The Claim

Legend has it shepherds noticed that goats and sheep began acting, er, amorous after munching on this herb; hence the name, and the claim that it works as an aphrodisiac and a testosterone booster. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it’s known as yin yang huo, and surprisingly, it isn’t just a goofy snake oil advertised in the back of sketchy magazines; there’s some evidence it just might work.

The Evidence

The leaves of the horny goat weed plant are packed with chemicals that may boost sexual function and increase blood flow (giving, for example, a Viagra-like effect). “Horny goat weed really does seem to live up to its name!” says Kellyann Petrucci, ND, a naturopath in Birmingham, Michigan. “Research indicates that it may enhance sexual desire satisfaction in both men and women, as well as acting as a remedy for erectile dysfunction.” A 2008 study found that (in the lab, at least) a compound in horny goat weed inhibits an enzyme that’s known to restrict blood flow to the penis. And in animal studies, the herb seems to increase testosterone, but we don’t have human evidence yet.

Horny goat weed also contains phytoestrogens, which behave like estrogen in the female body. In postmenopausal women, phytoestrogens might actually reduce bone loss. Early research shows that taking horny goat weed for two years lowered bone loss in the hips and spines of postmenopausal women.

How to Use It:

There’s no established daily dosage, but studies typically use between 6 and 16 grams per day. Horny goat weed may lower blood pressure, so taking it along with high-blood-pressure medications might make your BP drop dangerously low. The herb also may slow down blood-clotting, so taking it with drugs that do the same (such as ibuprofen or aspirin) might up your odds of bruising and bleeding. As with all herbal supplementations, give your doctor a shout before adding this to your medicine cabinet.

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