I don't really buy into this herbal supplements fad. I am sure that there are some that work, and I know some people swear by them. I have heard that people take herbs as opposed to traditional medicines because they don't want "chemicals" in their body. Remember, you are more likely to have an allergic reaction to something natural than something artificial. Personally, I just don't use them.

Never one to shy away from a challenge, I agreed to review Focolate, "an exotic chocolate elixir." The product comes in pairs, one with a "special blend" for women, and the other for men. It is supposed to be a chocolatey aphrodisiac, for use over ice cream, mixed in with your favorite beverage, or to "get adventurous and start your own trend."

I gave the bottle a good shake, and opened it up. The Focolate was thick, like Hershey's Syrup. I stuck my pinky in and took a taste. It tasted like dark chocolate, but with an acerbic aftertaste that made me grimace.

Being the intrepid reporter I am, I did not let that stop me. I added about a teaspoon to a half-glass of cold non-fat milk. That masked the sour herbal taste, but still didn't taste good. I added sugar until it was drinkable. Apparently 2 oz. is a full "serving" but I just can't do it.

The first thing I notice is that my heart starts beating very fast. Then I got a little dizzy. I do have a heart murmur, so I read the small print. Then I squint at the smaller print, worried this product contained caffeine. It doesn't but apparently the most active ingredient is Yohimbe. I hit WebMD and discover that increased heart rate and dizziness are two side-effects of Yohimbe. My racing heart slowed down after about 10 minutes or so, but that was while resting. I can't imagine taking part in any strenuous activity after taking Focolate. After about 15 minutes, I started to get sleepy.

Needless to say, after taking the Focolate, I was not in the mood for anything other than a nap. If you are on any sort of medication, or have any health issues, you may want to avoid Focolate. And at $30 per "one use" set, it isn't cheap. Mine went in the trash.