Epimedium

Epimedium refers to a genus of plants also known as Horny Goat Weed or true St. John's Wort. Other names include Rowdy Lamb Herb, Bishops Hat, Barrenwort and Fairy Wings. It is said that a Chinese goatherd noticed that his goats became more sexually active after eating these plants. As a result, epimedium was popularized as a potential aphrodisiac.

Where does epimedium come from?

Although epimedium first became a popular medicinal plant in China, plants of this genus are also cultivated in many Western countries.

Benefits of epimedium

The benefits of consuming epimedium are largely based on the icariin flavonoid contained in these plants. This compound has effects on several different biological pathways, including nitrogen oxide synthesis.

Benefits of epimedium for the libido

Epimedium is best known for its potential to increase male libido. Due to the large amount of anecdotal reports, scientists became interested in the efficiency of this plant. In fact, it didn't take long to find supporting evidence for these effects of Epimedium. An extract of Horny Goat Weed was shown to have a similar, albeit significantly weaker, effect to Viagra. Even though numerous positive effects have been observed in animal models, no studies have yet been carried out on humans.

Benefits of epimedium for bodybuilders

In animal models, epimedium has been shown to increase testosterone levels in the blood compared to a placebo. It has also been reported that supplements containing epimedium caused an increase in testosterone levels to a degree that suggested doctors were using anabolic steroids. Such increases in testosterone levels, in conjunction with the nitric oxide stimulating effects of epimedium, may result in increased gains in strength and lean muscle mass when combined with weight training.

Safety and harmlessness

Epimedium has been used for centuries as a traditional aphrodisiac and is very likely to be safe. However, it should be noted that this genus of plant has not been studied as intensively by the scientific community as other plant extracts. One scientific study showed that epimedium is not mutagenic, but can be toxic at a dosage of 80 grams per kilogram of body weight.

Recommended intake

Due to the lack of human studies, it is difficult to recommend a dosage for this ingredient. Animal studies suggest that a suitable dosage could be in the range of 15 to 30 mg per kilogram of body weight per day, which in human terms corresponds to a dosage of 1 to 2 grams per day. This ingredient can be taken either before exercise and/or before going to bed.

Epimedium supplements

Epimedium is available in the form of mono-preparations as tablets or capsules. It is also found in some testosterone boosters.