What is the recommended dose of Horny Goat Weed?

- **Look for:** Standardized to icariin (≥10%); 200-500mg per capsule; Epimedium species specified - **Avoid:** Non-standardized "horny goat weed" powder; combination "male enhancement" blends with...

Is Horny Goat Weed safe to take daily?

Horny Goat Weed is rated "Generally Safe" based on clinical evidence. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement.

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Ingredient Research

Graded against 173,636 supplements + 177 published clinical interactions, sourced from PubMed, FDA CAERS, openFDA, NIH DSLD

Horny Goat Weed

MODERATE EVIDENCESupplementLast updated

AVELOR SUMMARY

Epimedium contains icariin, a prenylated flavonoid that inhibits PDE5 — the SAME enzyme targeted by Viagra/sildenafil. In vitro, icariin is 80x weaker than sildenafil, but it also has testosterone-supportive and bone-density effects that PDE5 inhibitors don't have. Our research shows the mechanism is pharmacologically validated, but human clinical data for erectile dysfunction is almost nonexistent — two small Chinese studies with poor methodology. The name comes from a Chinese goatherd who noticed increased sexual activity in goats eating the plant. Despite the hilarious origin story, the science is real but the clinical evidence isn't there yet.

WHAT IT DOES

Icariin works through: (1) PDE5 inhibition — prevents cGMP breakdown in penile corpus cavernosum smooth muscle, maintaining NO-mediated vasodilation (same mechanism as sildenafil, but weaker); (2) eNOS activation — increases nitric oxide production; (3) testosterone support — stimulates Leydig cell steroidogenesis (cAMP pathway); (4) osteoblast stimulation — activates BMP-2/Smad signaling for bone formation; (5) neuroprotective — protects cavernous nerve from injury (relevant for post-prostatectomy ED). The prenyl group on icariin is essential for PDE5 inhibition — non-prenylated flavonoids are inactive.

OPTIMAL DOSAGE

Look for: Standardized to icariin (≥10%); 200-500mg per capsule; Epimedium species specified
Avoid: Non-standardized "horny goat weed" powder; combination "male enhancement" blends with undisclosed icariin; products without species identification
Minimum effective dose: 10mg icariin/day (based on PDE5 IC50 and pharmacokinetics)
Third-party tested brands: NOW Foods, Life Extension, Nootropics Depot

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SAFETY PROFILE

Critical Interactions (Do Not Combine Without Medical Supervision)

Moderate Interactions (Monitor Closely)

WHO SHOULD BE CAREFUL

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Independently graded against 173,636 indexed supplements with 177 published clinical interactions, sourced from PubMed, FDA CAERS, openFDA, and NIH DSLD | Last updated:

Not medical advice. Based on published clinical research and systematic reviews.

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