Horny goat weed is an herbal extract from the epimedium plant that’s a common treatment for erectile dysfunctions, low libido, poor stamina, and other sexual health problems in men.
There’s quite a large body of scientific evidence investigating its use, and many men turn to this herbal supplement instead of prescription medications for sexual dysfunction.
If you are looking for a horny goat weed supplement, either for sexual dysfunction or to boost sexual performance, our researchers have gone through the best products on the market and ranked the top ten according to quality.
Read on for our rankings and a closer look at the science behind horny goat weed.
Research
Rankings
1. Zhou Nutrition Horny Goat Weed
Zhou Nutrition provides a great horny goat weed supplement that combines the sexual health benefits of epimedium with other powerful male enhancement supplements, such as panax ginseng, maca root powder and tribulus terrestris.
The result is a supplement that addresses all aspects of sexual health, from erectile function to arousal and libido to stamina and energy. Thanks to this versatility and broad range of uses, it’s our number one pick.
2. NOW Horny Goat Weed
NOW Horny Goat Weed should be your go-to supplement if you want to keep things as simple as possible. Even NOW Foods can’t resist putting some maca root powder into this supplement, but aside from that, the supplement design is super clean.
With 750 mg of horny goat weed per capsule, it packs a punch that blends of several herbal compounds can’t match. Though many men find the inclusion of other herbal compounds to be quite helpful, if you are a purist, NOW Horny Goat Weed is the way to go.
3. Havasu Nutrition Horny Goat Weed
Havasu Nutrition makes a horny goat weed supplement that provides provides a hefty 1000 mg dose of horny goat weed alongside a suite of other male enhancement supplements like saw palmetto, maca root, and tongkat ali powder.
This gives it broad benefits, but still with a high enough horny goat weed dosage to have a focused effect.
4. Nature’s Way Horny Goat Weed
Nature’s Way Horny Goat Weed is a supplement that focuses on delivers horny goat weed alone, but in an adequate dosage.
You’ll get 500 mg of horny goat weed per capsule with this supplement, which is right in line with many other competitors. The main difference is the lack of supporting ingredients, which might be just what you’re looking for if you want to follow clinical trial protocols to a T.
Some people, on the other hand, want horny goat weed in combination with other supplements for sexual wellness, so if that’s the case, you should look at other options.
5. Nutra Champs Horny Goat Weed
Nutra Champs Horny Goat Weed has pretty typical ingredients, but one nice touch is the inclusion of black pepper extract, which has been found to increase the bioavailability of a number of different herbal compounds.
With black pepper extract boosting absorption, you might get increased efficacy out of this horny goat weed supplement, even though its dosage is nothing special.
6. Nature’s Craft Horny Goat Weed
Nature’s Craft Horny Goat Weed delivers a high dose of horny goat weed extract, along with other common ingredients in male enhancement supplements, but what makes this product stand out is the presence of less-common herbal extracts like polypodium vulgare and muira puama root powder.
The added boost of these unusual ingredients might not be what some people want, but if a standard horny goat weed supplement hasn’t been giving you the benefits you want, Nature’s Craft Horny Goat Weed might be a welcome change.
7. LabsMen 2-in-1 Horny Goat Weed Extract
With a focus on boosting libido and testosterone, LabsMen 2-in-1 Horny Goat Weed Extract uses icariin, maca, tribulus terrestris, and L-arginine, among other ingredients, to boost androgen levels.
The levels of these supporting ingredients might not be quite as high as some of the competition, but the dosage of the horny goat weed extract (500 mg per capsule) is still pretty solid.
8. Dr. Martin’s Nutrition Horny Goat Weed
Dr. Martin’s Nutrition Horny Goat Weed has a pretty standard ingredient composition, with a high dose of horny goat weed and smaller doses of other male enhancement supplements.
It doesn’t quite have the compositional flourishes or innovative supplement design of some of the other competitors, and it doesn’t really stand out from the crowd, so it’s hard to rank Dr. Martin’s much higher, even though it’s still a solid product.
