Horny Goat Weed Extract/Epimedium Extract Powder
【Latin Name】:Epimedium brevicornum Maxim
【Specification】: Icariin 10-98% HPLC
【Plant Part Used】: Branches and Leaves
【Extract Solubility】: Soluble in ethanol
【Appearance 】: Brownish yellow to light greenish yellow fine powder
【Particle size 】: 100% pass 80 meshes
【Appearance】: Brown fine powderto light yellow greenish powder
【Particle size】: 100% over 80 meshes
【Packing】: 25kg/fiber drum or aluminium foil bag
【Storage Conditions】: Stored in dry, cool and well ventilated place
【Shelf life】:Valid for 24 months since manufacturing date.

Horny Goat Weed Extract

Description of Herb Horny Goat Weed/Epimedium
Horny Goat Weed (Epimedium brevicornum Maxim) is an herb native to the mountainous regions of China with well known libido-enhancing effects. This rhizomatous herb is widely manufactured as supplements designed to support healthy functioning of the male reproductive system. Horny Goat Weed supplements are perhaps the most famous natural male enhancement pills in the market today. Men suffering from impotence, erectile dysfunction, low libido, loss of sexual vitality, and low sexual energy use Horny Goat Weed to restore their sexual vitality. Horny goat weed may not produce all these benefits, if not for an amazing flavonol called icariin.

Icariin is a natural flavonol glycoside considered as the most powerful ingredient of horny goat weed herb. This plant chemical is made available in Horny goat weed supplements ranging from 5% to 60% concentration. The highest icariin concentration, the more effective the standardized horny goat weed extracts are. The percentage measures the purity and strength of icariin in the formulation and thus, horny goat weed extracts with Icariin 50% and 60% concentration produces the best Libido-boosting effects. Horny goat weed pills with varying icariin concentrations are available in drug stores and online pharmacies.

Horny goat weed is dubbed as the natural Viagra because Icariin is a natural PDE-5 inhibitor. PDE-5 inhibition is the same way that Sildenafil Citrate (Viagra) produces its male enhancement effects. Icariin works by inhibiting the action of the enzyme phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5). This enzyme degrades Nitric Oxide, an important chemical needed by the penis to achieve erection. By blocking the action of PDE-5, more nitric oxide is produced to relax the muscles and expand penile blood vessels to allow enough blood flow needed to sustain an erection. Icariin is also known to naturally boost testosterone levels, the hormone responsible for the primary sexual characteristics of men as well as their sexual energy.

Supplemental icariin from standardized horny goat weed extract produces amazing benefits to the body. It provides natural remedy for waning libido due to stress and health diseases. It also helps older men to renew their sexual vitality and reduce the negative effects of aging to their reproductive functions. Horny goat weed is considered as the primary Herbal remedy for erectile dysfunction and impotence in men. Plus, being derived from a natural herb, icariin does not produce harmful side effects like its synthetic counterparts.

Icariin benefits are not limited to just boosting libido and sexual energy. Icariin is also noted to increase lean muscle production to help men achieve a more muscular physique. This mechanism is the reason why icariin is an active ingredient of numerous supplements used by athletes and body builders. Icariin helps produce healthy energy levels, supports endurance, and decreases the physical effects of stress to the body. Other horny goat weed benefits include helping maintain mental alertness, providing relief for the symptoms of hay fever, assisting in the treatment of kidney and liver problems, relieving the symptoms of respiratory disorders like asthma and bronchitis.

Which Specification of Icariin to Choose?
Epimedium herb(Horny Goat Weed) extract powders contain various different specification of icariin. The content is calculated as a percentage from 10% icariin to the most pure 98% Icariin. The quality element of Icariin is much more important than the strength percentages just mentioned above. There is a big difference for icariin and icariins—Icariin is a monomer that can’t be further divided without changing its chemical property while icariins are a compound contained in the herbs including icariin and epimedin C. Therefore whenever you are looking at a Horny Goat Weed extract product always make sure to check the part where it tells you which percentage of icariin the product contains and when checking this you need also to check whether or not the word icariin is spelt as simply “Icariin” or alternatively as “icariins” (the latter including a letter ‘s’ on the end).

