Horney Goat Weed

September 30th, 2008

Botanical Name:Epimedium grandiflorum
Family: Berberidaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Ranunculales
Genus: Epimedium
Other Names: Icariin, Barrenwort, Bishop’s Hat, Fairy Wings, Epimedium, or Yin Yang Huo
Part used:Total herb
Habitat : The large majority are endemic to southern China, with further outposts in Europe, and central, southern and eastern Asia.

Description:Horney Goat Weed or Epimedium species are hardy perennials. The majority have four-petaled “spider-like” flowers in spring. Many are believed to be aphrodisiacs, particularly horny goat weed, which has shown promising signs of becoming a genuine alternative to Viagra for impotent men.

Cultivation:
Some varieties and hybrids have been in Western cultivation for the last 100/150 years. There is now a wide array of new Chinese species, many of which are only recently discovered, and a number of which have yet to be named. There are also Japanese hybrids and forms that are now arriving in the west, extending the boundaries of the genus in cultivation. The majority of the Chinese species have not been fully tested for hardiness or indeed for any other aspect of their culture. The initial assumption that the plants would only thrive where their native conditions could be closely replicated have proven to be overly cautious, as most varieties are proving extraordinarily amenable to general garden and container cultivation.

Whilst they can be successfully propagated in early spring, Epimedium are best divided in late August, with the aim of promoting rapid re-growth of roots and shoots before the onset of winter. Several breeders (in particular Darrell Probst, Tim Branney & Robin White) have also undertaken their own hybridization programmes with the genus Epimedium. Various new nursery selections are gradually appearing in the nursery trade, the best of which are extending the colour and shape range of the flowers available to the gardener.

Medicinal Uses:
Aphrodisiac
Many species of Epimedium are alleged to have aphrodisiac qualities. According to legend, this property was discovered by a Chinese goat herder who noticed sexual activity in his flock after they ate the weed. It is sold as a health supplement; usually in raw herb, tablet, or capsule form and sometimes blended with other supplements. The over-exploitation of wild populations of Epimedium for use in traditional Chinese medicine is having potentially serious consequences for the long-term survival of several species, none of which are widely cultivated for medicinal purposes.

The “active ingredient” in Epimedium is icariin, which can be found in standardized extracts from 5% up to 60% potent. Strengths above that are usually reserved for lab use.

Icariin is purported to work by increasing levels of nitric oxide, which relax smooth muscle. It has been demonstrated to relax rabbit penile tissue by nitric oxide and PDE-5 activity . Other research has demonstrated that injections of Epimedium extract, directly into the penis of the rat results in an increase in penile blood pressure.

Like Viagra, icariin, the active compound in Epimedium, inhibits the activity of PDE-5. In vitro assays have demonstrated that icariin inhibits PDE-5 with an IC50 of around 1 micromolar, while Viagra has an IC50 of about 6.6 nanomolar (.0066 micromolar) and Levitra has an IC50 of about 0.7 nanomolar (.0007 micromolar). Measured differently, the EC50 of icariin is approximately 4.62 micromolar, while Viagra is .42 micromolar. The amount of oral administration of Epidemium extract necessary to achieve these relative concentrations is unclear from the literature, and may not be relevant if the herb works through multiple mechanisms, as has been suggested. Epimedium has been shown to up-regulate genes associated with nitric oxide production and changes in adenosine/guanine monophosphate balance in ways that other PDE5 inhibitors do not.

Recent scientific studies support the aphrodiac reports.

Horny Goat Weed has been used as an aphrodisiac for hundreds of years, and research has also proven its effects on improving sexual desire and performance. Its scientific name is Epimedium or Yin Yang Huo in chinese but it is also called as Barrenwort, Bishop’s Hat, Fairy Wings, Inyokaku, or Horny Goat Weed. Epimedium is a genus of about 60 or more species of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Berberidaceae.

One of the primary physiological effects of Epimedium is the dilation of blood vessels, allowing hormone-boosted blood to reach sensitive tissues. By expanding the circulatory systems blood vessels, Horny Goat Weed also lowers the blood pressure.

According to Chinese this clears the body from weariness and increases energy level while nervous stimulation is enhanced as the brain is supplied with hormone-enriched blood.

Because of these properties Horney Goat Weed has also been used succesfully to treat coronary heart disease, asthma, bronchitis, and sinusitis.

Although epimedium has been successfully applied in treatments for disorders of the liver, kidneys, joints, knees and back, it was mainly used as an aphrodisiac in Asian medicine. According to legend, this property was discovered by a Chinese goat herdsman who noticed sexual activity in his flock after they consumed the weed. Apparently at this time the plant was crowned with a straightforward nickname: Horney Goat Weed.

Like Viagra, icariin, the active compound in Epimedium, inhibits the activity of PDE-5 allowing enhanced blood circulation in penis tissues. A study found 15 of 20 healthy men responding positively to Horney Goat Weed, and for 7 of the 15 men already on Viagra also had a positive effect from using Horney Goat Weed.

Like many natural herbal aphrodisiacs, Horney Goat Weed has been researched over a long period of time and its benefits have been in use for thousands of years. While the western world’s magic blue pill offers immediate results for impotence symptoms, for Epimedium takes a bit longer to achieve the desired result, but provides longer-lasting benefits. Not to mention that you can leave behind the fear associated with generic drugs.

Research has shown that Horny Goat Weed can inhibit an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase (AChE). AChE rapidly stops neurotransmission at cholinergic synapses like those found in the brain and at neuromuscular junctions, which are needed for speedy responses in the neuromuscular system. By inhibiting AChE, Horny Goat Weed supports higher levels of the key cholinergic neurotransmitters associated with sexual arousal.Helps Nitric Oxide effectiveness in the body as a PDE-5 Inhibitor (how Viagra, Cialis & Levitra work)Horny goat weed contains a prominent flavonoid called icariin. Icariin is a cGMP-specific PDE5 inhibitor like Viagra, Cialis and Levitra.This was demonstrated in a 1984 University of Peking study which concluded: “Icariin is a cGMP-specific PDE5 inhibitor that can be developed into an oral effective agent for the treatment of ED.” Besides it’s PDE-5 inhibitor characteristics it also has positive effects on the endocrine system functioning as an adaptogen by increasing levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine when they are low - promoting energy, but reduces cortisol levels when they are elevated (an anti-stress effect). High stress conditions, increase cortisol levels causing fatigue and depressing sex drive.

Disclaimer:The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epimedium
http://www.yoursdaily.com/relationships/horney_goat_weed_a_marvelous_herb
http://www.ampiflow.com/active_ingredients.htm

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