Mukombero (or white ginger, Mondia whitei, from the Apocynaceae family) is a perennial, woody and quite vigorous climber with aromatic roots. It is found in humid forests, such as the Kakamega rainforest in western Kenya, and in swampy forests, riverine forests, wooded savannas and forest margins, at elevations of up to 1,800 meters. The seeds are collected when the fruit begins to open and planted at the beginning of the rainy season. The leaves are between 10 and 30 centimeters wide and ovate with a cordate base.
The roots are pale yellow or brown on the outside and white or pale yellow on the inside. They have a bitter taste reminiscent of ginger and licorice, and an aroma similar to vanilla. The flowers, which have an unpleasant smell, have five pale yellow to reddish-purple petals. The fruit (which is almost woody and contains many seeds) is a pair of large, pale green follicles shaped like a cucumber.
For many years, communities living next to the Kakamega forest have used mukombero root bark in different ways, from chewing raw roots to mixing root powder with porridge to increase appetite. A magazine, Third World Medicine, reports that treating guinea pigs with mukombero extracts caused a significant increase in testosterone, the main male sex hormone. This study suggests that mukombero has sex-stimulating properties, supporting its traditional use as an aphrodisiac. Mr.
Juma says Mukombero does work judging by the number of returning customers. A campaign has been launched in the Kakamega forest to save “mukombero”, a traditional aphrodisiac. According to Radio Netherlands, mukombero is available in Kenyan markets for just one euro, making it much cheaper than Viagra or other pharmaceutical products. The Kenyan Wildlife Service does not include mukombero as an endangered species but rather as a priority wildlife species for which breeding may be allowed with special permits. As a food, mukombero contains a wide range of vitamins (A, D, K and E), minerals (magnesium, iron, zinc and calcium) and proteins. Initially only small children sold it on the streets of Kakamega; now Mukombero is available in almost every city in Kenya. While studies show that mukombero has some aphrodisiac properties, it's unclear whether Mukombero's farmland will provide the touch associated with its wild cousin.
Kavaka Mukonyi Watai, director of bioprospecting at the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), told the Daily Nation newspaper that mukombero is cultivated as a commercial crop in Florida and China. Do these natural aphrodisiacs really work? That depends on who you ask. Performance enhancers in the bedroom - whether they are potent or ineffective street concoctions - have not been lacking from White ginger (Mukombero) to horny goat weed. Extracted from the central highlands of Kenya years ago where it is known as muhukura mainly because of its medicinal value, Mukombero has been used for centuries as an aphrodisiac. It has many names in Africa - especially Mukombero in Kenya - where it is said that chewing the root of the plant or drinking it in the form of tea can increase virility and endurance in the bedroom. Mukombero has been used for centuries as an aphrodisiac and its traditional use is supported by studies showing that it has sex-stimulating properties. While it may not be as potent as Viagra or other pharmaceutical products, it is much cheaper than them - making it accessible to many users in Kenya. The rhinoceros (because of its horn) and the tiger (because of its penis) may be suffering for no reason; Mukombero provides an effective alternative for those looking for performance enhancers in the bedroom.
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