The various grades of Iariin strength percentages mentioned above are important because icariin percentage can mean the difference between getting the desired results you need or failing to gain the best effects.  If a man who is perfectly healthy in sex but wants to see a boost in sexual vitality then a 10% or 20% Icariin supplement will be perfectly enough.  However, if you are a man who actually suffers from a reduction in sexual performance, whether it is low libido, and erectile dysfunction/impotence then ideally you need at least a 50% icariin or 60% Icariin in order to gain the maximum benefit possible from this amazing extract.

Recommended Dosage of Icariin
Icariin 5%, 1200-1500mg/time,3 times/day
Icariin 10%, 1100-1300mg/time,3 times/day
Icariin 20%, 1000-1100mg/time,3 times/day
Icariin 60%, 400-500mg/time,3 times/day
Icariin 80%, 300-400mg/time,3 times/day
Icariiin 98%, 250-300mg/time,3 times/day

Packing
1)1KG, 2KG, 5KG/bag; packed in an aluminum foil bag outside; double-layer PE inside.
2)25KG/drum;Packed in a cardboard-drum with two plastic-bags inside; Drum Size: 510mm high, 350mm diameter).

Records of Horny Goat Weed in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Name: Yin Yang Huo (Herba Epimedii)——Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shen Nong’s Herbal)
Yin Yang Huo , Herba Epimedii, Xian Ling Pi
Origin: The part above the earth surface of the plants Epimedium brevicornum Maxim. , E. sagittatum (Sieb. et Zucc.) Maxim. E. Pubesens Maxim, E. wushanense T. S. Ying, E. koreanum Nakai of the family Berberidaceae.
Location: Mainly produced in Shaanxi, Shanxi and Hubei provinces in China.
Harvest: Collected in summer and autumn.
The actual smell and taste: without smell, slightly bitter.
Processing in TCM:  Sliced, unprocessed or stir-baked with suet oil.
Property: Sweet, pungent, warm; kidney and liver meridians entered.
Composition of the epimedium herb:
Epimedium herb has flavonoids such as icariin, epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C and baohuoside Iicariin, along with prenylated flavonol glycosides sagittasine A-C, acylated flavonol glycosides such as kaempferol, together with flavonolignans, 2-phenoxychromones, a lignan, and aromatic acid derivatives. Some of these compounds, particularly icariin, promote endothelial nitric oxide-dependent relaxation of blood vessels and hence can be of help for the treatment of erectile function and impotence.

Indication of Epimedium Herb/Horny Goat Weed in TCM
1. Deficiency of kidney yang
It is indicated for impotence, male sterility, female sterility due to cold in womb, enuresis, frequent urination, dyspnea of deficiency type and other symptoms caused by kidney yang deficiency, because it can warm kidney and tonify yang. It is warm and dry in property and very strong in action of tonifying yang and treating impotence, therefore, it is very suitable for impotence and male sterility due to cold essence caused by kidney yang deficiency. For impotence and male sterility due to cold essence, it could be used as alcoholic preparation singly or combined with kidney-warming and yang-tonifying herbs, for instance, it is used with Ba Ji Tian(Morinda officinalis), Tu Si Zi(Chinese Dodder seed) and Rou Gui in the formula Xian Ling Jiu from Yi Xue Qi Meng (Enlighten of Medicine). For kidney yang deficiency accompanied with insufficiency of kidney essence, it is combined with kidney yang and kidney essence tonics, for instance, it is used with Xian Mao, Ba Ji Tian, Gou Qi Zi(Goji Berry) and Shu Di Huang in the formula Zan Yu Dan from Jing Yue Quan Shu. For kidney yang deficiency, and sterility due to cold in womb, it is combined with kidney-yang-tonifying, blood and essence-supplementing herbs, for instance, it is used with Lu Rong(Deer Antler Velvet) and Zi He Che.

2. Wind, cold and damp arthralgia
It is very suitable for chronic arthralgia, weak tendons and bones due to the disease affecting liver and kidney, or kidney yang deficiency with weak tendons and bones attacking by wind-damp arthralgia, because it can tonify kidney yang, strengthen tendons and bones, and dispel wind-damp, which is similar to Ba Ji Tian(Morinda officinalis), but stronger in tonifying kidney yang, curing impotence and flaccidity because of its warm and dry properties. It i.s commonly combined with herbs to tonify kidney and liver, strengthen tendons and bones, and dispel wind-damp. For wind-cold-damp arthralgia, pain in lumbar and feet, limpness of limbs, for instance, it is used with Du Zhong, Fu Zi, Bi Xie in the formula Xian Ling Pi (Yin Yang Huo) San from Sheng Hui Fang.

