Horny goat weed or epimedium is a traditional Chinese herb that is used to treat pain, fatigue and erectile dysfunction. According to legend, a Chinese goat herder noticed that his flock became very sexually excited whenever they consumed this herb, leading to the herb's amusing name.

Horny Goat Weed as an Aphrodisiac

• To treat sexual performance problems. Some have found that taking horny goat weed helps to relieve the symptoms of erectile dysfunction or involuntary ejaculation. The chemicals in horny goat weed help to increase your blood flow which can help with sexual performance.
• To arouse sexual desires. The consumption of horny goat weed has been found to increase libido for both men and women, and thus arouse stronger sexual desires.
• Dosage. No established dose of horny goat weed has been proved, but it is recommended to take 6-15 grams per day in two or three divided doses. An overdose may cause respiratory complications, muscle cramps, hyperactivity, and spasm. Moreover, horny goat weed can change hormone estrogen levels in the body. If you suffer from hormone sensitive cancers like breast or ovarian cancer, you should be careful. There are also supplements for holy gout weed. Please do confirm with your doctor about how much you should take!

Horny Goat Weed for Diseases

There are as many as 15 different species of horny goat weed, which are commonly known as yin yang huo when used in Chinese medicine. This herb has been found to increase the blood flow throughout the body. This can help treat a variety of diseases by providing an easier route to provide nutrients and support to your system. Horny goat weed also contains a high level of phytoestrogens which act very similarly to the natural estrogen hormone within the body. This can help women manage conditions like osteoporosis that tend to occur after menopause.

Though scientific studies have not yet confirmed its exact effectiveness, horny goat weed has been cited for assisting in treatment of weak back and knees, joint pain, bone loss after menopause, chronic leucopenia, HIV/AIDS, mental or physical fatigue, memory loss, polio, bronchitis, heart disease, high blood pressure, liver disease, viral infections in the heart, or osteoarthritis. People also frequently use horny goat weed as a tonic.

Risks of Using Horny Goat Weed

• Side effects. In most cases, people do not appear to have many side effects to horny goat weed and it is basically well tolerated. It may cause dry mouth or upset stomach in some users. In less common cases horny goat weed was found to cause low blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, mood changes and nosebleeds.
• Risks. Horny goat weed is not recommended for long term treatment, nor should you take high doses of this herb. Those that have immune disorders, lung or heart problems, bipolar disorder, thyroid problems or low blood pressure should talk to their doctor before attempting to use horny goat weed as this can interfere with their treatment or worsen their condition.
• Interactions. Talk to your doctor if you are already taking medication or using other supplements regularly to make sure that horny goat weed will not negatively interact with any of these substances. Horny goat weed is known for interacting with aspirin, blood thinners, birth control pills and any medications designed to lower cholesterol levels or blood pressure. Combining horny goat weed with doses of nitroglycerin can also be very dangerous. Do not take horny goat weed if you are already using medications for erectile dysfunction as this can cause a drop in your blood pressure that could be fatal. There are also potential risks to using horny goat weed if you are breastfeeding or pregnant.