Horny goat weed, as interesting as the name is, this plant has a pretty colorful background as well. Known for at least 2000 years, its discovery goes back to ancient Chinese where a Chinese goatherd was once puzzled that why would his herd at times engage in excessive sexual activity? On keeping a check he found this behavior related to consumption of a particular plant. Since then, there has been no looking back. He had named the plant as ‘yin yang huo’, which later got christened as ‘horny goat weed’ and is one of the most popular aphrodisiacs, used across the world.

Horny goat weed comes under the group epimedium, which includes 21 such plants in traditional Chinese medicine,  that help in reducing fatigue and increasing sex drive or libido. Coming to the effectiveness of this herb, Chinese people believe that their mythological character yin yang who was particularly fond of this plant, had up to a hundred orgasms a day! Now definitely that might be touching the sky, but research conducted both on rodents and humans show a significant increase in testosterone levels and better sexual functioning.

So how does this herb work? The leaves of this plant are said to contain flavonoids, one of which is Icariin. Icariin is known to restore sexual fire, boost erectile function and reduce fatigue. Sounds good right? The best part is unlike viagra, this plant, and supplement made from the same ( assuming no other unknown substances is added to it), is natural and safe.

So how effective is horny goat weed in treating erectile dysfunction? Also known as the natural viagra, the Icariin present in it helps to block a protein associated with erectile dysfunction, known as phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5). Although in normal circumstances, the body naturally functions towards suppressing levels of PDE5, for a person suffering from ED, the body is unable to do so, on its own. This Icariin, on the other hand, may not be as strong as Viagra but definitely increases enough blood flow to the penis to help in minor to moderate erection issues.

In China, this plant has been effectively used as a part of traditional Chinese medicine for years to successfully treat erectile problems, boost waning libido and rebuild youthful sexual vitality. So do you need to go to china to get the benefits of this wonderful drug? Well although a trip to China doesn’t seem a bad idea, but it is not required for this herb since it is widely manufactured by many companies across the globe. Many people who believe in this plant and its effectiveness, have been using it for getting relief from sexual issues like low libido and erectile dysfunction.

So should you give this herb a shot? Well, you can definitely try the supplements. These are usually available in compositions containing 10% Icariin. Two to four capsules a day is what is generally advised to boost your low libido and juice up your sex life. But if you are already on some medications or are having any major health issues, it’s always advisable to consult your doctor first.