Horny Goat Weed: Can It Treat Erectile Dysfunction?

But what conditions does horny goat weed aim to treat and is it even effective as an herbal supplement? In this article, we&#;ll explain how horny goat weed is thought to help people experiencing ED, as well as how it&#;s used, where it&#;s found, and more.

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When it comes to treating illness or physical health conditions, you may be curious about exploring the benefits of natural herbs and supplements. While certain medications or lifestyle changes can certainly help alleviate symptoms, you may have also heard people say that they saw similar improvements using herbs like horny goat weed.

Horny goat weed may have health benefits for people with erectile dysfunction. It may work similarly to some prescription medications.

While research is limited, horny goat weed is believed to be a possible therapeutic for congestive heart failure and osteoporosis , according to a animal study in rats. However, it&#;s probably most well known as a remedy for ED.

Epimedium is a genus that has over 50 species. When looking at horny goat weed , we most commonly will see Epimedium grandiflorum and Epimedium sagittatum species specifically in horny goat weed supplements.

Horny goat weed is an over-the-counter herbal supplement that&#;s sold at most pharmacies and large retailers. The active ingredient is icariin, an extract of the Epimedium plant that&#;s reported to benefit people with erectile dysfunction (ED) .

ED is defined as the inability to get and maintain an erection firm enough to have sexual intercourse. Most people who have a penis have experienced times when they were unable to sustain an erection, but that doesn&#;t mean they have ED. But if it happens regularly, you may have ED.

With ED, an enzyme named protein phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) interferes with the nitric oxide and cGMP that relaxes the smooth muscle in the arteries. As a result, the blood can&#;t move through the arteries and create an erection.

When you&#;re sexually stimulated, nitric oxide signals a chemical called cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) that causes the smooth muscle to relax, resulting in an inflow of blood into three tube-like cylinders in the penis which then leads to an erection .

Before starting this or any supplement, consult with your healthcare professional about the risks and benefits and find the best supplement for you.

However, horny goat weed may not work for everyone. Using it can also result in side effects or adverse interactions with other medications you may be taking.

Icariin inhibits the activity of the PDE5 that&#;s blocking dilation of the arteries in the penis. This allows blood to fill the arteries and the three cylinders in the penis and create an erection. The prescription medication sildenafil ( Viagra ) works in much the same way.

There hasn&#;t been more recent research on the effects of horny goat weed and erectile function, though it has been shown to help other conditions like an anti-inflammatory.

In a review of medicinal plants for inhibiting PDE5, the study found that icariin is the most effective plant-based option for ED.

In another study from , researchers found that icariin is effective in inhibiting human PDE5, the substance that blocks erections, in test tubes. It also determined that sildenafil is 80 times more potent than icariin.

An animal study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine involved investigating its effects on rats. Researchers found that rats treated with purified extract of horny goat weed showed improved erectile function.

The FDA also does not routinely test supplements before they&#;re sold to consumers for quality. To make sure your horny goat weed supplements are safe to use and to ask about the contents, talk with the manufacturer directly.

As with many supplements, the claims about the effectiveness of horny goat weed are expansive. But as with many other natural supplements, research on the effects of horny goat weed on humans is limited.

The plant is native to parts of China, Japan, and Korea. Today, it&#;s widely grown as an ornamental plant in many areas of the world, including the United States. You can find horny goat weed over-the-counter.

Horny goat weed has a long history of use in traditional Eastern medicine. According to legend, its name came about because a goat herder noticed his flock became sexually stimulated after eating the plant.

Also, remember that results will vary from person to person. So, it&#;s important to contact your doctor if you experience any side effects after use.

If you&#;re unsure about what dosage is right for you, consider talking with your healthcare professional to get their recommendations on dosage and to learn how horny goat weed might affect you.

There&#;s no set dosage for horny goat weed other than the recommended serving size as set by the manufacturer. As a result, the amount of horny goat weed or horny goat weed extract varies &#; generally 500 to 1,000 milligrams (mg) per serving &#; depending on the brand.

The side effects of horny goat weed are minor when it&#;s taken over a few months&#; time. But horny goat weed can cause:

Horny goat weed can be dangerous when too much is consumed. There&#;s no set prescription dosage because it&#;s an OTC herb. There&#;s also not much scientific data to back it up as a medically sound supplement.

