Couples keen to test deer 'aphrodisiac'

By CATHY ARONSON

A sexual psychologist researching the aphrodisiac benefits of deer velvet is not short of volunteers, but jokes that New Zealand might be short of deer antlers if the research is successful.

Dr Helen Conaglen has been inundated with calls from New Zealand and Australia since she went public two days ago with her planned research, which could prove the sexual benefits of deer velvet that traditional Chinese physicians have claimed for 2000 years.

Dr Conaglen now has 29 out of the 30 couples she needs to test the natural drug, made from the velvet of deer antlers.

The trial, of men aged between 45 and 65 and their female partners, will use the same questionnaire applied in a study on impotency drug Viagra.

"Most couples want to participate because it is interesting and fun or they have used deer velvet before. A lot of people have joked that there might not be enough deer in New Zealand to fulfil demand if it does work."

Dr Conaglen's research is for an anonymous over-the-counter capsule. If it proves the sexual-benefit theory, extra generic research will be needed.

Game Industry Board velvet manager Mark O'Connor said New Zealand was a world leader in deer velvet research and had scientifically proved its health and stamina benefits.

Mr O'Connor said the research would add to New Zealand's booming $35 million to $40 million export market, especially in western countries such as the United States.

Dr Conaglen said the overwhelming response meant the trial could start a month early and the result should be confirmed before the middle of next year.

Half of the male participants will be given the real deer velvet; the other half will have dummy pills.

They will be questioned and have blood tests before and after the three-month trial.