9. Arazo Nutrition Horny Goat Weed
Arazo Nutrition Horny Goat Weed has a pretty standard ingredient list, with horny goat weed alongside a high dose of maca root powder and lower doses of other herbs like tongkat ali and saw palmetto.
Without much to distinguish it from the numerous other horny goat weed supplements with similar composition, Arazo Nutrition Horny Goat Weed finds itself lower in the rankings.
10. Prime Labs Prime Test
Prime Labs Prime Test is a testosterone-boosting supplement that uses horny goat weed as one of its core constituents, but unfortunately, since its ingredients are blended up in a proprietary mixture, it’s not possible to determine how it stacks up compared to other horny goat weed sources.
Though it’s a fine choice for increasing overall vigor or energy via its testosterone boosting effects, for the sexual dysfunctions most commonly treated with horny goat weed, it isn’t necessarily the best choice.
Category winners
Best horny goat weed overall: Zhou Horny Goat Weed
Zhou Horny Goat Weed has an impressive list of ingredients, and it’s not a haphazard “kitchen sink” supplement—Zhou uses carefully chosen compounds to enhance the libido-boosting and sexual wellness-boosting properties of horny goat weed, making it our top overall pick.
Best horny goat weed for erectile dysfunction: Zhou Horny Goat Weed
The broad-spectrum range of ingredients in Zhou Horny Goat Weed makes it the optimal pick for men with erectile dysfunction. By providing compounds that stimulate everything from testosterone production to nitric oxide levels, you have a stronger chance of improving your erectile function.
Best horny goat weed for older men: Havasu Nutrition Horny Goat Weed
Sexual wellness problems for older men often spring from low levels of testosterone or human growth hormone, so it makes sense to pair compounds for boosting these with horny goat weed in men over 40 or 50. For this purpose, Havasu Nutrition Horny Goat Weed is great thanks to its pairing of compounds like tong
Best horny goat weed for sexual stamina: NOW Horny Goat Weed
NOW Horny Goat Weed combines the libido-boosting effects of horny goat weed with the natural energy boosting properties of maca root. This makes it a great pick for having more energy, stamina, and endurance in the bedroom.
Best horny goat weed for women: Nature’s Way Horny Goat Weed
Horny goat weed has become increasingly popular for women looking to boost their libido, and for this purpose, we recommend Nature’s Way Horny Goat Weed. Its formulation is simple and to the point, meaning you don’t have to worry about effects from other compounds intended for men.
Best horny goat weed for boosting testosterone: Zhou Horny Goat Weed
While horny goat weed by itself may not directly raise testosterone levels, it does appear to create many of the same effects inside the body, and when paired with other compounds that boost testosterone, might be able to amplify those effects. For this application, we recommend Zhou Horny Goat Weed, thanks to its inclusion of the testosterone-boosting compounds Tribulus terrestris, L-Arginine, and panax ginseng alongside horny goat weed.
Who should buy horny goat weed?
Horny goat weed is safe for both men and women who want to improve their libido and sexual performance. It is especially good for men looking to enhance the quality of their erections and mimic the specific effects of testosterone.
Pregnant women and children should not use horny goat weed due to the lack of studies in these populations. People on blood thinners, who have low blood pressure, or who are having surgery soon, should not purchase and use horny goat weed as it can affect blood clotting.
How we ranked
When analyzing various horny goat weed supplements, we placed a large emphasis on the dosage and purity. Proprietary blends like Prime Labs were ranked low or eliminated because we are unable to determine the dosage of horny goat weed. Products that contained low doses like Arazo Nutrition also ranked low. Nature’s way and Havasu Nutrition ranked fairly high for providing a large dose (500mg) of horny goat weed per serving. The best supplement for purists will be NOW Horny Goat Weed, as they provided a potent 750mg per serving.
We also looked at absorption. We preferred products like Nutra Champs that included black pepper extract, which has been shown to increase the bioavailability of horny goat weed.
