Evidence · Marketing · 5 min read
A framework for sorting plausible pharmacology from borrowed credibility.
Many products borrow the language of pharmacology—“nitric oxide,” “PDE5,” “testosterone”—without evidence that the product affects those pathways meaningfully.
Is there a plausible mechanism? Is there human clinical evidence at the dose in the product? Can the dose in the product be verified? A product needs all three to be taken seriously.
L-arginine, L-citrulline
Amino-acid supplements with, at best, a small benefit in mild ED in limited studies.
Eurycoma longifolia root extract
Small, mixed studies on libido and testosterone; it does not work like ED medications.
Yohimbe bark extract (yohimbine)
Stimulant-like extract with cardiovascular side effects and frequently inaccurate labels.