Horny Goat Weed as a Natural Sexual Enhancer

One of the most popular natural sexual enhancers has an odd, yet very descriptive name. Horny goat week, or epimedium, has been used as an aphrodisiac for centuries. The funny name is no accident. Legend has it that a Chinese goatherd noticed his goats becoming especially amorous after dining on a certain plant. This weed made them, well… horny.

Horny goat weed has been used in Chinese medicine as a remedy for many ailments, but in the Western world it is commonly used as a sexual stimulant. The weed has shown to have aphrodisiac properties and to be an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction. It has also been used as an alternative treatment for symptoms of menopause and premenstrual syndrome, as well as an energy booster.

Horny goat weed works for sexual enhancement because its natural chemical makeup is similar to the male enhancement pills, in the manner that it stimulates the libido. Like Viagra, the weed blocks the PDE-5 enzyme that prevents the connection between the neurotransmitters linked to sexual arousal. When these neurotransmitters are allowed to function and replicate in the brain, sexual desire and function increase. Horny goat weed also increases nitric oxide levels, which increases blood flow to the penis or clitoris.

All-natural doesn’t always mean safe, and horny goat weed does have some potential for side effects. The main side effect is increased sexual desire, which most men report as a positive effect of the supplement. Other side effects reported include increased heart rate, insomnia and general restlessness. Some medical testing has shown overuse of the supplement over long time periods to cause liver and kidney damage. Decrease of thyroid activity has been shown in animal testing, but there is no conclusive evidence of that effect in humans.

Outside of its native China, horny goat weed is often found in supplement form. Recommended dosage is two tablets daily or several tablets as soon as 30 minutes before sexual intercourse.