February 14th-21st is Sexual Awareness Week

February 14^th represents more than just flowers and chocolates this year: it also kicks off Sexual Awareness Week, a period aimed to raise awareness about sexual health. Make being proactive about your sexual health another Valentine’s Day gift to your honey this year.

It’s important for men to get screened for a few different things:

• HIV/AIDS. You can remain symptomless for years, so the only way to be 100 percent sure you aren’t infected and passing it on is to get tested.  There’s no better way to say “I love you” than to look out for your partner’s health as well as your own!
• Prostate cancer. If you’re at average risk, you should begin regular screenings around your 50^th birthday. Your doctor can help you determine if other risk factors warrant earlier screenings, such as your ethnicity or family history.
• Testicular cancer. Although not as common as prostate cancer, the American Cancer Society still urges men to get a testicular exam during their routine physical. Self-exams are a good idea as well: look for hard lumps, smooth bumps or changes in the sex or shape of the testes.

You already know a ton of reasons why you shouldn’t smoke, use drugs or binge drink, but here’s one more: it’s detrimental to your sperm quality! Men, especially those with a partner actively trying to conceive, should cut out unhealthy vices such as smoking (cigarettes as well as marijuana), heavy drinking and illegal drug use to maximize sperm effectiveness.

It’s also important to stay on top of any health problems. Sexually transmitted diseases, diabetes, mumps and testicle injuries are just a few conditions that can lead to infertility in men.

Did you know you may also naturally enhance your sexual vitality? The herbal supplement Tenaga is specifically formulated to support sexual health, vigor and hormonal balance, without side effects!

Keep your partner (and yourself!) happy with these relationship tips

Meeting the right girl is only half the battle: Keeping her is what’s really important. You should already know the basics such as being a good listener and not forgetting about romance, but here are some different tips that will prevent you from being clueless in your relationship:

• As corny as it sounds, just be yourself! Too often at the beginning of a relationship men concentrate so much on being the person they think their partner wants them to be that they lose their sense of self. You can only keep pretending for so long, though: eventually the real you always peeks through. Listen to the advice your mother gave you growing up and be yourself. Odds are she’ll like you just fine.
• Never compare your partner to someone else, especially an ex. Remember there’s a reason she’s your ex, and never, ever compare your partner to her.
• Be a provider. Don’t expect your partner to wear heels around the house or have a pot roast waiting for you every night when you come home from work, but remember that most women still want to know they’re taken care of. Make her feel protected, loved and provided for.
• Don’t let yourself go. Just because you’re in a long-term relationship doesn’t mean it’s acceptable to start slacking. No woman wants her man to look like a bum, so stay in shape, wear some cologne and iron your slacks.
• Don’t lose your connection to friends and family. Don’t forget about the things that made you happy before you met each other. Spending some time separate from one another will strengthen your connection.
• It’s okay to be vulnerable. You don’t always need to have the “I am man, hear me roar” mentality. Letting your guard down will intensify your bond.
• Be an adult. If you haven’t already: grow up! If your apartment looks like a frat house but you graduated college five years ago, that’s not acceptable. Neither is having a beer pong table in your living room.
• Keep the spark lit. Sex is a huge part of a relationship, and any feelings of inadequacy can really be damaging. Increase your sexual vitality with the supplement Tenaga, which may support your performance as well as improve your overall energy, in and out of the bedroom.

Top tips for a sexy Valentine's Day (and beyond!)

Nutrition and fitness expert JJ Virgin, author of Six Weeks to Sleeveless and Sexy and co-star of TLC’s Freaky Eaters, offers the following approach for making every day feel like the sexiest Valentine’s Day ever:

I take an integrated approach to optimal wellness and long-term weight management. This means eating well, exercising consistently and having sex three times a week (at least) with a partner. Studies have shown that that this is critical for men’s brain and heart health (not sure why the studies didn’t include women, hmmm … ). I always get crazy reactions when I mention this in my talks or at dinner parties, seeming as how it isn’t something we usually think about in terms of a way to optimize health. I know that we all get fired up to lose weight when spring is right around the corner, but I am hoping that the quickly approaching Valentine’s Day holiday will inspire you to make regular sex with a partner a part of your optimal health routine. And before you ask: No, it doesn’t take the place of exercise!   

