Horny goat weed is a popular herbal remedy used in Chinese medicine. It’s thought to improve a number of health markers in the body, with the most notable being the reversal of erectile dysfunction in men, and for boosting estrogen and libido levels in women.
The main component in horny goat weed is a flavonoid called “icariin” which unsurprisingly is the main ingredient in modern E.D. meds like Viagra, Cialis, and many others. Some of the best brands combine this herb with other libido and health-boosting superfoods like tongkat ali, saw palmetto, ginseng, L-arginine and mucuna pruriens, in order to offer maximum effectiveness.
The Chinese call the herb “Yin Yan-Huo” which is usually made using boiling water mixed with the plant’s dried leaves, and then drank as a tea. Horny goat weed refers to any one of three plant species: Epimedium sagittatum, Epimedium grandiflorum and Epimedium brevicorum. No particular Epimedium strain has shown to be more potent than the other, and thus either can be labeled as horny goat weed in the supplements and teas containing the name.
Top 5 Horny Goat Weed Supplements
#1 |
GH-2 – Horny Goat Weed (Epimedium) Extract | Check Price | More Info |
#2 |
Hyper Strength Potent Herbal Blend | Check Price | More Info |
#3 |
Natural Horny Goat Weed Extract (for Men and Women) | Check Price | More Info |
#4 |
aSquared Nutrition Horny Goat Weed | Check Price | More Info |
#5 |
Bulk Supplements Horny Goat Weed Powder | Check Price | More Info |
Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of consuming horny goat weed, along with potential side effects and warnings, as well as tips for buying the most effective brands currently on the market right now.
Horny Goat Weed Benefits
1.Boosts Male and Female Sex Hormones
Horny goat weed can help increase and/or balance hormones in both sexes. First, in laboratory studies performed on rats, icariin; a prenylflavonoid compound in horny goat weed, was found to increase testosterone in the animal test subjects. Testosterone levels increased significantly when icariin was administered, improving the male rat’s all round health including the health of their reproductive system.
In females, those same flavonoids have proved to be potent phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens boost the female hormone estrogen, restoring youthful levels to women experiencing menopause. Due to this positive side effect, horny goat weed is also helpful in easing the negative symptoms of monthly menstruation.
2.Potent Natural Aphrodisiac
The full benefits offered by icariin are yet to be discovered. Along with the healthy boost in hormones horny goat weed offers, it also helps to increase sex drive and sexual performance. In men, icariin is an anti-inflammatory and vasodilator, packing a one-two punch against erectile dysfunction by reducing inflammation in the arteries and increasing blood flow via increased nitric oxide levels.
The effect is identical as to how the prescription drug Viagra works. In both sexes, icariin inhibits an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase which can put a damper on sexual arousal and physical energy, as well as blocking phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) which affects how the smooth muscles in the penis relax and contract to allow blood in during arousal.
Additional research is needed to confirm this benefit, but the consensus among those who’ve used it to treat ED is that it definitely works.
3.Improves Bone Health
Yet another interesting finding over the years has been horny goat weed’s ability to restore lost bone density in rats suffering from osteoporosis. A few select studies have identified icariin as the main flavonoid responsible for this effect.Icariin has not only shown promise in treating bone disease either; it can prevent the disease from starting in the first place by thwarting bone resorption which leaches calcium from the bones. Unfortunately, no official human trials have been performed yet, despite improvements noted in particular by women suffering from age-related bone loss.
4.Muscle Strength and Mass Booster
Icariin, one of the main health-boosting components in horny goat weed, is a very common supplement used in the powerlifting and bodybuilding communities. There’s definite science behind its use for building muscle. Individuals who’ve taken horny goat weed prior to workouts claim that their endurance is greatly boosted, too.
As to the science behind icariin’s ability to boost muscle strength and size, studies have shown it to have neurotrophic effects, as well as the ability to block PDE5, allowing for more neuron growth and maintenance. These benefits allow the body to release more of the recovery proteins it needs to build muscle.
5.Enhances Brain Function
Icariin has proved itself to be an effective anti-amyloid compound that can help restore lost brain function in people who suffer from age-related brain ailments such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Amyloids are proteins that aggregate near brain cells and form fibrils which are plaque formations that impair cognition.
The superfood also alleviates inflammation in the brain by activating microglia, which are used throughout the CNS including the brain to scavenge for amyloids and other harmful agents before they destroy neural tissue.
6.Other Potential Benefits
Horny goat weed is often marketed as a cure-all for every malady known to human beings. While it’s definitely true it has many yet discovered benefits, few studies exist to confirm the following claims:
• Cancer prevention: While icariin hasn’t been studied extensively enough to confirm this, it is a flavonoid, and flavonoids have shown to protect against cancer.
• HIV treatment: Horny goat weed is one of several natural herbs found in telomere-boosting supplements, though many experts disagree on its effectiveness.
• Atherosclerosis reversal: Naturopaths generally agree that horny goat weed may help to improve blood markers in people suffering from this condition.
• Kidney problems: Kidney problems are one of the key reasons this herb is used in Chinese medicine, though no research can prove or disprove its effectiveness.
• Back pain: Also used in Chinese medicine to treat back pain, but results are mixed.
Horny Goat Weed Dosage
Make sure to read over the warnings and side effects, including drug interactions, before taking any dosage of horny goat weed. Unlike other superfood supplements, horny goat weed dosing is weight dependent. Meaning the less you weigh, the less you should take to minimize the risk of unpleasant side effects.