Horny goat weed may cause an allergic reaction in some people if they have allergies to plants in the Berberidaceae family. Some symptoms of a reaction include:

You also shouldn&#;t take horny goat weed if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a bleeding disorder. If you take any of these medications or have any of the conditions listed above, you should speak with your doctor before taking horny goat weed.

Some medications and medical conditions may place you at greater risk if you take horny goat weed. These include:

The organization says that people with heart disease or hormone-sensitive cancer should talk with their doctor before taking the herb. The herb can lead to sweating or feeling hot, but more research needs to be done on the effects.

It works by smoothing muscle tissue. Any strained tissue will get a bit of relief. This can help with joint pain and numbness .

Horny goat weed has other medical properties and is sometimes used to improve bone density. It may also help treat heart disease, bronchitis , and even polio .

All of these natural treatments require further study before definitively stating whether these options are good for ED. Before trying any of these treatments, talk with a healthcare professional to see what will be best for you and to rule out any illnesses that might be causing your ED.

There are other options for treating ED if horny goat weed isn&#;t for you. Standard treatments include medications, vacuum pumps, and surgery in some cases. If you&#;re looking for natural alternatives for treating ED, some to consider include:

Finally, if you have been taking an herbal supplement, like horny goat weed, and aren&#;t seeing improvements in your ED symptoms, your doctor can discuss exploring other supplements, lifestyle changes, or medications that may help.

It&#;s worth noting that if you begin to see side effects from the supplement &#; like slower blood clotting or lowered blood pressure &#; consider discontinuing use and talking with your doctor, as horny goat weed might be interacting poorly with other medications you may be taking.

However, if you aren&#;t ready to sit down and discuss your concerns just yet, you can explore over-the-counter herbal supplements, like horny goat weed, as long as you stay within the manufacturer&#;s recommended dosage.

If you&#;re experiencing the symptoms of ED, it may be best to reach out to your healthcare professional if you have had trouble achieving or maintaining an erection several times over the course of a few weeks. ED is a common health issue, especially as you age, and your doctor will be familiar with many of the current treatment methods.

The following includes frequently asked questions about horny goat weed.

Does horny goat weed make you bigger?

No, there is no evidence that horny goat weed can increase penis size. In fact, there is little proof of any supplement that can increase a person&#;s penis size and only minimal or temporary benefits can be seen from techniques like penis stretching. Horny goat weed has been studied as a possible treatment for ED but isn&#;t believed to increase length or size.

What does horny goat weed do?

Horny goat weed contains a chemical compound called icariin that can help promote blood flow and treat various cardiovascular diseases. One of the biggest health issues that icariin can treat is erectile dysfunction (ED) by counteracting the protein phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) enzyme that interferes with blood flow to the penis and prevents an erection. By inhibiting PDE5, the symptoms of ED can be reduced over time.

However, horny goat weed may not work for everyone, and using it can result in side effects or adverse interactions with other medications you may be taking. Before starting an herbal supplement like horny goat weed, consider talking with a medical professional for advice.

Does horny goat weed work?

There is evidence that horny goat weed can treat erectile dysfunction (ED) as well as some cardiovascular diseases. While there isn&#;t a large body of evidence or reliable studies to support its overall effectiveness, researchers have found that it shows promising results.

If you are experiencing the symptoms of ED, you may want to consider trying horny goat weed, especially because it&#;s available over the counter and doesn&#;t require a prescription. But if you are not finding that your symptoms improve after 2 or 3 weeks of taking the supplement, it may be best to talk with a healthcare professional so they can help you build a more effective or targeted treatment plan.

Horny goat weed for men is thought to improve sexual function by increasing blood flow to the penis. Native to Asia, it is one of the various herb species of the Epimedium genus. The main genus species are Epimedium grandiflorum and Epimedium sagittatum. It may be referred to as "yin yang huo."

This article discusses horny goat weed and whether it can benefit erectile dysfunction or other health conditions. It will also review the potential side effects, dosage, and precautions to know when taking it as a supplement.

