Horny Goat Weed or Epimedium is a known aphrodisiac in use for decades. It is also effective in improving sexual desire and sexual performance in men and women. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Horny Goat Weed is called Yin Yang Huo, Inyokaku, or Xian ling pi and is believed to be useful to dilate the blood vessels, increase blood flow, and fight infections. Horny Goat Weed is a colorful herbal plant producing yellow to red flowers that grows in the forests of China and Korea. The name Horny Goat Weed came from a legend about a goat herder who noticed that his goats showed a more noticeable promiscuous behavior after eating these weeds.
Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine collects the leaves of Horny Goat Weed, dries them and treats it with lamb’s fat before being used as an aphrodisiac. Today, Horny Goat Weed is supplied in capsules and pills and is primarily being used as a male enhancement product. However, the Horny Goat Weed benefits are not only limited to sexual health but also to total well being. The active ingredients in Horny Goat Weed are flavonoids which have estrogen-inhibiting, anti-inflammatory, and immune-boosting properties.
Horny Goat Weed Benefits
- Horny Goat Weed increases sexual desire and appetite in men leading to better sexual performance. Women are also more sexually satisfied because of their partner’s better performance.
- Horny Goat Weed is helpful in treating erectile dysfunction and impotence in men.
- Horny Goat Weed can be useful in treating Hay fever. The symptoms of hay fever are caused by the allergens present in the air. The potency of Horny Goat Weed’s ability in relieving its symptoms may be enhanced if Horny Goat Weed is used with other herbs like ginger, butterbur, and licorice.
- When combined with green tea and garlic, Horny goat weed can treat atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition where there is an excessive deposit of cholesterol plaques in the blood vessels leading to high blood pressure, heart attack, and other heart diseases.
- Male athletes use Horny Goat Weed supplements for increased testosterone and energy levels.
- The estrogen-inhibiting ability of Horny Goat Weed is very beneficial to women who suffer symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome and menopause.
- Horny Goat weed can be helpful in relieving the symptoms of asthma and bronchitis.
- Studies suggest that Horny Goat Weed can also aid in the treatment of kidney and liver disorders.
Horny Goat Weed Side Effects
Horny Goat Weed side effects include dizziness, vomiting, dry mouth, thirst, allergic reactions, increased heart rate, and fever. People who are taking blood thinning medications like warfarin and aspirin are not advised to take Horny Goat Weed supplements as it may cause clotting problems. Patients with bleeding problems are also not recommended to use Horny Goat Weed products.
