Horny goat weed is a plant that’s sometimes used in supplements that aim to alleviate erectile dysfunction (ED) and/or increase male potency.
What Will I Learn
Is Horny Goat Weed Good for ED
Due to its testosterone boosting ability, you can find horny goat weed in some bodybuilding supplements as well.
The plant is known by many other names including bishop’s hat barrenwort, and yin yang huo.
Botanists are more likely to use its Latin name, Epimedium.
ED is surprisingly common. Even among young men. It’s not a condition that only affects older men, though the chances of developing ED increase as you age.
In the US, approximately 70 % of men aged 70 or older have problems with ED. The condition affects 30 million American males.
Many men who have ED find it a difficult subject to talk about, are reluctant to seek medical advice, and seek out good natural supplements instead.
Many of these supplements have horny goat weed among the ingredients and some of the better ones can produce staggeringly good results.
However, ED can sometimes be an early warning of more dangerous conditions.
It’s a good idea to break the silence and confide in a doctor if you suddenly begin having problems getting your penis hard.
Must Read: Which supplement for erectile dysfunction is most effective for 2021
What is Erectile Dysfunction?
If you regularly find it difficult to get your penis hard enough to maintain an erection that’s good enough to allow penetrative sex, you have got ED. Many men experience this condition occasionally.
Short-term ED is often brought on by stress or overuse of alcohol. There can be a number of other contributing factors as well.
ED can also be a long term condition – there are a number causes such as cardiovascular disease and other chronic illnesses.
An occasional failing is probably no cause for alarm and worrying about it may make it worse. However, when erection difficulties begin to happen frequently or persist long-term, it’s no good ignoring the problem.
ED can sap men of confidence and be damaging to self-esteem. It can also put unnecessary strain on even the most solid of relationships.
This is why many men turn to natural ED solutions such as horny goat weed or essential oils.
How Erections Work
There’s a lot more to getting an erection than you may think. It’s not just a case of boing and you’re good to go. There’s a lot of things happening behind the scenes.
The process begins in the brain.
When you become sexually stimulated. The brain sends signals to a muscle at the base of the penis. It’s called the corpora cavernosa and it acts a little like a valve.
In its normal state, the corpora cavernosa only permits a limited amount of blood to flow through the penis.
When the brain responds to sexual stimulation, it tells the muscle to relax.
This allows a greater volume of blood to flow into special chambers in the penis. These chambers are filled with erectile tissue.
When the erectile tissue becomes engorged with blood, it makes the penis expand and become hard. The girth of the penis increases as well.
A membrane called the tunica albuginea also has a role to play in keeping the penis hard.
The tunica albuginea helps trap the blood inside the penis, making it possible to maintain an erect state.
Nitric oxide is also a key player in the erection process.
It’s a vasodilator that causes the blood vessels to relax. This improves circulation and makes it possible for the penis to get a better supply of blood.
Why Erections Don’t Work (What’s Stopping Me Getting Hard?)
ED happens when something interferes with any of the processes that cause the penis to become erect. The problem can be mental or physical.
Stress and anxiety can interfere with the signaling system that allows the brain to send the signals that prep the penis for a sexual act. Lack of sleep can do this too, as can fatigue.
When the signaling system breaks down the penis does not get the opportunity to swell up with blood.
Even when the signals get through, a man cannot become erect if other factors interfere with the supply of blood.
Why Is Horny Goat Weed Good for Treating ED?
Horny goat weed contains the flavonoid icariin. It contains many other flavonoids as well but icariin is the one that appears to offer the most help to men suffering from ED.
Horny goat weed has a long history of medicinal use in China. Research into the herb’s abilities suggests those Chinese healers know a thing or two.
Studies show the icariin horny goat weed provides has a potent cardiovascular protective function.
One of the other things icariin does is protect the DNA from damage. It also improves the health and function of the blood vessels, helping improve circulation.