How to Choose a Supplement

Dietary supplements are not regulated like prescription medications in the United States. Therefore, some may be safer than others. When choosing a supplement, consider factors such as third-party testing, potential drug interactions, and other safety concerns. Talk to a healthcare provider or a registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN) about supplement quality and safety.

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What Is Horny Goat Weed?

Supplement use should be individualized and vetted by a healthcare professional, such as a registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), pharmacist, or healthcare provider. No supplement is intended to treat, cure, or prevent disease.

Horny goat weed is a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is also known as Epimedium, yin yang huo, and herbal "Viagra." There are about 52 species of Epimedium, most native to China. Horny goat weed is found throughout Asia and parts of Europe and Africa.

The main studies on horny goat weed were conducted in vitro (in test tubes) or animal studies. Erectile dysfunction (ED) and bone disorders are the two most commonly studied conditions.

Other potential health benefits (limited to animal and/or test tube studies) of horny goat weed or its main components (natural chemical compound) include the following:

Horny Goat Weed and Erectile Dysfunction

Human clinical studies are lacking, but preliminary evidence suggests icariin, a chemical compound in horny goat weed, inhibits a protein linked with erectile dysfunction called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5).

Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, such as horny goat weed and Viagra, widen the blood vessels, increasing blood flow to the penis needed for an erection. Erectile dysfunction occurs when there is not enough blood flowing to the penis.

A systematic review noted that horny goat weed was one of the most common ingredients in testosterone and erectile dysfunction supplements. 

Further human studies are needed to determine the efficacy of horny goat weed for erectile dysfunction.

Horny Goat Weed Uses for Women

Some people believe that horny goat weed can also improve sexual function in women. The supplement is sometimes also used to treat health problems after menopause, such as high cholesterol and low estrogen. 

People who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not use horny goat weed.

Other Horny Goat Weed Uses

For more information, please visit Epimedium Leaf Powder.

One study in mice looked at icaritin, an active component of horny goat weed. The study showed multiple positive effects on the remyelination process. This makes it a promising compound for remyelination therapy. This type of therapy has the potential to reverse multiple sclerosis symptoms and slow or even prevent disease progression. 

There is limited evidence that horny goat weed may help reduce bone loss. A study in postmenopausal individuals showed horny goat weed extract increased the activity of bone-forming cells and decreased bone breakdown. The study was limited because it was unclear if changes in biomarkers would translate to clinical efficacy. 

The bone-protective effect of icariin, the main active component in horny goat weed, is due to its estrogenic activity based on animal models.

Furthermore, another clinical trial showed icariin prevented bone loss compared to a placebo. Both groups were also given 300 milligrams (mg) of elemental calcium daily. Since the treatment group consisted of icariin and other sources of phytoestrogens, the effect of icariin alone on osteoporosis was unclear.

What Are the Side Effects of Horny Goat Weed?

Horny goat weed may have side effects. These may be common or severe.

Common Side Effects

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the safety of horny goat weed in 58 postmenopausal people reported no side effects during the eight-week observational period.

However, a review reported the following side effects:

• Mood changes
• Anxiety
• Hallucinations

Severe Side Effects

Stop taking horny goat weed if you have any signs of an allergic reaction, like itchy, swollen skin or mouth, swollen lips or tongue, chest tightness, and dizziness.

If you're having a severe allergic reaction or if any of your symptoms feel life-threatening, call 911 and get medical help right away.

Verywell / Anastasia Tretiak

Risks and Precautions

Certain people should not take horny goat weed, including:

• People who are pregnant or breastfeeding
• People with bleeding disorders (Horny goat weed might slow blood clotting and thus make bleeding disorders worse; since horny goat weed can slow blood clotting, avoid using it before surgery.)
• Individuals with heart disease (horny goat weed may cause rapid, irregular heartbeat)
• People with hormone-sensitive cancers and conditions such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, and endometriosis (horny goat weed acts like estrogen and can increase estrogen levels)

• People allergic to plants in the Berberidaceae family may experience an allergic reaction from horny goat weed

Interactions

Use horny goat weed with caution if you take the following medications:

• Estrogens: Horny goat weed might increase the effect of estrogen. 
• Blood pressure lowering medications: Taking horny goat weed with medications that lower blood pressure might cause blood pressure to go too low. 
• Blood thinners: Taking horny goat weed with medications that slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.