Current horny goat weed dosing recommendations are as follows:
• People weighing less than 150 pounds, including pre and post-menopausal women should take between 180 – 1000 mg daily – ramping the dose up slowly over a week or two to assess tolerance.
• The average man or woman weighing over 150 pounds can take between 900 – 1500 mg daily.
Note on horny goat weed tea:
Tea is the preferred delivery method in Chinese medicine. Approximately 6 grams of boiled tea will deliver 250 mg of the supplement, containing around 10% of the active ingredient icariin.
In general, taking less than the minimum recommended amount might help alleviate some conditions, but studies have shown only mild benefits from taking doses of less than 100 mg per day. Always follow the directions on the label of the product you are taking, particularly when consuming horny goat weed tonics and tinctures.
Horny Goat Weed Warnings & Side Effects
Unhealthy people with cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and any disease known to dis-regulate thyroid, adrenal, or sex hormones (estrogen or testosterone) should consult with their doctor before taking horny goat weed or supplements with Epimedium extract. Women taking birth control should also avoid this product. The plant-based supplement also thins the blood, making it a bad choice for people taking blood thinners.
Side effects are rare with horny goat weed, but failing to ramp your daily dose up slowly and/or take more than the recommended dose for your weight group can result in unwanted side effects. Side effects are generally short-lived, but use common sense and stop taking it if symptoms become severe.
Side effect that are most common include:
• Dizziness.
• Hot flashes.
• Heavy sweating.
• Headaches.
• Aggression/irritability.
• Racing heartbeat.
• Excessive energy.
• Nausea.
How to Find the Right Horny Goat Weed Supplements
In general, you’ll want to look for companies with a reputation for honesty and who deliver quality products. Organic grown might also be a consideration to look for, since this once wild-grown Asian plant is now cultivated throughout North America and Europe.
The most important thing to look for on a label is the level of icariin the supplement you’ll be taking is standardized with:
To get the best bang for your buck, choose supplements that offer 500 mg per capsule, standardized to 10% icariin. If icariin levels aren’t displayed, avoid these products as you might be buying an inferior extract that won’t offer the benefits you’re looking for.
Reviews of the Top Recommended Horny Goat Weed Supplements
Most of the top sellers mentioned below contain other healthfood supplements, mainly geared toward libido boosting. However, it just so happens the costs of these formulations is the same or better than most standalone horny goat weed supplements out there. Each contain a minimum 1000 mg of horny goat weed per dose, with at least 10% icariins.
#1.GH-2 Horny Goat Weed Extract
GH-2 is a very special vegetarian-friendly horny goat weed extract that has 20% icariins per volume. The price is definitely a little steep at nearly $0.50 per capsule, but the manufacturer uses a special patented extraction method to ensure not just the most potent icariin levels, but also to protect other trace health-boosting compounds such as Epimedium, luteolin, quercetin and various epimedins. GH-2 will be especially beneficial for women seeking to balance hormones and for men seeking even more sexual performance benefits from horny goat weed.
#2.Hyper Strength Potent Herbal Blend
This is a product that may look like it’s geared toward men, and it is. However, both sexes can benefit from this potent blend of horny goat weed, maca, arginine, and tongkat ali. Each serving offers a super-potent formulation of all these healthful supplements including 1200 mg of horny goat weed extract that supplies a full 120 mg (10%) of the health boosting flavonoid icariin per dose. This is a high quality supplement made in FDA approved facilities and won’t break the bank like a lot of other libido boosters.
#3.Natural Horny Goat Weed Extract (for Men and Women)
This affordable offering from Nature’s Design contains 1000 mg of horny goat weed (10% icariins) and an added 250 mg of maca root to help with libido support for both men and women. Though it’s touted for its libido support, you’ll get all the benefits mentioned already from consuming horny goat weed with this product, including the benefits of other healthful superfoods like tongkat ali, saw palmetto, ginseng, L-arginine, and mucuna pruriens extract.
#4.aSquared Nutrition Horny Goat Weed
aSquared is a new contender in the health supplement race for perfection, and are quickly making a name for themselves. Each serving contains 1000 mg of horny goat with 10% icariin content. Like many of the others in this list, the company has included other key supplements that work synergistically with horny goat weed to balance hormones and boost libido including: Maca Root Powder, Tongkat Ali, Saw Palmetto, L-Arginine, Panax Ginseng, and Mucuna Pruriens.
#5.Bulk Supplements Horny Goat Weed Powder
There’s no substitute for purity and that’s exactly what Bulksupplements.com delivers in each of their products. If you don’t want the extra ingredients offered in the products recommended so far, this is the one for you. There are no fillers, nothing whatsoever added to this bulk half-pound bag of horny goat weed powder. Every bag is batch tested for purity and comes in a resealable foil zip pouch. Mix it in with your favorite beverages, smoothies, or food recipes. The company also offers empty gelatin capsules if you prefer swallowing your supplements in gel-cap form, yet still want to save money over the premade variety.
Conclusion
If you suffer from erectile dysfunction, low libido, imbalanced hormones (and the lack of energy that results), or want to take advantage of the muscle and bone boosting benefits horny goat weed offers, I highly recommend you give this superfood supplement a try. The monthly cost is quite low and even if you decide you just want to take it occasionally to boost performance in the bedroom, it’s a worthwhile addition to any supplement drawer.
Here’s to your health!
