'Formula' contains herbal ingredients

By JUHA SAARINEN

Atkinson sent the Herald a sample bottle of the US-made VP-RX pills he sells, which unlike the spam does not make any claims about penis enlargement. They are labelled as a "male formula" and contain herbal ingredients (see below).

Most of these herbal ingredients can be found in pills at supermarkets and are much cheaper than what Atkinson and others charge - US$69.95 ($118.86) a bottle for half an inch (1.2cm) growth or US$239.95 ($407.74) for six bottles, which is apparently what you need for three inches (7.6cm).

So do the pills actually work?

"I gave some to a mate to try out, and with additional exercises he reckons his penis is a couple of centimetres longer, and we have had email testimonials as well," said Atkinson.

But he admitted he hadn't heard of anyone gaining three inches by using his pills. He also sent a small bottle of "Human Euphoria", which according to the label is a "men's cologne that contains real human pheromones known to attract the opposite sex".

My cats had a sniff of it and ran away. Tests with women indicated I would have greater success with turpentine.

Atkinson's VP-RX pills sold in New Zealand do not appear to contain the yohimbe bark extract found in similar products that the US Food and Drugs Administration says has been reported to cause "adverse effects, including renal failure, seizures and death".

Atkinson said he had received assurances by the manufacturer the pills were not harmful, even to people with high blood pressure. Only a "few orders" were going to New Zealand men every month. Ministry of Health Medsafe manager Clare van der Lem said making a therapeutic claim - "Gain 3 inches to your penis, with VP-RX pills!" - was a breach of the Medicines Act if the product had not been assessed through the usual route for approval of medicines.

A "therapeutic claim" was defined as anything purporting to "make better, improve symptoms or cure", said van der Lem. Companies breaching the law can be fined up to $100,000.

Individuals doing the same face a maximum fine of $20,000, with prison a possibility. The ministry was unable to give any advice about the ingredients of the pills or whether there were detrimental health effects.

What the pills contain

Listed ingredients: Vitamin E - 10IU, soy protein concentrate - 275mg, cuscuta seed - 100mg, Epimedium sagittatum extract - 60mg, Gingko biloba leaf - 60mg, Ginseng panax root - 60mg, Tribulus terrestris herb aerial part - 25mg, Saw palmetto-fructose serenoae - 25mg, hawthorne berry-fructose crataegi - 25mg, inosine - 25mg, oat straw - 16mg, cayenne fruit - 10mg.

FDA: Illnesses and injuries associated with the use of selected dietary supplements