Is your sex life getting you down rather than up? This month we suggest some herbal remedies to get you in the mood and review a few of the natural viagras on offer

Do you need help with your sex life? How many times do you get asked this question? How many junkmails a day do you receive about the latest natural cure for impotence or

flagging sex drive? We sampled a few products and they seemed to perk us up a bit, but no nights of wild sex reported.

Firstly, you need to know that herbal alternatives to Viagra and natural aphrodisiacs haven't been medically tested for use in conjunction with HIV treatments. So you should always consult your GP or HIV consultant before you use them.
Extract of Maca is used in Herbal Y and Herbal X. Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is taken from a potato-like plant found in the Andes. MACA targets the endocrine system and may also help balance hormonal functions in men and

women. Herbal X and Y also contain natural stimulants like guarana, taurine and ginseng. These products work as aphrodisiacs but are unlikely to get you hard.
Another ingredient found in some products (and on it's own as a herbal extract) is Yohimbine or Yohimbe. Claimed to be the only genuine herbal Viagra alternative that works, it has actually been prescribed by Canadian urologists for sexual dyfunction. It works in a similar way to Viagra, with the same precautions about low blood pressure. Yohimbe bark was originally used in western Africa for

fevers. Its effect is to dilate blood vessels, so you shouldn't take it with poppers or other club drugs, or with cardiovascular drugs that lower blood pressure. It lasts up to 20 hours