Epimedium
herb information by
Ray Sahelian, M.D. Epimedium
extract aphrodisiac properties
Passion Rx with Epimedium extract -
effective sexual enhancer
Epimedium is a pungent
ornamental herb found in Asia and the Mediterranean. The Chinese call epimedium Yin Yang Huo,
which loosely means "licentious goat plant." Legend has it that the name
horny goat weed came
from a herder who noticed his goats becoming more sexually active after eating the plant.
Supplement companies have adopted the provocative name by which it is known in the U.S.
Horny goat weed was named epimedium because it is similar to a plant
found in the ancient Asian kingdom of Media, now a part of Iran. Epimedium is a genus of
many related plant species and some are used for medicinal purposes, including Epimedium
sagittatum, Epimedium brevicornum, epimedium grandiflorum, and Epimedium koreanum. Although epimedium has a
history of traditional use for disorders of the kidneys, joints, and liver, its principle
use in the United States is as an aphrodisiac and to combat fatigue.
Horny Goat Weed - Epimedium extract -
400 mg, Formulated by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Epimedium sagittatum
is one of the most valued tonics of Chinese herbalism. In China it is
especially used for supporting healthy sexual activity - thus its name,
Horny Goat Weed.
This epimedium sagittatum
supplement has epimedium extract standardized to 10% flavonoids as icariin.
Epimedium
supplement facts:
Each Horny Goat Weed tablet contains:
Epimedium Sagittatum - 400 mg (10% flavonoids as icariin)
Click
here to buy Epimedium supplement, Passion Rx with epimedium extract, or to see a complete list of hundreds of products at
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review of several studies on supplements and natural medicine topics - including epimedium
herb - and their practical interpretation by Ray Sahelian, M.D.
Passion
Rx with Epimedium extract -- Medical Doctor formulated for Men and Women
How quickly does Passion Rx
with epimedium herb work?
Passion Rx provides results that are sometimes seen within several hours, but
most often are noticed the next day or after several days of use. Our feedback
thus far indicates more than 80% user satisfaction by the end of the first week,
and 90 percent by the end of the second week.
A unique blend
Dr. Sahelian and his research staff have tested various doses and extracts of
dozens of herbs from a number or raw material suppliers to determine
the ideal dosage and combination for optimal aphrodisiac properties with the fewest side
effects. After years of trial and error, an effective proprietary
blend with more than a dozen herbal extracts from the best raw material suppliers has been created. The exact dosages and potencies of this
unique aphrodisiac blend is a
close kept secret only known to the doctor and his research staff. You will only find this exact combination in Passion Rx.
Passion Rx supports and enhances healthy:
Libido and sexual thoughts
Erectile function
Orgasms and climaxes
Energy and stamina
In recent years science has made breakthroughs in
the understanding of sexual dysfunction. But, for hundreds of years,
civilizations around the world have known about locally grown herbs that achieve
wonderful results with far fewer side effects than prescription drugs.
Now, renowned physician and herbal
expert Dr. Ray Sahelian, M.D., author of Natural Sex Boosters, has
discovered a combination of exotic herbs from the Amazon jungle, India, China,
Malaysia, and Africa, that support healthy desire and performance, as well as to
simply enhance sexual pleasure. Passion Rx provides a natural solution for those
looking for an alternative to synthetic drugs.
The potent herbal extracts in Passion Rx include Ashwagandha, Catuaba, Cnidium, Herba Cistanches,
Epimedium extract, Maca, Muira puama,
Passion flower, Tongkat Ali,
Tribulus terrestrix extract, and Yohimbe
bark.
What the research says about epimedium herb
Very little human research has been published in the Western medical literature regarding
this plant. Our Chinese study investigated the therapeutic effect of epimedium sagittatum on 22 patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis. Twelve patients with
hemodialysis were served as controls. Epimedium sagittatum had a sex enhancing effect and improved their
quality of life.
Effect of Epimedium sagittatum (horny goat weed) on quality of life and cellular immunity in patients of
hemodialysis maintenance
Dept. of Nephrology, General Hospital of PLA, Beijing. 1995
Our previous study had demonstrated that Epimedium Sagittatum 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 Epimedium Sagittatum
in the form of decoction. 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 Epimedium Sagittatum. It was suggested that Epimedium Sagittatum had therapeutic effect on sexual
disorder and immunologic inadequacy in the patients of chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis.
Effects of icariin on cGMP-specific PDE5 and cAMP-specific PDE4 activities.
Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2004 Jan;84(2):142-5.
To clarify the mechanism of the therapeutic action of icariin on
erectile dysfunction. PDE5 was isolated from the human platelet
and PDE4 from the rat liver tissue. Icariin
and papaverine showed dose-dependent inhibitory effects on PDE5 and PDE4
activities. Icariin is a cGMP-specific PDE5 inhibitor that may be developed into
an oral effective agent for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
Epimedium herb mechanism of action
The exact way that epimedium works remains unclear. Animal studies have shown
that it may influence levels of neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, serotonin, and
dopamine and reduce cortisol levels. The leaves of epimedium sagittatum contain a variety of flavonoids,
icariin, sterols and an alkaloid called magnaflorine. Its quite possible
epimedium sagittatum
influences several aspects of human sexual biochemistry. Icariin is thought to
help with erectile function.
Epimedium side
effects
Very high doses of epimedium can cause side effects of overstimulation, rapid heart beat,
and perhaps heart palpitations.
Epimedium sagitattum
summary
Epimedium herb
is, in fact, likely to make you horny. Most users will notice a
mild to moderate effect on the third or fourth day of use.
