Horny goat weed, also known as Herba Epimedii, is an herb. The leaves are used to make medicine. As many as 15 horny goat weed species are known as “yin yang huo” in Chinese medicine.
Horny goat weed is used for weak back and knees, joint pain, osteoarthritis, mental and physical fatigue, memory loss, high blood pressure, heart disease, bronchitis, liver disease, HIV/AIDS, polio, a blood disorder called chronic leucopenia, viral infections of the heart, bone loss after menopause, weak bones (osteoporosis), and as a tonic.
Some men use horny goat weed for sexual performance problems including erectile dysfunction (ED) and involuntary ejaculation. It is also used to arouse sexual desire.
How does it work?
Horny goat weed contains chemicals which might help increase blood flow and improve sexual function. It also contains phytoestrogens, chemicals that act somewhat like the female hormone estrogen, that might reduce bone loss in postmenopausal women.
Horny goat weed has been used for centuries for sexual enhancement. Some of the most common species of this plant that you will see used as supplements include Epimedium grandiflorum and Epimedium sagittatum. It got its name after it was considered to be a powerful aphrodisiac. This claim was made by a Chinese goat herder who thought that his goats had increased sexual activity after eating the plant’s leaves.
Today, horny goat weed is frequently used for sexual dysfunction and sexual performance issues like erectile dysfunction and decreased libido. Epimedium is believed to be a safe alternative to prescription drugs and has also been used for other ailments like joint pain, arthritis, mental and physical fatigue, and memory loss. However, there is limited scientific evidence to support these claims.
Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for:
- Osteoporosis. Developing research shows that taking a specific extract of horny goat weed for 24 months seems to decrease bone loss of the spine and hip in women who have passed menopause. This particular extract, made by Tong Ji Tang Pharmacal Company in China, contains phytoestrogens (specifically containing 60 mg of icariin, 15 mg of daidzein, and 3 mg of genistein). These chemicals act somewhat like the hormone estrogen.
- Postmenopausal conditions. Early research suggests that taking horny goat weed water extract for 6 months can decrease cholesterol and increase estradiol levels in postmenopausal women.
Written by: Omojo Emeje