1. Try having a little romance before dinner. You won’t be as hungry for dinner (and you’ve already had dessert!)
2. Fire up your fitness. Not only will you improve your stamina, but you will have more confidence in your body. It improves every area of your life.
3. Show off silky smooth skin. Healthy fats from cold-water fish, nuts, seeds, eight or more glasses of pure spring water daily, a rainbow of non-starchy veggies, herbs, low-glycemic fruits and green tea all support healthier, younger looking skin. Also try adding an essential fatty acid blend that contains GLA, an omega-6 fat that has been found to help reduce inflammation and maintain pretty skin.
4.  Make sure your skin is looking its best by exfoliating. I love dry brushing before getting in the shower, which is also a great addition to your daily detox routine. Follow up with a bronzing lotion: think about how sexy you feel with a little tan!
5. Add 1-2 ounces of dark chocolate (go organic and raw) to your daily diet. The neurochemicals in chocolate mimic those you release when you are in love.
6. Set the right mood with arousal scents. For men these include doughnuts, cinnamon buns, pumpkin pie, lavender, oranges and black licorice. For women: cherry, almonds, black licorice and cucumbers. Good thing I said scents, as I am not recommending serving most of these foods. Instead try a lavender bath or an orange-scented candle. I’ve always loved cucumber water; I guess I know why now!  By the way girlfriends, when your man eats a few stalks of celery it raises his androstenedione, causing him to emit an odor that is sexually attractive to us. An added bonus is that celery may support healthy blood pressure levels.
7. Manage your stress. Nothing kills your sex drive like stress, so be sure to build some “daily bliss” into your schedule.

For an “inspiring” Valentine’s Day dinner, here is a sexy menu to get you in the mood! These foods have been considered aphrodisiacs for thousands of years. By the way, eat light and focus on finger foods – think about the movie 9 ½ Weeks but without the mess (I don’t find sticky to be very sexy!).

•  Arugula salad with orange slices, avocado, asparagus and pine nuts, with a lemon olive oil vinaigrette 
•  Seafood platter with oysters, jumbo prawns and grilled scallops 
•  Dark chocolate with berries
• Glass of Pinot Noir. Keep it to just a glass, though: a little wine is a great aphrodisiac, but too much is a total mood killer.
• Artichokes. Steam, then finish in the oven with olive oil and an Italian herb blend.

It doesn’t hurt to give your performance a boost, either. Try Tenaga to amplify your sexual vitality.

Give your performance a boost the all-natural way

Who says you need a prescription to spice up your private life? Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali) is an herb native to the Malaysian jungles used to promote overall energy and increase sexual vitality. Malaysian men have been using this natural aphrodisiac to boost their sexual desire for centuries, and its popularity is growing rapidly in the United States. This special herb helps the body maintain healthy levels of testosterone, thus increasing sexual energy and vigor while improving overall well-being.

Thankfully you don’t have to visit the Malaysian rainforests to get your hands on this natural way to address lackluster libido; it’s available in supplement form. Physta™ is a patented freeze-dried water extract form of Tongkat Ali. It was developed in collaboration with the MIT Research Center, and is the primary active ingredient in Tenaga. Having Physta™ in our formulation helps to ensure (among other things) purity and ingredient consistency.

Besides amplifying your desire in the bedroom, Physta™ may offer many other benefits as well:

• Increases energy and fights fatigue
• Helps burn fat and increases metabolism
• Increases muscle mass and  boosts athletic performance
• Lowers blood pressure and reduces other factors for heart disease

Could you unknowingly take a prescription male enhancement drug?

Sales of non-drug dietary supplement male performance products have reached an astounding $480 million, according to the Nutrition Business Journal. Demand is expected to grow by at least 25 percent annually. With so many new products hitting the market, it is imperative that you understand which natural products are safe and effective.

Recently, the safety of a number of non-pharmaceutical products was called into question. Lab analyses found that they were either spiked with pharmaceutical ingredients or with the chemical analogs of the active ingredients found in pharmaceutical drugs. Those unwanted ingredients were not listed on the labels.

You can be assured that Tenaga is produced in accordance with rigorous purity standards. It has been researched for safety, purity and efficacy, and contains no undisclosed ingredients.

Tenaga is available online, and at GNC, Vitamin Shoppe and other independent retailers.

Biotropics Featured in Natural Products Marketplace

Biotropics' very own U.S. CEO Michael Moore was featured in the October 2010 issue of Natural Products Marketplace, in an article called "Fulfilling Consumers' Desires." The article covered the state of the natural sexual health products industry, and how these products can provide holistic support.


"It is likely not surprising the market for sexual enhancement products continues to grow. In fact, since the introduction of Viagra in the late 1990s, the issue of sexual dysfunction has started to come out of the closet and into mainstream debate," wrote Heather Granato. Moore agreed, stating in the article: "As a culture, we are more open to discussions about sexuality and enhancing sexual experiences than ever before. Surprisingly, this interest isn't just from older men or pre/post menopausal women, but cuts across all age groups, socio-economic strata and geographies."


Granato also writes that rising consumer interest "conjoins with the greater interest in natural products with fewer, if any, side effects." Author, botanical expert and "Medicine Hunter" Chris Kilham added: "The biggest thing that separates natural products from pharma products is the safety of the natural items."


Biotropics' sexual vitality products include TenagaXX for men and Asmara for women. You can purchase both products in the newly enhanced online store.

New Ramuan Health Online Store and Micro Sites Help Consumers Turbocharge Their Health

Here's something to be naturally energized about this holiday season: with the holidays just around the corner, Biotoprics Ramuan has completely revamped its online store to offer consumers a more pleasant, information-rich and convenient online shopping experience. 

