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)

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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. It’s 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.