A Doctor Reviewed Every Ingredient in VigRX. Here Is What He Found.

Before VigRX had a published clinical trial to point to, a New York physician named Henry S. Edelson, MD sat down with the supplement facts panel and went through every ingredient to answer a basic question: does the science support what this formula is supposed to do?

The review was conducted in October 2003 and submitted through legal counsel. It is not a clinical trial. But it is an independent medical evaluation of the ingredient rationale, and some of what it found is worth knowing.

German Commission E, the scientific body that evaluated herbal medicines for the German government, recognized Ginseng for its effect on lack of stamina. Multiple controlled studies (Bucci, Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 2000) demonstrated improvements in muscular strength, work capacity, and psychomotor performance. Dr. Edelson concluded that Ginseng supports sexual performance through the pathway of improved overall energy and stamina. 

Saw Palmetto inhibits the enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT, the same mechanism as the prescription drug finasteride, but without the prescription. Research at the time showed efficacy comparable to finasteride for reducing prostate size in men with BPH. The indirect benefit to sexual wellness: men who are not preoccupied with urinary urgency tend to be more at ease during sex.

This is the standout finding in the letter. Dr. Edelson cites a double-blind study conducted by Steven Lamm, MD (then at NYU School of Medicine) that enrolled 48 men over a 45-day period. In the placebo arm, no subjects reported changes in sexual satisfaction. In the herbal preparation arm, 13 of 20 men reported improved sexual satisfaction. Dr. Lamm's interpretation was that the effect may operate through a testosterone-like mechanism.

13 of 20 men on the herbal preparation reported improved sexual satisfaction. Zero in the placebo group. That is a meaningful signal, and this finding predates the larger IIEF clinical trial by several years.

Traditional use in prevention of sexual disorders, with no reported side effects or health hazards. Dr. Edelson concluded its inclusion in the formula provided a plausible positive contribution.

Used in herbal medicine as a treatment for impotence. The mechanism of action was not established in the literature at time of review, but there are reports suggesting it may affect dopamine signaling, which would have implications for desire and pleasure rather than physical performance.

Chinese medicine use for urinary tract health. Limited direct research on sexual function, though one study documented an antineoplastic effect on prostate cancer cells. 

German Commission E approved Ginkgo for peripheral circulation disorders, brain dysfunction, vertigo, and tinnitus. 

German Commission E approved for heart and lung conditions. Improves coronary perfusion. 

Dr. Edelson concluded that while not every ingredient had a fully documented direct effect on sexual performance, the combination of Horny Goat Weed, Catuaba, Cuscuta, and Ginseng was capable of producing a significant collective effect. His summary assessment: the VigRx formulation has a high likelihood of achieving its stated goal of improving sexual performance.

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