The Health Benefits of Horny Goat Weed

Horny Goat Weed

There are a lot of herbs grown all over the world, some grown in your own backyards, sidewalks, etc. Some of these herbs are very popular while some you have never heard of, ‘horny goat weed’ is an herb that not many people know of but is used very often, horny goat weed holds an important place in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is gaining popularity around the world.

 

Used by practitioners for over 2,000 years, horny goat weed is several species of epimedium, a leafy plant which grows in the wild, most abundantly at higher altitudes, native to Asia and the Mediterranean region. It grows on hillsides and in cliff crevices and shady areas. The plant has light yellow, violet, red, and white flowers, and oval fruits. According to folklore, horny goat weed’s reputed aphrodisiac qualities were discovered when a Chinese goat herder noticed increased sexual activity in his flock after they ingested the weed.

 

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. Horny goat weed increases the nitric oxide levels, which relax smooth muscle and this lets more blood flow to the penis or clitoris or other smooth muscle. The raw leaves can be chewed or eaten, but the plant is typically sold as an extraction in powder or in pill form. There is also some evidence that it can help restore low levels of both testosterone and thyroid hormone and bringing it back to normal levels.

 

The traditional use of horny goat weed is as an herbal tea which results in a different profile of active constituents when compared to the alcohol extracts. There have been no reports of adverse side effects associated with the traditional preparation of horny goat weed (water-extracted) at the suggested dosage of 250 to 1,200mg per day, as we use. Horny goat weed must also be avoided during pregnancy as there is not enough evidence on its side effects.