What is Horny Goat Weed?
Horny goat weed, also known by other names such as Epimedium, Barrenwort, Yingyanghuo, Fairy Wings, Rowdy Lamb Herb, Icariin, or Bishop’s Hat has been around for a long time, particularly in Asian countries like Japan and China where it was traditionally used for the purposes of improving sexual health and libido.
In this guide, we will be looking at and talking about this amazing supplement, how it will benefit you if you decide to use it, its associated side effects and every other thing in between.
If you’re reading this, chances are you already heard about horny goat weed supplements and want to confirm its potency before making a buying decision. If that’s why you’re reading this, you have come to the right place.
Every year, millions of men and women struggle with low sexual appetite, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and impotence. For these folks, it can feel as though there’s something truly missing in them.
Unfortunately, not all the available treatment options offer natural long lasting solutions. For the men for instance, the go-to solution is to pop a pill or two of Viagra, Cialis or Levitra.
And even though this provides a temporary solution, most men start wondering sooner than later if there’s a natural solution that doesn’t come with the consequent side effects associated with the prolonged use of those pills.
This is partly why many men start hormone replacement therapies for low testosterone –if they are diagnosed with the condition- or even see a shrink in the hopes that their sessions will help correct whatever is wrong “down below”.
For the women however, it’s not so simple. Yes, there are Viagra pills for women, but those aren’t as popular, and they still come with major side effects. It is not unusual to hear women complain that they used to love and desire making love to their husbands or partners, but suddenly don’t have the urge to do so anymore. With over 50 million suffering from some sort of sexual dysfunction, this is becoming a pandemic.
Women like this feel really bad that this is no longer happening –usually due to no fault of theirs- but don’t know what to do to stop it. If anything, they just want their sexual appetites back.
This has become even more commonplace given the demands on their time and life. Most women have to juggle work, raising children, professional and career advancements, running or working in charities, as well as attending to the needs of their significant other.
Unfortunately, the stress associated with the first four consume all their energies leaving little or nothing left for their significant others. Add the multiple medications they could be on at any point in time and you can see why they would have a clear case of low sex drive.
And when they aren’t dealing with those three, there’s the issue of menopause and its resultant symptoms to deal with. You’ll agree with me that no woman wants to have sex when their bodies are acting up with courtesy of menopause.
The point is while there are many causes of all these conditions, couples, men and women looking to improve their sex lives by increasing their libido can do so naturally using horny goat weed supplements. You’ll agree that when a couple is having more sex, there’s more affection and harmony in the home than when they aren’t.
The good thing about this supplement is that it still works in spite of the fact that you are obese, stressed, taking medications for everything from anxiety to migraines, smoke, drink, and even diabetic.
As long as there are no drug interactions between the key ingredients of the supplements – usually icariin, maca root extracts and polypodium vulgare root powders- and the other medications, it will work.
How Does Horny Goat Weed Supplements Work?
Horny goat weed works by simply increasing blood flow to the genitals and rallying all free testosterone in men. Also, because it contains phytoestrogens, it can help the body mimic the effects of estrogen in the bloodstream, increasing sexual drive and sensitivity particularly in women.
A human clinical trial was carried out in the state of New York to determine the effectiveness of Horny Goat Weed on improving sexual appetite, libido and performance. It had two sets of men –health and those who were dependent on erectile dysfunction prescription pills for sexual performance.
These men were given a herbal complex whose primary ingredient was Horny Goat Weed for 45 days. During these days, they were also allowed to take the supplements prior to any sexual activity.
After the first 45 days, the researchers started a second double-blind phase where random participants were given placebos and the real thing for another 15 days. The study showed that 60 percent of the healthy males still enjoyed satisfactory sexual activities as did another 45 percent of the men who were previously hooked on the ED pill before the experiment.
According to Mario Dell’Agli, a researcher at the University of Milan, horny goat weed is able to boost sex drive and improve erections by working in a manner that’s similar to Viagra, Cialis and other popular prescription ED drugs.
These drugs work by preventing the phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) enzyme which inhibits erections, while triggering the production of nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide is the chemical responsible for triggering and keeping your erection as well as preventing the flow of blood back to other parts of the body.
This is why users tend to get significant usage from these drugs as the enzymes responsible for producing nitric oxide remain active for days.
Now, there’s the question about how fast horny goat weed works compared to other prescription pills like Viagra and Cialis. Well, there have been conflicting statements and testimonials regarding speed of function. Some people swear that they start enjoying stronger, fuller erections and increased libido on the same day. Others say it takes a while.
How to Use Horny Goat Weed for Best Results
Well, for optimal results, you’ll need to take the specified dosage for at least two hours before any sexual activity. However, results are best when you load the body system with the supplement over the course of 3-7 days.
The idea behind this is you need the supplement to build up your body’s nitric oxide signaling capacity whilst consistently stimulating the production of testosterone. This way, your body automatically signals the brain, which in turn, activates the necessary enzyme to produce as much nitric oxide as it necessary for your body.
Most people record incredible improvements in their performance in between the sheets after 7 days of consistent usage. For more oomph, you should add L-arginine supplements over the course of 30 days. You’ll be amazed at your rate/speed of arousal, rock hard erections, stamina and performance.