Complimentary ingredients were also considered in our rankings. Products like Havasu Nutrition and Zhou that included other sexual enhancers such as maca root powder, saw palmetto, and Tribulus Terrestris ranked highly. Zhou ranked the highest for also incorporating ginseng to help combat stress – something no other horny goat weed supplement did on our list.
Benefits
Horny goat weed may boost your libido. According to legend, Chinese goat herders were the first people to note the medicinal properties of horny goat weed after they noticed their goat herds being much more sexually active after consuming the leaves of the epimedium plant (hence the name of the herbal extract).
Modern research has investigated the libido-boosting effects of horny goat weed in animal models, typically rats. One such study was published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology in 2007 by researchers in Russia (1).
The study involved administering an oil-based extract of horny goat weed to a group of rats, then comparing their sexual activity to a group of control rats given only olive oil as a placebo.
The researchers noted a jump in several markers of sexual activity in the rats treated with horny goat weed compared to the rats treated with the placebo.
Though these results haven’t been replicated in human trials, they show that horny goat weed may have some promise of improving libido and sexual desire in humans, and validate the anecdotal experiences of many men.
Horny goat weed might be able to treat erectile dysfunction. One of the easiest scientific models for erectile dysfunction is castrated rats: after castration, the animals experience a marked drop in levels of sex hormones, which reliably leads to erectile dysfunction.
A study published in the Asian Journal of Andrology used a rat model like this to test whether horny goat weed could be a useful treatment for erectile dysfunction (2).
The researchers used a preparation of icariin, which is thought to be the active ingredient in horny goat weed extract, and administered it to a group of castrated rats for four weeks.
A second group of rats served as a control group, and received a placebo “supplement” of normal saline solution. The researchers found that the rats treated with the horny goat weed experienced an improvement in erectile function, which was correlated with increases in several biomarkers related to nitric oxide metabolism.
Nitric oxide plays a major role in erectile function, and is the target of a number of supplements like beetroot. Having a mechanistic explanation for the link between horny goat weed and erectile function.
Horny goat weed may be able to mimic the function of testosterone. Though there is not any direct evidence that horny goat weed, on its own, can boost testosterone levels in humans, there is evidence from animal studies that it can mimic the effects of testosterone inside your body, which might explain why so many men find it a useful sexual performance and sexual health supplement.
A research paper published in 2006 by two researchers at Shantou University Medical College in China conducted another animal experiment in rats with a damaged reproductive system (3).
In this study, icariin (the same active ingredient in horny goat weed extract) was injected into the rats, and the researchers studied how it affected the cellular tissue of the reproductive system.
They found that the horny goat weed supplement increased production of androgens, and induced many of the same effects (like increases in bone formation) that are the result of the action of testosterone in the body.
The researchers concluded that horny goat weed’s active ingredient could possibly be used as a treatment for low testosterone, and might explain some of the additional sexual health and wellness properties of horny goat weed.
Side effects
Since there aren’t any significant studies on the effects of horny goat weed in human subjects, evidence for potential side effects comes from case reports of patients who have reported to doctors after experiencing negative effects from supplements containing horny goat weed.
A case study published in 2004 described a patient who was taking a horny goat weed supplement who developed a rapid, racing heart rate and an agitated, irritable mood (4).
Another case study described a patient who was taking a sexual health supplement that contained both ginkgo biloba and horny goat weed (5).
The report, published in the medical journal BMC Case Reports, described how the patient rapidly developed a bright red splotchy rash.
The patient was hospitalized for three days, after which the rash had steadily started to disappear. In cases like this, it’s hard to tell which ingredient in the supplements may have caused the rash, but the possibility that it was one of the compounds in horny goat weed can’t be ruled out.
Since this patient was taking blood pressure medication, there is also the possibility that horny goat weed and/or ginkgo biloba caused an adverse interaction with the prescription medication.
For this reason, and because there are no large human trials establishing safety, it’s a good idea for anyone taking prescription medications to talk to their doctor before taking a horny goat weed supplement.
Though not discussed in detail in medical literature, a review in the journal BioMed Research International notes that some users of horny goat weed anecdotally report an increase in aggressive feelings and aggressive behavior (6).