Needless to say, the improvements in circulation improve blood flow to the penis, helping to make it hard.
Although it can be used on its own, many male potency supplements combine horny goat weed with other natural compounds that can further support healthy erections.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking horny goat weed’s main value comes from its ability to enable a strong erection.
When circulation improves it takes a lot of pressure off the heart. Research suggests horny goat weed could have a lot of promise as an anti-atherosclerotic drug.
Horny goat weed is sometimes used as a treatment for:
- Low libido
- High blood pressure
- Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis)
- Osteoporosis
- Fatigue
Horny Goat Weed Vs. Viagra
Unless you have been living under a rock for a decade or more, you will probably know the name Viagra. It’s the drug most people associate with ED.
Viagra is a PDE5 inhibitor. So is the icariin horny goat weed provides. PDE-5 inhibitors relax the corpora cavernosa muscle to help the penis fill up with blood and become hard. [source]
Although both compounds work in the same way, Viagra has a reputation for causing side effects. That’s one of the reasons why its use requires medical supervision, while horny goat weed does not.
Does Horny Goat Weed Really Work for ED?
As with many of the ingredients that are used in the supplement industry, there are a lot of big claims about horny goat weed and its ability to pump up the penis.
Unfortunately, many of the claims are based on research conducted on animals. There have been some human-based studies as well though, and preliminary findings look good.
The results of a study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine show rats that were given purified horny goat weed extract showed improvements in erectile function.
The researchers suggest that, as well as it’s known abilities as a PDE5 inhibitor, the icariin in horny goat weed may also have neurotrophic effects.
This means the compound might be able to improve nerve function and signalling ability.
The results of test tube-based study prove icariin’s value as a PDE5 inhibitor. The data also indicates Viagra may have 80 times more power.
However, Viagra is a single drug (Sildenafil) acting alone. All the best male potency supplements combine horny goat weed with other ingredients that help ensure the penis gets plenty of blood. Instead of working alone, it’s a team player—a small part of the whole.
Some Important Horny Goat Weed Usage Considerations
Many men use supplements that contain horny goat weed to treat their ED and enjoy excellent results.
However, men who have existing health problems or would need to use the supplement alongside medication should check with their doctor before they use horny goat weed—or any type of supplement.
Certain medications do not react favorably with horny goat weed.
These include:
- High blood pressure medications
- Blood-thinning medications
- Medications for treating heart disease
- Medications for hormone-sensitive cancer
- Thyroid medications
It may also be unwise to use horny goat weed alongside over-the-counter painkillers such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
It’s rare, but some men are allergic to horny goat weed. The same can be said for any other natural ingredient though.
Some people are allergic to apples, others cannot tolerate pears and many people have allergies to dairy and gluten.
Symptoms to watch out for include sweating, feeling warm, and/or developing a rash.
Horny Goat Weed Pros and Cons
Pros
- Works well for many men
- Does not require a prescription
- Less side effects than Viagra
- Long history of medicinal use
- Improves circulation and may benefit the heart
Cons
- Lack of human-based study
- May react unfavorably with certain medications
- Possibility of allergic reactions
Horny Goat Weed for ED Summary
Horny goat weed is an age-old treatment for ED. Although further research is necessary, the research conducted to date is promising.
It’s also important to remember many men use horny goat weed or products that contain it, and say that it works.
Research shows the icariin in horny goat weed improves circulation.
This gives it the ability to help get extra blood into the penis. It’s also known to be a PDE5 inhibitor that works in a similar way to Viagra.
Viagra may have a more powerful PDE5 inhibiting effect but it also has greater potential for side effects. It requires a prescription and the way men respond to it needs to be monitored by a doctor.
As far as potency goes, in a two-horse race, Viagra would win.
However, some of the best Viagra alternatives contain horny goat weed and combine it with other “uplifting” natural compounds that can give Viagra a good run for its money on any day of the week.
