Horny Goat Weed and Testosterone: An Aphrodisiac and T-Booster?

Horny Goat Weed and Testosterone

When searching online for a good natural testosterone booster, the name Horny Goat Weed tends to pop up quite a lot.

But whether it’s because of its unusual name, or the lack of content about it, people often don’t give this ancient Chinese herb enough attention.

This flowering plant has been a remedy for erectile dysfunction and used as an aphrodisiac for many centuries in Asia.

In the last decade or so, there has been a lot of studies done on this subject, all of which have found some connection to an increase in testosterone and nitric oxide production.

What is Horny Goat Weed and How Does it Work?

Epimedium, commonly known as Horny Goat Weed or fairy wings, is a type of flowering plant from the barberry family. Although mostly endemic to China, there are a few different types of Epimedium that grow all over Asia.

The Chinese and other Asian countries have been using horny goat weed as an aphrodisiac for centuries, without knowing the exact mechanism of how it works.

Recent studies have discovered the reason why horny goat weed is an effective libido booster is a substance called icariin.

Icariin is a chemical compound that works like a PDE5 inhibitor, which means it loosens the muscle cells around the blood vessels that supply the penis. And although its effects aren’t as strong or immediate as some PDE5 inhibitor drugs such as Viagra and Cialis, horny goat weed is still quite a powerful libido booster.

Horny Goat Weed and Testosterone Levels

Looking up horny goat weed will almost exclusively show it as an erectile dysfunction remedy. However, being a pretty potent aphrodisiac comes with a couple of side effects that are bound to grab your attention.

You see, icariin, the most significant compound found in epimedium, does a great job at increasing nitric oxide levels in your blood.

Nitric oxide is a very important signaling molecule and a powerful vasodilator and is crucial for the normal functioning of the human body.

Icariin has a much more immediate effect on raising nitric oxide levels than foods and is often used as a supplement by bodybuilders.

Blocking the PDE5 enzyme and increasing the production of nitric oxide sets off a chain of interconnected processes that, when combined, ultimately affect the testosterone levels in the blood.

• This promising study done on rats at the Shantou University Medical College in China found that icariin has testosterone mimicking properties that have a positive effect on androgen deficiency and bone density.
• Researchers at the University of California found that icariin promotes nerve growth and increases the blood flow in the pelvic area in this study done on rats.
• When it comes to epimedium’s effect on nitric oxide, a couple of studies showed similar results. This study found that icariin has neurotrophic effects, which could be beneficial when treating a variety of conditions. Researchers at Peking University also confirmed the ancient Chinese belief that horny goat weed treats erectile dysfunction in this study done on rats.

When you consider the findings in all of these studies, it’s safe to say that epimedium does have an overall positive impact on both blood flow to the pelvic area and at increasing androgen activity in the body.

Don’t forget that any change in your testosterone levels will also affect other things when it comes to your health.

If you decide to take icariin supplements, the increased production of nitric oxide will also have a positive impact on your mood and energy levels.

Nitric oxide is the active ingredient in many antidepressants, so even a small increase will affect the amount of dopamine your body produces.

Apart from a change in mood, icariin is also a well-known stress-reducing compound.

When given to stressed-out lab rats, icariin was shown to be effective at combating the rising cortisol levels associated with stress and anxiety.

Are there any side effects to taking horny goat weed?

Even though it’s a relatively safe plant, and has ingredients that are both natural and found in the human body, horny goat weed isn’t without its side effects.

Taking horny goat weed supplements is perfectly safe if you don’t overdo it. Most of the side effects come up as a result of taking more than the prescribed dose or combining it with other supplements that have similar effects.

All the bad side-effects can be linked to an increase in the production of nitric oxide. Despite the fact that nitric oxide is found in the human body, having too much of it can cause serious damage to your blood vessels.

Nitric oxide lowers your blood pressure, so going overboard with horny goat weed supplementation can result in nausea, dizziness, chest pain, and headaches.

Another con to taking this supplement is its availability. It’s relatively new to the market, and can rarely be found in pharmacies and supplement stores.

If you do decide to try horny goat weed, then try to take either a Horny Goat Weed Tincture (for better absorption) or a good quality Standardized Icariin Extract (for all the benefits of icariin mentioned above).

Conclusion

Although it most definitely lacks human studies, most scientists agree on the positive effects horny goat weed has on treating erectile dysfunction.

It also contains many flavonoids, which can reduce stress and promote nerve growth and blood flow to the pelvic area.

The lack of side-effects and a variety of different health benefits make horny goat weed a great choice if you’re looking for a safe and natural supplement to help boost the androgen activity in your body.

Being relatively cheap and available in liquid and tablet form gets horny goat weed a great big thumbs up from us.

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