Doctors warn against excessive use of traditional aphrodisiacs among some young people in Matadi

Doctors in Matadi, in the Kongo-Central province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, express deep concern over the escalating use of traditional aphrodisiacs among young men seeking to improve their sexual performance. These products are readily available in markets, on streets, and online, marketed as natural solutions for sexual vitality.

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This causes us back problems. So, without these reinforcements (aphrodisiacs), we are finished.

However, their compositions remain largely unknown, raising significant health alarms among medical practitioners. Some young men report resorting to these substances to counteract fatigue from demanding jobs. Fiston Bayekula, a motorcycle taxi driver, described working over ten hours daily, stating, "This causes us back problems. So, without these reinforcements (aphrodisiacs), we are finished."

Traditional healers, like James Mutanda, known as Docta, defend these plant-based remedies, emphasizing their role in male endurance. "A man's strength lies in his back. If you have hemorrhoids, you won't be able to perform," he stated.

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A man's strength lies in his back. If you have hemorrhoids, you won't be able to perform.

Despite these claims, Dr. Georges Baka of Kinkanda Hospital dismisses these products as selling an illusion. "There is no medical proof of drugs capable of lengthening or enlarging the penis. These practices expose individuals to serious consequences," he warned. Dr. Baka urges for stricter controls, deeming the free sale of these aphrodisiacs a public health risk.

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There is no medical proof of drugs capable of lengthening or enlarging the penis. These practices expose individuals to serious consequences.