I agree with you on the talking to your doctor first thing. Beyond that, I just really don't approve of anything that doesn't get proper research. I don't care if it's all natural or not.

There's this comedian Tim Minchin who has a beat poem called "Storm" that I love which addresses the issue. Anything along these lines always make me think of the lines that go "by definition alternative medicine has either not been proved to work, or has been proved not to work. do you know what they call alternative medicine that has been proved to work? Medicine."

Generally speaking, if it doesn't get reviewed, you just don't know. Most of the natural supplement stuff doesn't have to be reviewed, which is ridiculous. "Supplements" don't have to be reviewed for their safety, effectiveness or even if they are what they say they are. I recall a while ago one brand called BOOM had some sort of controversy with an ingredient, I believe revolving around having doses of actual pharmaceuticals in the formula without crediting it. When it was discovered, I'm pretty sure the company just changed its name. less

I was offered Hot Rawks aphrodisiac supplement as an assignment which I declined. I would not be willing to take any supplements designed to be an aphrodisiac or enhance the sex drive because I feel that many supplements not be the safest or healthiest for your body. Any pill that anybody takes should be discussed with your doctor first anyway to determine whether or not your health care professional feels that it is safe to take. Even things that are vegan and all natural can react with other medications and have an impact on the body. Would any of you try an aphrodisiac supplement if offered as a free assignment? less

Right with you on the "you know what they call alternative medicine that works? Medicine!", CherryLane.

Basically, it would depend on the product for me, so I checked 'other'. I am not afraid of FDA-approved vitamin supplements. I would not accept an assignment for something whose ingredients I didn't recognize, or which did not have FDA approval. I might take an assignment for a homeopathic pills and then spend the "personal experience" section of the review talking about the homeopathic sleeping pill attempted suicide (guess what? Everybody overdosed---nobody died!)

I generally don't take medicines unless I've researched the heck out of them, though. Which leaves me with nothing but Tums, a multivitamin, Azo, some medicated chapstick, some rubbing alcohol, and some triple antibiotic ointment in my medicine cabinet. I don't mind, I've made it though everything so far! less

I would accept it, and I did.

Actually, when I went to choose a manufacturer review, I actually had chosen the supplement. It was not assigned to me, I asked for it! lol


I am on a daily medication, and am not worried about the ingredients reacting with my medications at all. I know a lot about the meds I have been on (for about 2 years now) and what I can and cannot have with them.

I decided to review the Hot Rawks for a few reasons:

1. I've never reviewed anything like this before, and I thought it would "broaden my horizons" in my reviewing skills.
2. The Hot Rawks is supposed to help your libido yes, but it also is supposed to help with stress, energy, etc. So even if the product only helped with stress, I'd be content with it (of course, I'd mention this in the review lol)
3. I did a quick google search on the product and did not find anything that I was too concerned about.
4. The worst thing that could happen is that the product doesn't work at all for anything. Meh. I can live with that.
5. This supplement is good for both men and women. That means both my partner and I can use this, so for my review, we both will be able to say how we felt about it.

I can see how some people may be uncomfortable trying items such as these though... it's completely understandable.. Some people love reviewing anal items, and others avoid it completely. It's your right to decline an item if you are not comfortable with the product. Also, it's probably good that you declined it because I think that if a person were to accept a product they already had a negative perception about, then the review could be a bit distorted (then again, I'm not sure since I've never accepted anything I was uninterested in trying). less

Just to clarify, supplements are not regulated by the FDA at all. This includes vitamins. If you look at the bottle, it should have a disclaimer statement stating that whatever claims they are making with the supplement have not been evaluated by the FDA. Some companies may claim to have scientific studies supporting the claim, but because they are defined as supplements, they are not considered as drugs and therefore not subject to the same standards that the FDA uses to evaluate drugs.

This is not to say that they are not potentially effective. There are some supplements that do have some evidence that they have therapeutic benefits. However, besides not undergoing the same standards to evaluate safety and effectiveness, supplements also are not required to maintain standards for their manufacture. Several years ago, the U. of Md. evaluated several brands of glucosamine. What they found is that the actual contents varied from 20% up to several times of the amount claimed on the bottle. less

I was offered Hot Rawks aphrodisiac supplement as an assignment which I declined. I would not be willing to take any supplements designed to be an aphrodisiac or enhance the sex drive because I feel that many supplements not be the safest or healthiest for your body. Any pill that anybody takes should be discussed with your doctor first anyway to determine whether or not your health care professional feels that it is safe to take. Even things that are vegan and all natural can react with other medications and have an impact on the body. Would any of you try an aphrodisiac supplement if offered as a free assignment? less