Can Horny Goat Weed Improve Sexual Function for Men?

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."

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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.

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

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.

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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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