my teeth at night. I'm a very tense person, and this is amazing.

Still waiting for the inner calm to convert to some highly-charged interest in romance again. My husband is very interested in this little experiment!

Best wishes to everyone!
Tally

Gardengirl I can relate to you. My libido dropped drastically after I had my little girl two years ago. I never imagined this could happen. My husband and I have had our ups and downs, but patience and perserverance have seen us through. A lady at my hair salon provided me with Viacreme. I can say after two years my life has been more peaceful.

I assume the Damiana did not work.

UPDATE: Arginmax is working for me....finally. I've had more fun in the bedroom in the past 3 weeks than in the past 6 months. It's expensive, though. I'm almost out, will need to go back to GNC.

UPDATE: no incease in sexual drive with Damiana Leaves after 4 weeks. I have an appointment with OB/GYN next week to discuss my problem. I am willing to try testosterone at this point!

Good luck, Garden Girl and everyone!

Tally

Garden Girl,
I'm little confused. On July 6th you posted that you were still waiting. Then in your July 31st post you said that Arginmax had been working for the last 3 weeks. Did it start working for you right after that July 6th post? At any rate, if this stuff really works for you, I think a lot of us would be interested in trying it. Did you have a total lcak of libido before you started taking it? That's the condition a lot of us are in. How big an improvement do you get on this stuff? Thanks in advance.

Due to GardenGirl's post I decided to find out a little more about Arginmax. Turns out they have a website. Of course they are trying to sell their product, but apparently there is some data from clinical trials. That's more than I can say for most products of this type. Anyway, I bought some at GNC tonight and I am going to try it. I'll keep you posted.

I don't know or really care if it's a placebo effect of taking Arginmax or not, but the clinical trial data that had been reported in the media is what led me to try it. I noticed NO change in my low libido at the time I posted Jul 6th. When I posted again on the 31st and thought backward, all I could remember was that for the previous 3 weeks, my libido had kicked in again. No, it is not raging and I'm not attacking DH when the sun goes down, but am able to respond and/or initiate now on a weekly basis when there wasn't a glimmer of a chance of that happening before. I ran out of Arginmax for approx 5 days before buying more, and this weekend (when we have more free time) will tell me if that lapse has made any difference. Recommended dosage is high--6 tablets/day. I followed that the first 2 wks or so, 3 in the am/3 in the pm, then dropped back to 3/day as I was beginning to doubt the PR but at the same time didn't want to run out too soon before I'd given it at least a month. Was about ready to give up when I discovered renewed desire. I'm not saying it will work for anyone else; just that for now, it's working for me. If it's all in my head, I don't even care.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, perimenopausal ladies (46 on Arginmax and 47 without) reported significantly increased satisfaction with their sexual relationship (73% on Arginmax vs. 40% in the control group) and 91% reported increased frequency in sexual intercourse (compared with 20% in placebo group). Rather impressive results but my question would be why 18% of the women who were not more satisfied went ahead with more intercourse...Other outcomes that were significant: increased lubrication, frequency of sexual desire, ssatisfaction with the sexual relationship, and degree of clitoral sensation.

Thanks for the info Judy. Someone on the Power Surge boards also mentioned this study. Hopefully ladies who post here (or at the Power Surge site) will try this stuff let us know if it worked for them.

Anyone else tried this Arginmax deal? No one has mentioned it lately. I took it for a few days, but taking 6 tablets a day is a lttle much.

I've been taking it for about 3mos. now. It has helped somewhat but it certainly hasn't made me the sex goddess my DH would like me to be LOL...I did cut the dosage down to only 3 a day which I take at bedtime. I take so many vitamins at this point that the other 3 in the morning along with my other vitamins was giving me indigestion. This method seems to be working as well as if I had taken 6. To be honest I am not that impressed considering how expensive it is. I don't think I will be buying anymore when I finally run out.