Benefits of Horny Goat Weed Extract
1. PDE5 Inhibition (w/ Many Less Side Effects).  Viagra, Cialis and Levitra are the big 3 blockbuster PDE5 Inhibitors that boost nitric oxide for men with erectile dysfunction. (Actually, these drugs only cause nitric oxide to remain in one’s system longer, one of the reasons that they are ineffective in many men.) The problem is that they have a strong crossover into other PDE enzyme systems in the body and can very significantly affect vision, hearing and the stomach. Icariin seems to have much less of a crossover effect and thus a significantly decreased side effect profile. (However, Icariin is a less powerful PDE5 Inhibitor as well.).  Icariin has a relatively short half life – about 4 hours I believe – so for maximum short term benefits, one should take it shortly before any anticipated love making sessions. Furthermore, it is about 1/80th as powerful of a PDE5 inhibitor, but about 1/10th at boosting cGMP (which is the real goal).

2. Dose Dependent Increases in Nitric Oxide. Many studies have shown that Icariin increases cGMP, nitric oxide, etc as mentioned in #1. One nice property, at least according to in vitro studies, is that Icariin increases nitric oxide in a dose dependent manner. Thus, the more you take, the more blood flow that should be gained and, blood flow after all, is what it is all about.

3. Increasing Testosterone. One study on rats began with researcher injecting cyclophosphamide, a chemotherapy agent that damaged their reproductive system. Follow-up Icariin treatment actually improved testosterone levels.  Admittedly the rats were given a lot of Icariin from a 40% extract, but the testosterone increase was over threefold. CAUTION:  Watch out for “testosterone supplements” with Icariin.  One young guy experienced fluid retention and erectile dysfunction, even though he had elevated testeosterone and leutinizing hormone (LH), after ingesting ActivaTe Xtreme. In addition, one animal study showed that Icariin decreased testeosterone and raised estrogen.

4. Healing Gonad and Bone Mass Tissues. The same study [1] found Icariin did actual healing on the reproductive organs and helped restore bone mass.  Many studies have verified the latter and bone loss, of course, is experienced by many men with low testosterone.  See my link Don’t Let Your Estrogen Get Too Low for more details.

5. Anti-Cancer For Many Cancers. Preliminary research makes Icariin appear to be a potent cancer fighter in the case of some cancers at least.  Researchers on gastic cancer cells commented that “these results indicate that icariin exerts negative effects on tumor cell invasion and migration via the Rac1-dependent VASP pathway and may be a potential anti-cancer drug.” Similar results have been found in lung cells.

6. TNF Alpha (Inflammation) Reduction. One study on mice showed decreased TNF alpha levels. As mentioned on other pages, TNF alpha is the “root of all evil” and may be significantly responsible for arterial plaque and various cancers.

7. Cortisol Control and Antidepressant Properties. Icariin’s real magic may have to do wtih stress. A number of animal studies have shown that Icariin blunts the typical overly high cortisol rise that results from chronic stress.  Know anyone who struggles with chronic stress? In fact, it is so powerful in this regard that some experts have recommended that it be studied as a possible therapy in depression.

8. Anitoxidant Protection. Many studies have shown Icariin’s strong anitoxidant abilitlites against oxidative damage.  One of the things it does is protect against ox.

9. Memory Protection. Animal studies strongly indicate that Icarrin can protect against certain kinds of memory loss. That includes memory loss resulting from aluminum damage. See my link on Aluminum and the Brain for just how common aluminum exposure is in modern, industrialized societies.

10. Alzheimer’s Protection.  It looks like Icarrin can protect the brain from the deadly tau proteins that are characteristic of Alzheimer’s. You’ll quickly notice that Icaarin seems to battle all of the standard middle-aged and senior male issues:  testosterone reduction, cortisol and TNF alpha increases, loss of nitric oxide/bone mass/cGMP.  In addition, it may provide protection against such brain-related orders as memory loss, Alzheimers and depression. All of these reasons point to Icariin as a legitima All of these reasons point to Icariin as a legitimate male anti-aging supersupplement that has strong anecdotal evidence to support it as well.  Furthermore, it seems to be much better tolerated than Viagra or Cialis, making it a viable contender for erectile dysfunction relief as well. As I document in my book on Multisupplement Erectile Strategies, it can be coupled with other erectile supplements to achieve synergies as well.  And since it is extracted from a time-proven and well-used herb, it has a certain safety record associated with it.