• Caffeine: Because horny goat weed might decrease the speed at which the body processes caffeine, it can increase the side effects of caffeine if taken with caffeine-containing herbs and supplements, such as black tea, green tea, coffee, guarana, and yerba mate.
  Use extra caution if you're sensitive to caffeine.

Prescription drugs such as Viagra (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil) are PDE5 inhibitors. However, they should not be used with nitrate-containing medications&#;like Nitrostat (nitroglycerin) and Monoket (isosorbide mononitrate)&#;due to the risk of fatal low blood pressure.

Although horny goat weed contains icariin, a mild PDE5 inhibitor, it's unclear how horny goat weed interacts with nitrate-containing medications due to the lack of studies on such safety concerns. Considering horny goat weed interacts with blood pressure-lowering medications by causing blood pressure to drop too low, it is essential to consult your healthcare provider before starting a horny goat weed supplement.

It is essential to carefully read a supplement's ingredient list and nutrition facts panel to know which ingredients and how much of each ingredient is included. Please review this supplement label with your healthcare provider to discuss potential interactions with foods, other supplements, and medications. 

Can Horny Goat Weed Be Taken With Viagra?

A study in rats found a significant herb-drug interaction between horny goat weed extract and Viagra (sildenafil). Specifically, horny goat weed extract decreased the concentration of Viagra. This decreased the effectiveness of Viagra. Since this was an animal study, the application of results to humans is unclear. Further human clinical studies are warranted to clarify the interaction between horny goat weed extract and Viagra.

How to Take Horny Goat Weed

Always speak with a healthcare provider before taking a supplement to ensure that the supplement and dosage are appropriate for your needs.

Horny goat weed is available as a capsule, tablet, powder, or tea. While horny goat weed supplement is available as a single active ingredient, it can also be found in combination with other supplements purported to improve erectile dysfunction. 

Although the standard dose of horny goat weed is unclear, the doses used in some clinical trials are noted below.

Adults have safely taken horny goat weed extract containing phytoestrogens by mouth for up to two years. Another extract containing icariin has been taken safely for up to six months.

Using certain types of horny goat weed for a prolonged period or at higher doses is possibly unsafe. Serious side effects, such as severe breathing problems, have been reported.

It is important to note that supplements with some of the most significant risks of contamination are the ones promising sexual enhancement.

Alternative Treatments for Erectile Dysfunction

Natural remedies for erectile dysfunction are available in stores and online, but none are approved by the FDA. In addition, the FDA does not recommend using over-the-counter products for ED because no authorities regulate them for safety or effectiveness.

The following are some common natural remedies that people can consider for ED:

L-arginine and pycnogenol: A meta-analysis of studies concluded that the combination of the amino acid L-arginine and pycnogenol (an extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree) significantly improves sexual function in people with mild to moderate ED.

Herbal products: A review of 42 studies concluded that Panax ginseng, Prelox, and Tribulus terrestris have promising evidence as herbal products for ED.

Healthy diet: Studies have shown that following a Mediterranean diet&#;rich in foods like fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, fish, and poultry with less red meat, processed meat, and refined grains&#;decreased the likelihood of ED.

Exercise: A review of 10 studies concluded weekly exercise of 160 minutes for six months contributes to decreasing erectile problems in men with ED caused by physical inactivity, obesity, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and/or cardiovascular diseases.

Quitting smoking: Cigarette smoking can lead to cardiovascular dysfunction and is now established to be an independent risk factor for developing ED. Cigarette smoke contains nicotine, carbon monoxide, oxidant chemicals, and metals that can damage the endothelium and disrupt erectile processes. 

Counseling: If ED is caused by psychological or emotional issues, seeing a counselor or therapist may help. They can teach you ways to reduce anxiety and help with other psychological issues related to having sex.

If you are considering alternative ED treatments, talk with your healthcare provider before getting started.

Summary

Horny goat weed is an herbal supplement that some people use as a "natural Viagra" to treat erectile dysfunction. Some studies suggest it has other positive effects, especially on bone health. However, more rigorous human clinical studies are needed to clarify the health benefits of horny goat weed.

Caution should be taken if you have certain medical conditions or take certain medications. Consult your healthcare provider to determine if a horny goat weed supplement is right for you.

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