The only government agency to take a plunge into the sex tonic market, GSFDC dug deep into the vast herbal treasures of Gujarat to come out with the desi sex tonic. It plans to push the tonic into the national and international market in two months' time.

Highly placed sources in the GSFDC told The Indian Express that the State Food and Drugs Controller had been informed about the new product late last week. The sources said the new product did not need to be registered as a new product under the ongoing Dhanvantri Project of the state government and would be available on an OTC (over-the-counter) basis.

Exclusively meant for consumption of men, the herbal mixture (powder) made of ingredients such as `musli' (chlorophytum), `koucha' (mucuna purita), `jethimad'(glycerhiaz glabra), `satawari' (asparagus racemousus), `gokhuru' (tribuslus terrespris) and `ashwagandha' (withania somnifera) is supposed to be taken with milk for 10 days as one course which may be effective for months together.

The letter to the FDC categorically mentions that the product -- it may be called `paurush' (male vitality or virility), `kam-dipan' (meaning flame of the sexual urge) or ``manthan vilasini'' (that which enhances the male erection) -- has been tested and found to be an effective herbal medicine to cure sexual weakness, enhance erection and semen quality as well as prove beneficial for the heart, blood pressure and nervous system.

Though GSFDC managing director Dr D P S Verma refused to elaborate on the tonic, maintaining that the plan had just taken off, he admitted that the future of all the 26 herbal medicines -- already in the market -- was bright. ``The next millennium is that of herbal medicines and Gujarat has a monopoly in several. We are also planning to create awebsite on all the medicines,'' he said.

On being informed about the GSFDC move, top office-bearers of the Gujarat branch of the Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association Dr Dushyant Patel and Ketan Naik welcomed a bid by a government agency as it has better credentials. They, however, warned that proper studies and tests needed to be conducted before the drug was introduced in the market.

Senior Ayurved doctor Rajendra Hathi and Government Ayurvedic College Principal (incharge) G K Chaturvedi also lauded the move by GSFDC as it was directly associated with forest produce and could hence produce a genuine drug. Chaturvedi even offered to give any help from his institution for the promotion of Ayurveda.

Thumbs up for herbal

Though State Health and Forest Ministers Ashok Bhatt and Kanjibhai Patel said they did not know anything about GSFDC's new product, they assured promotion of all herbal products since, according to them, a Rs 2,300-crore market awaited Gujarati herbal medicines if marketedproperly in the world. Other top officials pointed out that Dhanvantri medicines already fetched more than Rs 10-15 lakh annually and sales were expected to go up further. The emphasis now is now on optimum production and use of forest herbs, thus promoting welfare of tribals who grow and collect them.