It should be noted, though, that the new Icariin extracts are now at 10%, 20 and even beyond. These are obviously at much higher levels than one would get from merely having some Horny Goat Weed tea. Furthermore, any study of Icariin’s androgenic versus estrogenic properties will make your head hurt. Some commentary seems to say that Icariin is estrogenic and still others that it an estrogen antagonist. One study says that it dramatically boost testosterone and yet another that it lowers it. The bottom line is that it would be nice if additional research wold be done.

Scientific Support
Isolated Icariin Has Been Studies by Researchers At:
UNITED STATES-Published research conducted in America, as well as Asia and Europe, by highly-respected scientists, shows that the flavonoid compound icariin exhibits significant efficacy and may be of pronounced benefit for a number of health concerns. Flavonoids are the compounds contained in vegetables, fruits, teas and red wines, that are believed to provide their meaningful health benefits-including supporting cardiovascular function, and immune system function. As a flavonoid, Icariin is by definition a plant metabolite with inherent antioxidant activity. But unlike typical flavonoid compounds, Icariin appears to clearly be at the head its class and the shining star in this important class of chemicals.

Testing shows that isolated Icariin-which has been separated and elucidated from the group of flavonoids known as “Icariins”-is much more selective and markedly more potent than other flavonoids. Derived from the plant genus Epimedium, Icariin has separatedly been shown in well constructed testing to promote normal erectile function in multiple models, enhance immune function, reduce the symptoms associated with certain types of depression, support bone health and density, and promote cardiovascular health, among other promising scientifically validates uses. Icariin research has been reported in such noteworth medical and scientific journals as: Urology,Asian Journal of Andrology, International Journal of Impotence Research, Life Sciences, Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology&Physiology, Vascular Pharmacology, Phytomedicine, Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, journal of Bone&Mineral Research, European Journal of Pharmacology.

Human studies
As of 2013, we could only find one human study with epimedium herb. Effect of Epimedium sagittatum on quality of life and cellular immunity in patients of hemodialysis maintenance; Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1995.

Our previous study had demonstrated this Chinese medicine exerted immuno-enhancing effect on the animal model of chronic renal insufficiency. In present study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of Epimedium Sagittatum on patients of hemodialysis maintenance. 22 cases of regular hemodialytic patients were treated with this herb in the form of decoction. 12 patients with hemodialysis were served as controls. It was found that Epimedium Sagittatum had sexual potentiation effect and improved the quality of life in the patients of chronic renal failure with regular hemodialysis. Interleukin 2 (IL-2) activity of peripheral blood monocytes stimulated by PHA was increased significantly in the patients treated with the herbal preparation. It is suggested that this Chinese medicine had therapeutic effect on sexual disorder and immunologic inadequacy in the patients of chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis.

Animal studies
Osteoporosis
Prevention of bone loss by aqueous extract of Epimedii sagittatum in an ovariectomized rat model of osteoporosis.

Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao. 2006; Department of Pharmacy, YueyangHospital of Chinese Integrative Medicine, ShanghaiUniversity of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.

To investigate the prevention effect of aqueous extract of Epimedii sagittatum on ovariectomy-induced bone loss in rats. Our findings assessed on the basis of biochemical test, bone mineral density and histomorphometric parameters show that aqueous extract of Epimedii sagittatum has a definite antiosteoporotic effect and can prevent the ovariectomy-induced bone loss in rats.

In vitro studies
An in vitro study means that the evaluation was done in a lab not using any animals or humans.

Effect on cartilage
Effect of five species of Epimedium on growth of cartilage and proliferation of cartilage cell in vitro;Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2006.

To observe the effect of Epimedium brevicornum, E. sagittatum, E. koreanum, E, wushanense and E. elongntum on the growth of cartilage and proliferation of cartilage cell in vitro. E. brevicornum and E. sagittatum can improve the growth of cartilage and proliferation of cartilage cell in vitro. The other three Epimedium species did not have the same effect.

Osteoporosis and bone health
Effects of rat serum containing total flavonoid extract of Epimedium sagittatum on development of osteoblasts;Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2008; Department of Pharmacy, Lanzhou GeneralHospital, PLA, Lanzhou, China.

To investigate the effects of total flavonoid extract of Epimedium sagittatum on the proliferation and differentiation of newborn rat calvarial osteoblasts. Flavonoids from this herb have anti-osteoporosis properties. The flavonoid icariin may be largely responsible for these benefits.