Recommended dose
Another problem with the lack of human experience is a lack of solid guidelines on proper dosing.
Supplements you’ll find over the counter deliver anywhere from 250 to 750 mg of horny goat weed, but these aren’t standardized for their icariin content, making it difficult to draw parallels with animal studies.
Animal studies usually dose according to body weight, and all animal research uses extracts of different properties and concentrations.
As such, until more research rolls in, your best bet is to follow the dosing recommendations that the nutritionists at the top brands come up with—this usually works out to right around 500 mg of horny goat weed per day.
FAQ
What is horny goat weed? Horny goat weed, also referred to as Epimedium or Barrenwort, is a flowering plant native only to China. Horny goat weed is a traditional Chinese remedy used to treat various health conditions.
Today, it’s largely used to treat sexual health issues in men, including low sex drive and erectile dysfunction. However, it can also reduce the symptoms and side effects of many health disorders, such as osteoporosis and multiple sclerosis (MS). Despite the growing popularity of horny goat weed supplements, more research must be done to prove its ability to treat various conditions and symptoms.
Where does horny goat weed come from? Horny goat weed comes from China and isn’t found in any neighboring Asian countries. It’s a genus of flowering plants in the Berberidaceae family and goes by other names such as Yin Yan Huo, Bishop’s hat, and fairy wings. Once news of the plant’s abilities became more mainstream, horny goat weed rapidly traveled across the world. Today, horny goat weed can be found in nearly every country.
Does horny goat weed do anything? Horny goat weed is most often recognized for its potential to improve sexual performance and libido function. Horny goat weed is also effective in treating certain types of cancer and reducing the spread of these cancers. Although more research must be done to determine which cancers are most impacted, this does open the door to a new and natural form of cancer treatment (2).
In addition to cancer, horny goat weed has also proven to be effective in treating certain metabolic disorders and conditions such as osteoporosis. This is a direct result of the chemical compound Icariin found in horny goat weed (3).
Why do people take horny goat weed? People seek out horny goat weed because it’s a natural substance that’s been used for several hundred years with minimal side effects to improve sexual performance and libido.
There is plenty of anecdotal evidence that suggests that horny goat weed can help reduce the symptoms of erectile dysfunction in men and improve the sex drive in both men and women. Another reason for its use is there is scientific evidence that suggests its chemical compound Icariin can help treat certain types of cancers as well as reduce the symptoms of metabolic conditions. It’s also thought to significantly improve the quality of life for those suffering from osteoporosis, but more research is needed.
Does horny goat weed help to increase sex drive? One of the most popular reasons that men and women take horny goat weed is for its positive effects on sex drive and sexual function. In fact, it’s been used for hundreds of years in traditional Chinese medicine for this specific purpose. Studies show that horny goat weed may potentially increase your sex drive and your overall sexual performance. There’s also plenty of evidence to suggest that horny goat weed can improve the libido in both men and women.
Is horny goat weed a good replacement for Viagra? Viagra is a very popular men’s health medication designed to improve sexual performance and decrease instances of erectile dysfunction.
Based on the current amount of research in relation to horny goat weed, it can be a viable alternative to Viagra and other similar medications. What’s great about horny goat weed is the fact that it’s safe to use in those who are older or diabetic.
There also doesn’t appear to be any evidence that horny goat weed can lead to long-term toxicity after consistent use (1). Most of the benefits that result from horny goat weed appear to be due to the Icariin in the substance.
The Icariin is also potentially capable of treating different types of immune systems disorders, which greatly widens the scope of disorders impacted by horny goat weed overall (4).
In addition to the extensive list of disorders that the horny goat weed supplements treat, those suffering from nerve pain, osteoporosis, and hay fever may also find relief from it. Horny goat weed comes with a lot of positive health benefits, and science is only beginning to catch on.
Can diabetic’s take horny goat weed? If you’re diabetic, it’s relatively common to experience an impact on your sexual performance and sex drive. Some diabetic medications may also intensify these side effects and severely affect your sex life.