Extra tips: Some people recommend stacking horny goat weed with L-Arginine and yohimbe supplement for incredible stamina and libido –best when you want to please your partner throughout the night. Use at your own risk though ;).
You may also want to consider cycling on and off it. So, take for 7-10 days straight –enough time to load your system and have long lasting effects- take a 7 day break and get back on it for the same duration. This way, not only will the bottle last longer, but you will also enjoy the benefits of fuller, thicker and harder erections.
Also, it does appear that your digestive system can interfere with its function. So, it’s generally advised that you either take it on an empty stomach for better results or eat light. As much as possible, avoid eating heavily. You can always do that after sex.
Either way, sexual performance is always better when you aren’t excessively full.
Other Horny Goat Weed Uses and Benefits
The benefits of horny goat weed isn’t just limited to sex. It is also thought to help provide relief in patients suffering from osteoporosis.
Ongoing research suggests that when menopausal women take a particular extract of horny goat weed for 2 years, they experience reduced bone loss in the spine and less hip problems.
This is usually as a result of the quantity of phytoestrogen present in this particular brand of horny goat weed supplement. If you’re interested, look for horny goat weed supplements manufactured by Tong Ji Pharmaceutical Company in China.
Also, postmenopausal women who take this supplement on a frequent basis will experience lower cholesterol levels and increased estrogen levels. This means that over time, these women can become less dependent on their hormone replacement therapies and its attendant risks for a healthier life, fewer menopausal symptoms and more frequent sexual activity.
There are other unconfirmed benefits such as its capability to help eliminate lethargy and fatigue, provide relief from bronchitis, help with liver disease, provide relief for joint pain, and memory improvement.
Side Effects and Possible Risks of Using Horny Goat Weed
As with all supplements and drugs, it is always better to beware of the attendant side effects that accompany the use of the supplement -if there are any. This supplement’s side effects include the following:
- Might be dangerous for people taking heart related meds or have some form of hormone sensitive cancer. See the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center website for more information.
- There have been two reported instances of medical emergencies linked to the use of the herb. In one of the instances, a patient with a prior medical condition of congestive heart failure presented at the hospital with symptoms of short breath, arrhythmia, and chest pains. The second case involved an individual who experienced a burning sensation, pain and rashes after combining the herb with gingko biloba herbs. So, you need to be careful if you intend to combine it with other supplements or have a pre-existing heart condition
- People who take meds whose side effects include tachycardia, and irregular pulse as well as people on blood thinning meds or those undergoing treatment for thyroid disease and high blood pressure might want to consult with their physicians before taking the herbal supplement.
- There’s also a possible risk of drug interactions if you take this with pain relief meds like ibuprofen and others.
- When taken in huge quantities, users have been known to develop breathing problems and muscular spasms. It is important to note this because some people take more than the stipulated dosages thinking that it’s a natural herbal supplement. Other have done/do this when they don’t feel an instant boost in stamina or performance and think they took less than they should.
Horny Goat Weed for Women
While women don’t have a need for the same amounts of nitric oxide and testosterone as men do, these chemicals still play a role in their sexual arousal and appetite.
In women, blood flow to the genitals is just as important for arousal, and a lack of significant nitric oxide in the body as well as testosterone are going to get the way of that.
Taking horny goat weed supplements helps build all these up in your body. These chemicals combined with the phytoestrogen ingredients in the supplement create the perfect mix needed to get you consistently aroused whenever you need to.
Women of all ages have consistently enjoyed great results from using horny goat weed, with many claiming that it helped boost their libido to similar levels as when they were in their 20’s. With horny goat weed, sex naturally becomes more enjoyable, multiple orgasms are easily attained, and sexual stimulation becomes easier.
This supplement is particularly recommended for women in their menopausal and post-menopausal years. Listen, just because you have attained those years, doesn’t mean you still can’t take incredible pleasures and delight in your body.
If you are worried that the supplement will interfere with your current or intended hormone replacement therapy, don’t. So far, there hasn’t been any indication of drug interactions. To be safe though, clear it with your doctor or hormone replacement therapist or specialist.
And since it’s a natural supplement, it doesn’t really work in the same manner as your regular prescription pills or hormone injections. It just works like your body would when it’s naturally producing the necessary enzymes, chemicals and hormones required for an active sexual life.
At the end of the day, you want a long term and lasting solution to your erectile dysfunction problems. Horny goat weed is that solution you need to get the utmost results. All other ED pills and supplements –particularly the sildenafil based types- do nothing for your long term recovery.
You really cannot go wrong with horny goat weed. Take for as long as recommended, maybe even longer, and watch it transform your sex life. With this, there’s no need to worry about needing your erectile dysfunction pills whenever you want to have sex.
Miss taking the pills for a day or two? No problems. Because your body is already loaded with the supplement, it continues to work in the background, so that you are ready for action at any time.
If you miss how sexually active you were in your 20’s and sorely desire reliving those days, horny goat weed will help you rediscover that after a few days of consistent use. Just make sure you have a partner –or partners- that can cope ;)
