Taking Horny Goat Weed for Athletic Performance and Increasing Libido
Horny goat weed helps to gain and maintain erections and reduce premature ejaculation. It also a favorite of bodybuilders, weightlifters, and strength training athletes because it is said to stimulate nitric oxide synthesis.
The uses for horny goat weed can be traced back to Traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM. Horny goat weed is called Yin Yang Huo in TCM, and it’s been used for thousands of years.
The horny goat weed supplement is made from 15 different species in the Epimedium genus. While there are over 60 different plant species in the genus, only a select portion is considered to have medicinal properties.
Horny goat weed is traditionally used to treat disorders involving a deficiency of “yang” – the counterbalance of “yin“. These disorders include impotence, reduced libido, lower back pain, and poor circulation.
Horny goat weed is primarily used in the United States to treat sexual dysfunction. Advocates of the supplement claim that it boosts libido and sexual function. Epimedium supplements are also a favorite of bodybuilders, weightlifters, and strength training athletes because it is said to stimulate nitric oxide synthesis.
Uses of Horny Goat Weed
This nitric oxide causes vasodilation (blood vessels widening), which improves circulation as well as relaxes the corpus cavernosum of the penis. This is an important process as it allows for blood to flow into the penis, causing an erection.
Men with erectile dysfunction (ED) typically use horny goat weed to alleviate the symptoms of sexual dysfunction. Proponents of the supplement claim that horny goat weed helps to gain and maintain erections and reduce premature ejaculation.
It’s important to note that there is currently no clinical evidence to support these claims. Even so, many men take horny goat weed hopeful that it can improve their sex life by boosting libido and eliminate the symptoms of sexual dysfunction.
Research Evidence for Horny Goat Weed
While there is currently no clinical evidence supporting the claims horny goat weed works for sexual dysfunction, some components of Epimdedium have been shown to be connected to sexual performance. The horny goat weed flavonoid icariin, in particular, is one such component.
Icariin works as a PDE5 inhibitor, which is a characteristic of popular sexual enhancement drugs. PDE5 prevents blood from reaching the corpus cavernosum of the penis, preventing an erection. Many sexual enhancement drugs being sold today contain a synthetic (artificial) PDE5 inhibitor.
Proponents of icariin claim that it works much better than these synthetic PDE5 inhibitors. Icariin in horny goat weed has also been shown to improve testosterone circulation and efficiency.
Testosterone is vital for proper male sexual function and it’s connected to the strength of the male libido. The efficient use of testosterone may support enhanced sperm production as well as boost tactile sensitivity.
Using Horny Goat Weed for Athletic Performance
Bodybuilders and other athletes use horny goat weed to improve fitness levels and boost muscle building. Icariin is considered to boost levels of nitric oxide (NO) in the body. Nitric oxide relaxes and expands the lining of blood vessels and capillaries. This could allow for more blood to flow through without affecting blood pressure.
Increasing blood flow also boosts how many nutrients, proteins, and vitamins reach muscles, which can support their healthy growth and healing. Strength trainers typically use Epimedium supplements to boost muscle size and strength. They are also used to decrease recovery time after a strenuous workout.
Additional Uses for Horny Goat Weed
There generally isn’t enough scientific evidence to support all the claims of medicinal horny goat weed use. Even so, the research is still ongoing so answers will come soon. The contemporary uses for horny goat weed typically stem from TCM and anecdotal evidence.
Here are some of the additional uses for horny goat weed:
- Treating osteoarthritis and osteoporosis
- Alleviating joint pain
- Reducing bone degeneration – particularly in the hips and spine – in postmenopausal women
- Treating liver and heart disease
- Reducing blood pressure
- Reducing mental and physical fatigue
- Alleviating bronchitis symptoms
- Preventing memory loss
- Fighting against viral infections
Is it Safe to Use Horny Goat Weed?
Horny goat weed isn’t associated with negative side effects when used properly. Even so, it should never be used excessively. Traditional Chinese Medicine associates the over-supplementation of horny goat weed with damaging the yin of the body, which causes side effects such as dizziness.
Certain properties of Epimedium supplements make them unsuited for particular groups of people. Because of the lack of evidence pregnant and nursing women, for example, should avoid using horny goat weed.
Horny goat weed has been shown to exhibit antiplatelet effects, which means that it impairs blood clotting. This means that people who are scheduled for surgery, along with people who already have disorders related to clotting and bleeding, should avoid using horny goat weed.
Lastly, horny goat weed may affect hormone levels. People with hormone-sensitive cancers like uterine and breast cancer should avoid supplementing with horny goat weed. Make sure that you consult your doctor before using horny goat weed to ensure that the supplement is safe and right for you.