There is currently no evidence to suggest that it’s dangerous for diabetics to supplement their daily regimen with horny goat weed. However, this supplement is still relatively understudied, and the effects on those with diabetes haven’t been directly analyzed.
Before you decide to add horny goat weed into your daily regimen, you should consult with a healthcare professional to determine whether it has the potential to impact your diabetes diagnosis and health prognosis.
Where can you buy horny goat weed? Horny goat weed is often sold in the form of pure powder or quick-release capsules. You can find these products over-the-counter at most pharmacies and health food stores.
If you’re looking for a greater selection of products to choose from, it would be within your best interest to check online retailers such as Amazon.
Does horny goat weed cause high blood pressure? Horny goat weed can actually lower your blood pressure. With that said, you should do your best to avoid horny goat weed if you’re already on blood thinners or another type of blood pressure-lowering medication.
Because you might experience lower blood pressure as a result of using horny goat weed, it’s possible that you might feel dizzy or lightheaded post-use. If you’re experiencing these effects, you should stop using horny goat weed immediately and speak with your doctor.
Horny goat weed can also potentially affect your heartbeat when taken as part of your daily regimen. If you have any pre-existing heart or cardiovascular conditions, you should proceed with caution when using horny goat weed.
Does horny goat weed help with erectile dysfunction? Horny goat weed is a traditional Chinese medicine used for treating conditions like erectile dysfunction in men. Yet, there’s still not enough evidence to show that horny goat weed actually significantly improves these conditions.
Is horny goat weed only for men? Men are the target audience for horny goat weed companies, but there is some evidence that horny goat weed can also positively impact the health of women.
Horny goat weed can help boost libido in female users just as it can in men. In addition to treating sexual issues, horny goat weed can also help treat conditions like osteoporosis, which commonly affect women going through menopause.
Can horny goat weed manage multiple sclerosis? Aside from erectile dysfunction and poor libido, horny goat weed is also very capable of treating other chronic conditions such as multiple sclerosis.
The main reason that horny goat weed can help with MS is the fact that it contains the chemical compound Icariin, which is known to help reduce the symptoms associated with MS.
Why do men use horny goat weed? Most research has focused on its ability to treat conditions like erectile dysfunction and low sexual interest, but many men use it as a male enhancement supplement, as many people find it has an effect on sexual performance as well as sexual wellness.
Does horny goat weed cause dizziness? Just like any health supplement, horny goat weed does come with potential side effects, including dry mouth, thirst, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. There is also the possibility that your blood pressure may drop lower than usual.
These side effects are mild in the average healthy person, but they can be severe in those with pre-existing conditions. Those with already low blood pressure or those who are currently on blood pressure medication may experience extreme dizziness and lightheadedness after using horny goat weed.
Does horny goat weed slow blood clotting? There’s some evidence that horny goat weed can lead to slower blood clotting. If you have any type of blood disorder that affects clotting, or if you will be having some type of surgery in the near future, you should stop taking horny goat weed.
Who should not consume horny goat weed? If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or on any type of medication, you’ll want to check with your doctor first before consuming horny goat weed.
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Recap
Though the scientific research into horny goat weed is still in the early stages, there is a good bit of evidence that the active ingredients in horny goat weed can act to increase libido, fight erectile dysfunction, and possibly even boost testosterone levels.
All of this evidence comes from animal studies, so skeptics have reasons to be suspicious, but many men do find that a horny goat weed supplement can be helpful for better sexual wellness and performance.
Side effects aren’t well-characterized due to a lack of human studies, but some medical case reports suggest that a rapid heart rate, aggressive or manic behavior, and a rash might be potential side effects.
Dosing recommendations are currently based only on what nutritionists at supplement companies have come up with, not validated scientific research, but regardless, these work out to 500 mg per day in most cases.
Though some people may want to wait for more research in humans to come out, there is some initial evidence demonstrating that horny goat weed could prove to be a valuable way to treat male sexual dysfunction and improve sexual performance too.
For BodyNutrition’s #1 horny goat weed recommendation, click here.
