The name Horny Goat Weed catches everybody’s attention. But behind the clever name lies a serious herb. For horny goat weed is a genuine sex-enhancer, a time-tested aphrodisiac that increases libido in men and women, and improves erectile function in men. 

Known also as Epimedium or Yin Yang Huo, horny goat weed leaves were purportedly the food of the yin yang, a mythical animal which achieved one hundred sexual climaxes a day. This legend points to the reputed sexual potency of horny goat weed, and its honored place in traditional Chinese medicine.

Used for over 2,000 years, horny goat weed is any of several species of epimedium (brevicorum, sagittatum and grandiflorum), a leafy plant which grows profusely in the wild, most abundantly at higher altitudes. The leaves of the plant contain a variety of flavonoids, polysaccharides, sterols and an alkaloid called magnaflorine. One of the flavonoids, icariin, is believed to play a role in the sex-boosting effects of the plant, which is used to restore sexual fire, boost erectile function, allay fatigue, and alleviate menopausal discomfort.

To get to the truth about horny goat weed, I travelled to Shanghai and met with six top doctors of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), including the chief physician of Shanghai’s famous Longhua hospital, a top gastroenterologist, a pharmacogonocist, a phytochemist and two other practicing medical doctors. “What do you think about epimedium?” I asked the group. “Is it truly effective as a sex-enhancer?” There were affirmative shaking of heads all around. “Oh, yes, yes.” exclaimed one. “We have all used epimedium for decades in our practices. It is the very best sexual tonic for both men and women.” I probed further. Does the plant truly help with erectile function as some claim? Two of the physicians explained that in clinical practice, they have successfully used epimedium to treat erectile problems, to boost waning libido, and to rebuild youthful sexual vitality. “It gives you back your sexual strength,” noted another with emphasis. 

With a group of Chinese medicinal plant experts including a botanist named Sheng,  we set off to see where epimedium, or horny goat weed, grows in the wild. Our destination was Tianmushan, a large mountain area in the northern corner of Zhejiang Province. As we journeyed to remote Tianmu Mountain, Sheng explained the collection of epimedium, horny goat weed. “All epimedium is picked wild, and this raises a lot of questions. The plant is very abundant. It grows all over, so there is a lot. But people ask about epimedium being over-harvested. There is nothing to worry about in that regard. As long as the roots remain in the ground, it comes up every year. We only ever pick the leaves, never the roots. Epimedium is always there. Nobody applies any chemicals to the wild plants, so it is clean and pure.”  

We parked at the base of the mountain, and set off for the summit.. With Sheng in the lead, we hiked off into dense forest, and up a rugged trail on the mountain’s steep western peak. The tropical sun beat down on us when we stepped out of the woods, and we were drenched in sweat as we made our way up the mountain. “Most of the epimedium on the mountain has already been picked this year,” Sheng informed us. “But further up near the peak we will find plenty. The pickers don’t like to climb that high. ” Further up we came to a rock ouitcropping, where we saw our first clusters of epimedium growing in the wild. “The plant likes rocks,” Shen told us.  From that point on toward the peak we found numerous clusters of epimedium. The plant proved abundant at higher elevations, and I was happy to see it for myself in its natural habitat.  

In the United States, horny goat weed has become a phenomeon. But does it work? The distinguished botanist Dr. James Duke has long insisted so. And science is backing that claim, With a human clinical study supervised by New York physician Dr. Steven Lamm and Gerald Secor Cousins. The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of an herbal complex product in which horny goat weed was the primary ingredient. The formula was tested for it effects on  sexual satisfaction in healthy male volunteers and male volunteers who use Viagra.

In the study, 25 healthy men and 13 men who used Viagra received daily doses for 45 days of the horny goat weed-based  herbal formula.  Additional doses were taken one to two hours prior to sexual activity to determine its effect on sexual interest, sexual performance, and overall sexual satisfaction. After 45 days, the double-blind phase of the study began with a placebo product and active product randomly given to healthy men who had reported a positive response in the first phase. All subjects were evaluated after the first 45 days of treatment and finally after 60 days.Results of the study showed thatdaily use of the herbal complex for a minimum of 45 days resulted in an enhancement of sexual satisfaction in 60 percent of healthy male subjects and 45 percent of men using Viagra. 

Does horny goat weed work? Considering a long history of positive use, and the study noted above, we can probably say yes. More studies should be conducted to support these conclusions.

Chris Kilham is a medicine hunter who researches natural remedies all over the world, from the Amazon to Siberia. He teaches ethnobotany at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he is Explorer In Residence. Chris advises herbal, cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies and is a regular guest on radio and TV programs worldwide.  His field research is largely sponsored by Naturex of Avignon, France. Read more at www.MedicineHunter.com

Dear Yvonne,
I am a 50-year-old-man who has lost all interest in — and avoided — sex with my partner since she has gained weight. Watching her gobble a double pie a la mode for a nighttime snack was like an anti-Viagra for me. When I met her 3 years ago, she was perhaps 30 pounds thinner. I noticed an older photo of her and she appeared to be perhaps 50 pounds heavier. Do women lose weight to meet a man and seek commitment as if crossing a finish line to find the food again?
—JK 

Dear JK,
Both men and women often seek to be physically fit in order to attract a potential partner. Many do “let themselves go” once they have the commitment since they feel that the woo’ing phase of the relationship no longer requires work. However, it’s hard to say, if your partner intentionally lost weight to “nab” you, and then didn’t have a care in the world when she put the weight back on.