Epimedium extract
Epimedium is sold in various extract potencies, including various
percentages of icariin and epimediosides. for instance you can find epimedium
sagitattum sold by herb and ingredient suppliers as 5 percent icariin, 10
percent icariin, 20 percent icariin, 30 percent icariin, and 60 percent icariin.
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Composition of
epimedium
Epimedium herb has a number of ingredients including prenylated flavonol glycosides, ikarisoside A, icarisid
II, epimedoside A, icariin, epimedin B, yinyanghuo A - E, and epimedokoreanoside.
Flavonoids include chrysoeriol, quercetin, apigenin, kaempferol, and
luteolin.
Epimedium
Research
Experimental study on effect of epimedium flavonoids in protecting telomere
length of senescence cells HU
Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2004 Dec;24(12):1094-7.
To investigate the mechanism of senescence delay of human diploid
fibroblast (2BS) and protecting telomere length by epimedium flavonoids.
Epimedium flavonoids were used to treat the 2BS. In senescent human fibroblasts 2BS cells, p16 gene mRNA
expression increased, content of phosphorated Rb protein decreased and the
telomere length of 2BS shortened, Epimedium flavonoids might delay the aging of
cells through inhibiting the p16 gene expression, promoting the production of
phosphorated Rb protein and to protect the length of telomere, but not
activating the telomerase.
Comment on main species of herba epimedii
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2003 Apr;28(4):303-7.
To comment on main resource species of Epimedium.
Taxonomy, resource investigation and quality evaluation of flavonoid contents
were made. Seven species of Epimedium having broad distribution
were summarized. According the area of their distribution, they were named
Epimedium sagittatum, Epimedium brevicornu, Epimedium acuminatum, Epimedium
koreanum, Epimedium pubescens, Epimedium leptorrhizum and Epimedium wushanens. Each distribution in detail and icariin and likewise
compounds contents of these 7 species were provided. Other 8 Epimedium species
much used were proposed. Medicinal characters 15 species were provided in this
paper. On the basis of distribution character, resource quantity and
growing with other species mingled, it is suggested that 4 main production or
purchasing districts in China be divided. The most important district is
northeastern district, where only Epimedium koreanum grows there, with the best
quality. Northwestern and northern district is the second one, where Epimedium
brevicornu, mainly grows with much stable quality. Then it is eastern and
southern district, where Epimedium sagittatum grows with the largest quantity
but unstable quality. Southwestern district is the last one, mingle species
complex and identification important. In Sichuan province, Epimedium acuminatum
and Epimedium pubescens are main species, with other 12 species growing there.
In Guizhou province, Epimedium acuminatum, Epimedium leptorrhizum and Epimedium
wushanense are main species, other 7 species growing there and Epimedium
leptorrhizum with poor quality. It is suggested that Epimedium acuminatum be
recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia.
Chemical and pharmacological investigations of Epimedium species: a survey.
Prog Drug Res. 2003;60:1-57.
More than 130 different compounds have been identified from over 16 species
of the Epimedium genus of the Berberidaceae family. Eight of these species have
been used in the Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) over centuries to treat a
wide range of diseases. From in vitro and in vivo experimental data, and
preliminary structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis of the
androgenic/anti-estrogenic and anti-oxidant activities of the icariin series of
flavonoids and glycosides, the results appear to be consistent with those of
known anti-estrogenic flavonoids, such as luteolin.
Our survey suggests the possibility of multiple targets and multiple mechanisms
of action by Epimedium preparations and their purified compounds. These may
serve as leads for further new drug development.
Purification of icariin from the extract of Epimedium segittatum using
high-speed counter-current chromatography.
J Chromatogr A. 2002 Jul 12;962(1-2):239-41.
Icariin was purified from the extract of Epimedium segittatum by high-speed
counter-current chromatography.
Epimedium herb
quality testing in China
Research on quality of Epimedium extract in market
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2007 Sep. Institute of Medicinal Plant
Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical
College, Beijing 100094, China.
To review the quality of Epimedium extract in the market. The contents of
icariin, epimedin C, sagittatoside B and total flavonoids in Epimedium extracts
sold in the market were assayed: The contents of icariin in most of the extracts
are closely similar with the ones labeled by the companies. The contents of
epimedin C, sagittatoside B and total flavonoids were different in the samples
with the same content of icariin. The difference of extracts quality mainly
comes from the difference of materials. So we suggest that Epimedium extract
product should be labeled the origin of materials, and assayed with more
compound contents, to ensure the quality stabilization.
Epimedium questions
Q. I enjoyed reading your research information on
the herbal supplement epidmedium. I was recently taking a testosterone
booster that also contains epidmedium and a "horny goat weed" supplement
not knowing they are both the same thing. As a result; I may have
experienced overstimulation that has not subsided after I discontinued
taking the epimedium supplement. it's been a few months and I have taken a
few supplements containing epidmedium but nothing on a regular basis on a
few weekends here and there...and yet I'm still experiencing some over
stimulation. Is it possible that this epimedium supplement has cause
permanent damage or has made me extremely sensitive to the supplement.
Thank you in advanced for your time.
A. Yes, taking high doses of certain herbs, such as epimedium
saggitatum, can cause overstimulation. It is possible that your body has
become very sensitive to this herb, and hence taking a long break, using
smaller amounts and less frequently is a good option.
Epimedium is a genus of many related plant species and some are used for medicinal purposes, including Epimedium sagittatum, Epimedium brevicornum, and epimedium grandiflorum.
This epimedium herb page was last updated in January 2008.