The user-friendly online store breaks out Ramuan Health's products by categories, beginning with Men's Health, Women's Health, Overall Wellness and Spa. Shoppers can either opt to learn more about the product or quickly add products to their shopping cart. For those who want to make their favorite Ramuan Health product part of their overall health regimen, they can also opt-in for a three-month subscription of their favorite product--and they will receive a free one-month supply.  


In addition to the new online store, Biotropics also recently relaunched two micro sites: www.tenagaformen.com and www.asmaraforwomen.com. The TenagaXX Web site provides men in three age brackets--30-45, 45-60, and 60-plus--with information about how they can turbo-charge their sexual health through all-natural TenagaXX, a daily sexual vitality supplement that contains pure, patented Tongkat Ali extract (which has been found to include compounds key to sexual health at every life stage).  In contrast, the Asmara site focuses on helping women of all ages put their lives in balance naturally with the aid of four Ramuan Health products: Asmara for Women, a daily sexual vitality supplement; Women's Blend, a phytonutrient blend for overall feminine wellness; Women's Detox, which helps naturally remove stress and toxins from the body;  and Mangis, a delicious new chewable superfruit. Both sites allow users to click through to the new online store, where they can buy the product of their choice.

TenagaXX and Asmara Hit Shelves at The Vitamin Shoppe

Two of our top herbal sexual vitality supplements have hit the shelves at The Vitamin Shoppe! TenagaXX (for men) and Asmara (for women) are available at more than 400 retail stores nationwide.

• TenagaXX features an exclusive proprietary blend of Tongkat Ali extract, developed in collaboration with the MIT Research Center. Through sustained use, this daily supplement helps support healthy testosterone levels and enhances sexual vitality, energy and performance in men while supporting overall sexual health and wellness.* Its proprietary natural herbal extract blend includes 200 mg of Tongkat Ali, recognized as one of the world’s most powerful aphrodisiacs. It retails for $34.95.
• Asmara delivers a pure measure of Labisia Pumila extract (Kacip Fatimah), a traditional herb used by generations of Malaysian women to enhance feminine sexual responsiveness and vitality, as well as promote hormonal balance naturally. The primary herb in this proprietary blend, Kacip Fatimah, is widely recognized for the power it demonstrates in restoring reproductive health and vaginal muscle tone in postpartum women.* When taken as an ongoing daily supplement, Asmara helps enhance vitality and balance, enabling women to feel more energetic. It retails for $19.95.

Thanks to The Vitamin Shoppe, more American men and women now have the opportunity to embrace a healthy sexual vitality regimen that Malaysians have practiced for centuries. If you cannot find these products at your neighborhood Vitamin Shoppe, please email us at biotropics@gmail.com or drop us a line at www.facebook.com/ramuanhealth. 

* Statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Does This Stuff Work?

A while back, one of our Facebook Fans posed this question to us and we have been waiting for the right time to address it in more detail.  While the fan didn’t specify which product he was asking about, we’re assuming he was interested in TenagaXX, our most popular herbal supplement. Naturally, the answer is complicated, so we asked Dr. Joerg Gruenwald, President of Analyze and Realize (a Berlin-based management consultancy and natural products research firm) to break it down.

LR: What is TenagaXX and how does it work?

JG: TenagaXX is a daily herbal supplement that features a pure, patented Tongkat Ali extract developed at the MIT Research Center, where it was found to include compounds that improve sexual health. Tongkat Ali is a plant found in the ancient rainforests of Malaysia. Tongkat Ali helps the body maintain healthy levels of testosterone, plus increase sexual energy.

LR: Any science behind it yet?

JG: Yes, there is already good science behind Tongkat Ali. Early studies conducted in Malaysia in 2000, 2001 and 2004 support that the standardized water-soluble extract of the herb increases the available level of testosterone and testosterone precursors. Subjects in these studies showed an improved body mass index, as well as increased muscle strength and free testosterone index after three weeks or more of consecutive use. Their SHIM scores (Sexual Health Inventory for Men) also showed improvement in sexual desire and performance. The complete results of these studies can be found on the Biotropics website.

LR: Ok, so bottom line… does it work?

JG: The ingredients in TenagaXX are supported by centuries of traditional use. Tongkat Ali is not a quick fix, but a slow build up. Individual physiologies will always vary, as will results. We recommend consulting with your physician.

Catch Tongkat Ali on The Dr. Oz Show Last Week?

In case you missed The Dr. Oz Show* last week, Dr. Oz and Chris Kilham (The Medicine Hunter) discussed traditional plant-based medicine and several herbs, including Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali), a root found in the ancient rainforests in Malaysia and neighboring countries that has been traditionally used to enhance sexual vigor and energy.** You can watch a clip from the show here.

More information about the sexual health benefits of Tongkat Ali can also be found here and here. Guys... are your engines starting to rev up yet?

* The Dr. Oz Show doesn't recommend or endorse any specific products that may contain Eurycoma longifolia. 

**Statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.