Horny Goat Weed Health Benefits

What is Horny Goat Weed?

Chinese legend tells us that a herder once observed goats eating this weed, after which the goats started to exhibit the sort of behavior you would expect from an aphrodisiac.

This observation gave rise to its charming common name but because it belongs to the epimedium species, it is also known scientifically as epimedium grandiflorum, epimedium alpinum and a number of other names based on the epimedium genus of over 60 flowering plants.

Horny goat weed grows profusely in the Southern regions of China and is also common in bordering countries. Traditional Chinese practitioners use the weed to treat a variety of health complaints.

Unsurprisingly, the aptly named horny goat weed is used to treat erectile dysfunction but it has also been traditionally used to deal with a variety of other health issues. These traditional uses include treatment for joint pain, arthritis, bronchitis, fatigue, memory loss, heart disease and osteoporosis.

How it Works

Horny goats weed contains certain chemicals that may help increase the flow of blood to the penis and enhance sexual function. It also possesses chemicals called phytoestrogens that act in a similar way to estrogen, a female hormone which may protect against bone loss in women after the menopause.

One of its main active constituents is a substance called icariin. The concentration of icariin varies from one species of epimedium to another and is responsible for its potency. Icariin helps to relax smooth muscle tissues which is important because it helps relax the involuntary tissue tension.

This helps shift the central nervous system from its highly stressed flight or fight mode to a more relaxed rested mode. When the body is in a less stressed state, it is more able to fight disease and at least get some control over the condition.

Research which we will look at later has also found that the same chemical may help treat erectile dysfunction by allowing greater penile blood flow.

Horny Goat Weed Health Benefits

Many of the benefits you can get from horny goat weed apply equally to both men and women but men may often use it to treat sexual dysfunction.

Horny Goat Weed for Men

For Erectile Dysfunction

Horny goat weed is a popular natural supplement for men trying to overcome erectile dysfunction. Many supplements marketed for this purpose have little or nothing to back up their claims but in the case of horny goat wed, there is some evidence that supports the idea.

A study published in 2008 found that the herb contained a compound which helped to block the effects of a certain enzyme responsible for restricting the flow of blood into the penis. The compound called icariin appears to work in a similar manner to the phosphodiesterase inhibitors which are medically prescribed for erectile dysfunction.

The study went on to say that horny goats weed may work better than currently prescribed erectile dysfunction medications with far fewer adverse side effects. (1)

While the above study was carried out in vitro, a more recent study from 2010 found that rats who were treated with horny goat weed extracts demonstrated significant improvements in erectile dysfunction. (2)

Horny Goat Weed for Women

To Stimulate Female Libido

Supplements for sexual dysfunction are very often marketed towards the men but it is not only males that sometimes need help when it comes to sexual desire and performance. Horny goat weed may also offer potent libido boosting properties for women who need them.

Proper blood flow is key to sexual desire and horny goat weed appears to stimulate the necessary flow of blood. Epimedium also contains plant sterols and alkaloids which have a similar effect to testosterone. Although we usually associate testosterone with men, women also produce this hormone which is key to human sexuality and desire.

For Menopause Symptom Relief

Women going through the menopause are likely to experience a range of unwanted side effects due to the reduced production of estrogen. Studies have demonstrated that horny goat weed might improve the balance of estrogen helping women to counter menopausal symptoms like hot flushes, low sex drive and mood changes.

A Chinese study published in 2009 compared the effects of a horny goat weed extract to a conventional menopause medication and found that the chemicals contained in the extract were more effective and longer lasting. (3)

Skeletal Health

Horny goat weed has traditionally been used in Chinese medicine to help strengthen bones and to prevent the loss of bone associated with the menopause. Research indicates that epimedium may very well help improve bone health and maintain skeletal strength especially in women following menopause.

Another Chinese study published in 2007 found that postmenopausal women who took horny goat weed supplements over a 24 month period experienced significantly better bone health than the women who were given a placebo. (4)

Other Horny Goat weed benefits

Anti-Aging

Not everybody has the same genes as Johnny Depp and we would all love to retain our youthful appearance for longer. Because of our deep seated fear of aging, people spend a fortune on the various products which promise to make you look and feel younger but let’s be honest… most of them don’t work at all.

Until somebody discovers the secret of eternal youth, we will have to content ourselves with the inevitable or with any luck, the small gains offered by certain products.

Fortunately, according to research, one supplement that does seem to offer anti-aging benefits is horny goat weed. A study published in 2009 found that horny goat weed offered significant anti-aging benefits. Because of its powerful antioxidant properties, the herb appears able to reset metabolites responsible for aging such as amino acids, carnosine and nucleotides. (5)

For Sore Joints and Muscles

For many long years, Chinese practitioners have used horny goat weed to naturally treat joint pain and muscular discomfort. If this traditional use proves effective then it would be a useful tool to combat conditions such as rheumatism and arthritis.

Although there are no clinical trials to confirm its effectiveness to treat the joints, animal models have been promising. One recent study published in 2013 found that epimedium grandiflorum was effective against osteoarthritis in rabbits probably due to its icariin content. (6)

Horny Goat Weed Doses

While the leaves of the herb are edible, the taste is extremely bitter and horny goat weed is available and people usually take it in its capsule form. It is also possible to buy the herb in a prepared form from which you can make your own medicinal tea.

As regards proper dosage, there is nothing set in stone other than the dosage recommended on the packet. However, most experts recommend you take it for at least a month before you start to see any results but these results will vary for each person. Make sure that you consult a qualified person with knowledge of the herb before you start taking the supplement.

Side Effects of Horny Goat Weed

As long as you take horny goat wed according to the recommended dose it should be safe to use.

However, when large doses are taken, reported side effects include nausea, dizziness, nosebleeds, rapid heartbeat and in extreme cases difficulty breathing and spasms.

The Memorial Sloan Cancer center warns that people with hormone sensitive types of cancer and those with heart disease should be careful and consult their doctor before taking the herb.

They also point out two cases where horny goat weed consumption resulted in emergencies. In one case a man experienced severe pans, rash and burning sensations. In another case, a man with heart problems was hospitalized after experiencing chest pains, difficulty breathing and arrhythmia.

(1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18778098
(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3551978/
(3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19464838
(4) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17419678
(5) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19756310
(6) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24195351