Horny goat weed is an herb that has been a traditional remedy in China for centuries. It’s used for low libido, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, pain, and other conditions.

Some men take horny goat weed in the belief that it’s a natural alternative to drugs for erectile dysfunction (ED). Although still preliminary, there’s new evidence to support the idea. Epimedium, the suspected active component of horny goat weed, appears to increase blood flow and improve sexual function, or act as a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, similar to some drugs used for ED. Horny goat weed also contains phytoestrogens, chemicals that act somewhat like the hormone estrogen. Artemisia Extract

Horny goat weed has also been studied as a treatment for other conditions, like osteoporosis and hardening of the arteries. The results from studies conducted abroad show promise, however better clinical studies are still needed.

Horny goat weed is an unproven treatment. There is no established dose.

There are no natural food sources of horny goat weed.

Given the possible risks, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and children should not take horny goat weed.

Agli, M. Journal of Natural Products, 2008.

Longe, J., ed. The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, second edition, 2004.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center web site: “About Herbs: Epimedium.”

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database web site: “Epimedium.” 

Natural Standard Patient Monograph: “Horny Goat Weed.”

News release, Journal of Natural Products.

U.S.Library of Medicine: "Honey Goat Weed."

Cho, J.-H., Jung, J.-Y., Lee, B.-J., Lee, K., Park, J.-W., and Bu, Y.  Epimedii Herba: A Promising Herbal Medicine for Neuroplasticity. 2017

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