Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Science/2023 July 26

= July 26 =

Penis enlargement pills?
Are there any medications that are actually clinically proven to make the penis larger? I know it used to be the case that there were a lot of scams, but I don't know what the current situation is. I suppose that if there were any working penis pills, then Numans (or whoever else) would be selling them already. Note, I don't mean medication that will give you a boner or decrease recharge time - I know that exists. I mean that will permanently make the penis bigger. 146.200.127.4 (talk) 20:45, 26 July 2023 (UTC)
 * A quote from :
 * At present there is no consensus in the scientific community of any non-surgical technique that permanently increases either the thickness or length of the erect penis that already falls into the normal range (4.5" to 7").
 * I think this is putting it too weakly. I believe the actual consensus is that claims of effectiveness of penis enlargement pills are fabrications made up for the purpose of selling expensive pills that do not work to the gullible. --Lambiam 22:53, 26 July 2023 (UTC)


 * There's a little-known medication that's derived from mock turtles. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 03:52, 27 July 2023 (UTC)
 * I heard snake oil works as well. -- Jayron 32 11:09, 27 July 2023 (UTC)


 * Rigor Mortis is recommended for those suffering from erectile dysfunction. --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 17:01, 27 July 2023 (UTC)
 * "Snake" oil seems a little boosteristic in this instance... SnowRise let's rap 16:21, 28 July 2023 (UTC)
 * It depends on the snake. Seriously. A while back (say 15 years-ish) I read a scientific paper which demonstrated that some Old World Asian snakes produced significant quantities of one or more biochemical substances (broadly, "oils") that New World snakes did not, and suggested that these substances plausibly were somewhat efficacious for certain medical conditions. Consequently, some pharmacological preparations from Chinese etc. traditional medicines that worked if Asian snakes were used would not work if, say, North American snakes were substituted. The article linked by Jayron32 mentions this. Also, never dismiss the Placebo effect. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 51.198.140.169 (talk) 04:29, 29 July 2023 (UTC)
 * Actually, I've worked on that article a couple of times (probably came to it via RfC or FTN notices, I can't recall), and so I'm familiar with the sourcing (and more broadly just with these kinds of traditional remedies in general): the claims of the native Chinese snake oils having real/measurable effects in Traditional Chinese Medicine are rather speculative and dubious, seemed to be the consensus of RS--as you might expect--though possibly they did have some minor antinflamatory effects that oils derived from American species would not. However, it's mostly academic because almost no snake oil medicine had any amount of snake in it, Asian or North American. ;)  You're absolutely right about not underestimating the placebo effect, however! S<b style="color:#66c0fd">n</b><b style="color:#99d5fe;">o</b><b style="color:#b2dffe;">w</b><b style="color:#B27EB2;">Rise</b><b style="color:#d4143a"> let's rap</b> 04:51, 29 July 2023 (UTC)
 * What? You'll be telling me that Tiger Balm Oil doen't contain any tiger next! {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 51.198.140.169 (talk) 06:12, 30 July 2023 (UTC)
 * LOL! <b style="color:#19a0fd;">S</b><b style="color:#66c0fd">n</b><b style="color:#99d5fe;">o</b><b style="color:#b2dffe;">w</b><b style="color:#B27EB2;">Rise</b><b style="color:#d4143a"> let's rap</b> 07:03, 30 July 2023 (UTC)
 * I'm going to have to return my baby oil now... I'm so disappointed in marketing. -- Jayron <b style="color:#090">32</b> 12:37, 31 July 2023 (UTC)