The reasons why people put on weight are very complicated and numerous. Factors that lead to weight gain include:

          o Diets high in calories (sodas), saturated fat (fried foods), and/or sugar (candy)
          o A lack of exercise
          o Not getting enough sleep
          o Stress
          o Health problems, for example, hypothyroidism
          o Medications
          o Menopause

In order to reclaim your sex life, try to spend quality time with your lover in ways that keep both of you active and eating healthy meals. Instead of being critical, try to be compassionate by expressing concern for her health, and offer to be of assistance in any way possible. Feeling sorry for yourself won’t do you or her any good.

Dr. Yvonne Kristín Fulbright is a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc. She is the author of several books including, “Touch Me There! A Hands-On Guide to Your Orgasmic Hot Spots.”

Recently, I did an “Ask Dr. Manny” video about the potential side effects of recreational Viagra use, and since then, I’ve gotten a lot of questions from our viewers. Not a week goes by where I don’t get a request from a male friend, an acquaintance or the husband of one of my patients asking for a prescription for Viagra or one of the many popular drugs thought to enhance the sexual experience. I always decline these requests because I truly believe that Viagra and similar products should not be seen as the type of drug that could easily be found in a candy store.

These drugs are marketed by pharmaceutical companies directly to consumers and are seen as drugs that are supposed to make you happy, virile and improve your relationship with your partner. But in reality, recreational use without proper indication and assessment by a physician could be quite dangerous.

Yes, Viagra has helped men all over the world with erectile dysfunction — a problem that needs to be addressed for the well-being of the patient as well as his partner. The track record of Viagra in general compared to many drugs is quite good. But one has to realize that there have been deaths attributed to Viagra, as well as many visual and cardiac side effects.

One of the things that I mentioned in the video is the necessity for patients asking for Viagra to be quite open about their medical history and the types of medications they’re currently taking. Viagra is a very potent vasodilator, meaning it dilates the blood vessels. So if a patient has any other medication in their system that dilates the vessels, they could end up suffering from a heart attack, kidney or liver complications.

It’s important to remember that not all kinds of sexual dysfunction are due to vascular problems. So for those patients, even though Viagra may help, it does not properly address the underlying problem — which is why it’s also vital to be open with your physician about the type of sexual problems you’re experiencing.

Finally, I don’t know about you, but I get bombarded with ads for Viagra, Cialis, Levitra and similar drugs through my e-mail! With the state of the world today, with the amount of medication tampering, drug diluting and unscrupulous start-up companies using harmful chemicals just to save a buck, it’s a wonder to me that anyone would actually entertain the thought of purchasing these drugs from online pharmacies. As consumers we must remain vigilant in our efforts to thwart the sale of these and other harmful drugs sold over the Internet by being cautious and smart in our decisions.

So for all you guys out there just looking to enhance one of life’s greatest gifts — I don’t mean to rain on your parade — but you can’t enjoy the gift if you’re not around to receive it!

Have you ever thought about using Viagra for fun?

Dr. Fulbright
I’ve heard of things like horny goat weed, and some drink in the grocery store a few years back called Niagara, the female “viagra.”  Which herbal meds are safe and effective and which are not?
Stacy

Dear Stacy,
There are lots of aphrodisiacs out there – or at least supposed ones – and most of them have not been studied. So people don’t really know what they’re getting as far as quality, as well as if the suggested dosage is correct and if the product is truly safe. To date, the Food & Drug Administration (or FDA) has yet to give its stamp of approval on any of them. They don’t regulate herbal medications because they don’t have to.

That said, there are a few herbal medications out there that are supposedly good as far as sexual functioning and sexual arousal go. The more common ones are cayenne, gingko, or ginger. Once again, you’re using these at your own risk. So be sure to consult with your physician before taking any of these herbal medicines for better sex. There are types that can affect any prescriptions that you’re taking and that can harm your health more than anything. So be safe!

Dr. Yvonne Kristín Fulbright is a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc. She is the author of several books including, “Touch Me There! A Hands-On Guide to Your Orgasmic Hot Spots.”

Dear Yvonne:
I am 67 and my wife is 69 years old. We are having the time of our lives with a
little help from Levitra. We are both very healthy and enjoying retirement with
golf, tennis, etc. Sure would like to see a study on sex after 65. Are we normal? 
Jim

Dear Jim,
I’m glad to hear that you have an active, fulfilling sex life since sexual intimacy in the later years is a huge quality of life component that a lot of people either ignore or don’t want to hear about. But in 2004, AARP decided to look at elderly sex in a repeat study focusing on those 45 and older in the United States. It found that 49 percent of those who had regular sexual partners were having sexual intercourse at least one time per week. It also found that about two-thirds of them reported hugging or kissing their partners on a regular basis. Finally, the study found that slightly more than half of baby boomers and seniors are engaging in sexual touch or caressing on a regular basis. So if any of that sounds like you and your wife, then you fit right in with the “norm.” If you’re a little friskier than that, then I say enjoy your norm!

Dr. Yvonne Kristín Fulbright is a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc. She is the author of several books including, “Touch Me There! A Hands-On Guide to Your Orgasmic Hot Spots.”

A man faces up to 20 years in jail for selling chocolate laced with Viagra through the mail as a food supplement.  The French news agency AFP says Tibor Liska pleaded guilty to selling some 12,000 packets a month of sildenafil, which is sold under the brand name Viagra, mixed with chocolate and herbs.  

The “food supplements” were sold under the name “Boom” between March 2006 and November 2007 in the United States, Australia, Colombia, Switzerland, Russia, Argentina, Japan and Slovakia. The supplements were billed as being plant-based and didn’t mention that they contained Viagra.

What do you think?  Leave your comments below.