Horny Goat Weed

Location

Epimedium grandiflorum is native to southern China and other parts of Asia.

Description

Epimedium is a hardy perennial with unique characteristics: every Epimedium plant has just three stems with only three leaves per stem (Wu 2003). It ranges in height from about 6 – 20 inches. E. grandiflorum has green and copper-tinged, heart-shaped leaflets and small, spurred, and cup-shaped flowers, which are dark pink in color (Hillclimb 2008).

History

Initially, written Chinese records (300 B.C.) regarded Epimedium grandiflorum as a “body-building agent”, which provided support for yang. Over the centuries it became known as yin yang huobecause it was noted that consumption of this plant, by sheep and goats, resulted in increased mating frequency (Wu 2003). Also popular as an ornamental plant, horny goat weed has been integrated into Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) methodology (Bensky 1986). Preparations containing Epimedium grandiflorumhave been used for erectile dysfunction, infertility, as well as for joint health.

Current Medicinal Uses

Horny goat weed is used as an ingredient in some herbal aphrodisiacs. Icariin, a flavonol, is being investigated for its purported use as a treatment for erectile dysfunction and low sex drive. In vitro, icariin appears to inhibit phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5), an enzyme that regulates nitric oxide. Nitric oxide signaling is heavily involved in the physiology of erection response. However, sildenafil (Viagra), a drug currently used for erectile dysfunction is a far more potent inhibitor of PDE-5 than horny goat weed (Dell’ Agli, et al 2008).

References

Bensky D, Gamble A. Chinese herbal medicine: Materia medica. Seattle: Eastland Press, Inc.; 1986.

Dell’ Agli M, Galli GV, Cero ED, Belluti F, Matera R, Zironi E. Potent inhibition of human phosphodiesterase-5 by icariin derivatives. J. Nat. Prod. 2008; 71,1513-1517.

Hillclimb Media. Encyclopedia of Plants: Epimedium. Botony.com (2008) http://www.botany.com/epimedium.html. Accessed May 29, 2010

Wu H, Lien EJ, and Lien LL. Chemical and Pharmacological Investigations of Epimedium species: a survey. Progress in Drug Research, v60. Basel, Boston, Berlin. Berkhauser-Verlag. 2003

Disclaimer 

Information on this website is for educational purposes only. Many herbs historically used for medicine are considered too toxic to use today; some of these herbs have caused deaths. Do not ingest these herbs based on information on this website. We have not provided sufficient information for the safe medicinal use of any of these herbs, nor sufficient information for treatment of poisoning. All recreational use of these herbs is dangerous.