The Health Benefits of Horny Goat Weed
The Herb That Is Often Called a Natural Viagara
Horny goat weed is a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine that may have as many users as it does people who snicker at its name. Known as yin yan huo to the Chinese, as dâm dương hoắc to the Vietnamese, and Epimedium to botanists, the flowering plant is believed to stimulate male and female hormones to improve sexual function and arousal.
Health Benefits
The purported health and sexual benefits of horny goat weed date back thousands of years. According to folklore, the plant's aphrodisiac qualities were discovered when a Chinese goatherd noticed increased sexual activity among his flock after they ate the plant.
Horny goat weed contains chemical compounds known as phytoestrogens, which some suggest can influence both hormonal and bone health.
People who attest to the power of horny goat weed's benefits use it as a complementary therapy to treat a number of health conditions, both common and serious.1 Among them:
Low libido
Osteoarthritis
Joint pain
Bronchitis
Heart disease
Horny goat weed is also thought to improve circulation by thinning the blood.2 It may also help symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), sharpen the memory, and boost energy.
Studies into the benefits of horny goat weed have been fairly limited. Those published are primarily in vitro studies (conducted in test tubes) or animal studies (which are only suggestive of what might happen in humans). Among the two conditions most studied in this regard are erectile dysfunction and bone disorders.
Erectile Dysfunction
Many people refer to horny goat weed as the "natural Viagra." Despite the lack of quality research, there is some evidence that horny goat weed may help men with certain types of sexual dysfunction.
Horny goat weed contains a substance called icariin, which blocks a protein associated with erectile dysfunction known as phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5). 3 Under normal circumstances, the body naturally suppresses PDE5 levels. In many men with erectile dysfunction, this doesn’t happen.
Scientists have found that icariin functions in much the same way as Viagra (sildenafil) by suppressing PDE5 activity. However, the action was seen to be weak even in the test tube. When compared to icariin, Viagra was as much as 80 times more potent.
That’s not to say to horny goat weed won't improve a man’s ability to attain an erection. Beyond an obvious placebo effect, the supplement may help stimulate blood flow enough to trigger a positive response in men with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction.
Bone Health
Phytoestrogens are plant-based estrogens found in horny goat weed and other plants. Because they have the ability to mimic estrogen, some people believe that phytoestrogens benefit postmenopausal women experiencing bone loss as a result of low estrogen levels.
Scientists backed by a research grant from the Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau and the Hong Kong Competitive Earmarked Research Grant tested the hypothesis by treating 85 late-postmenopausal women with either a placebo or a phytoestrogen supplement extracted from horny goat weed.4 In addition, the participants were each given 300 milligrams of calcium per day.
After two years of treatment, the researchers reported that horny goat weed extract appeared to help prevent bone loss. Bone turnover markers (the measure of how well bone is being remodeled) were significantly better in the phytoestrogen group compared to the placebo group. Moreover, horny goat weed was not associated with many of the adverse effects seen in women on oral estrogen, including endometrial hyperplasia (irregular thickening of the uterine wall).
Additionally, icariin (the same substance used to treat erectile dysfunction) may help reduce cartilage degradation in people with osteoarthritis. Animal studies have suggested the suppression of PDE5 can better help retain the collagen matrix found in cartilage. While the substance doesn’t reverse the damage, it may help slow the progression of arthritis and allow people to maintain their mobility.
Possible Side Effects
According to the National Institutes of Health, horny goat weed is considered safe when taken in appropriate doses. When used in high doses, it can be toxic to the kidneys and liver.
Horny goat week should be avoided in certain individuals whose condition may be complicated or worsened by its use.5 Among them:
Pregnant or breastfeeding women
People with bleeding disorders
Individuals with low blood pressure or heartbeat irregularities
Women with hormone-sensitive conditions such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and cancers of the breast, ovaries, or prostate
Since horny goat weed can slow blood clotting, it should not be used prior to surgery.
Always check the label of any horny goat weed product you purchase. While Epimedium saggitatum and Epimedium grandiflorum are commonly used in Chinese medicine, the varietal Epimedium koreanum may cause muscles spasm or the loss of muscle coordination for some people.
Before using horny goat weed to treat any chronic condition, speak with your doctor to ensure that it doesn’t cause any harm or interact with any of the drugs you may be taking (including blood thinners and blood pressure medications).
Dosage and Preparation
Horny goat weed can be found in many drug and health food stores and is available in a capsule, powder, tablet, or tea form. Some practitioners believe that an appropriate dose is considered to be about 5 grams per day. However, there is not enough evidence to define an exact appropriate dose.
What to Look For
Since there are different variations of horny goat weed and not all of them are considered safe for all users, it is important to speak with your healthcare provider before taking this herbal supplement. Your dose (and/or your safe use of the supplement) may depend on several factors including your age, gender, and medical conditions.
If you do choose to take the supplement, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends that you look for a Supplement Facts label on the product that you buy. This label will contain vital information including the amount of active ingredients per serving, and other added ingredients that may affect your health.
Lastly, the organization suggests that you look for a product that contains a seal of approval from a third party organization that provides quality testing. These organizations include U.S. Pharmacopeia, ConsumerLab.com, and NSF International. A seal of approval from one of these organizations does not guarantee the product's safety or effectiveness but it does provide assurance that the product was properly manufactured, contains the ingredients listed on the label, and does not contain harmful levels of contaminants.
Source: https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-benefits-of-horny-goat-weed-89463