Now, that title got your attention, right? It is something you would expect to see on the side of a wild west wagon in the US of old. Roll up, roll up – come see my wares and sample my wonders! I have a tonic that can change your brain – used by all the great immortals – come taste, come experience the brain tonic of the immortals!
So, now we are back in the present and not in some imaginary wild west show, let’s look closely at Horny Goat Weed. No really, that is the supplement’s name. This supplement is such a powerful sexual stimulant that it is also called Rowdy Lamb Herb and Randy Beef Grass. The particularly virile effect on animals seems pretty sound. In fact, scientists testing the effects of horny goat weed tried it on old rats. The rats became immediately sexually active – demonstrating mounting behavior, licking and scenting behavior.
Here’s the news people: we are just animals too! So, although our brain is a complex creation of evolution – our sexual appetite is driven by our reptilian structures at the base of our brain – the early brain that allowed us to survive through more brutal times. This means that as with the rats, the goats, the cows and those lambs that jump extra high – Horny Goat Weed has great credentials.
What is this supplement?
Horny Goat Weed is a perennial weed that is native to Japan, Korea and parts of China. It grows on hillsides, in the crevices between rocks. So, this herb is pretty accessible to goats who traverse high in the hills. As the herb grows between rocks, it has to work hard to draw nutrients from the rocks and the stony soil to survive. These nutrients are then available to whoever eats the plant, nourishing you the same way the nutrients nourished the plant. Some of the most effective supplements grow in hostile places, which is why most ancient medicine derived from mountainous terrains, from isolated communities who grow up amongst the fauna and know its powers.
Arrow-Leaf Barrenwort, the botanical name of Horny Goat Weed, is actually a pretty little plant that grows with yellow, violet, red and white flowers. It also grows small oval fruits. The pretty plant has also been called Fairy Wings because of the pretty clustering of the flowers. In fact, you are more likely to see the flowering herb in the borders of gardeners around the world – as it is now grown as an ornamental flower all around the world. Maybe, next time you spend a weekend at your parents, check out the borders and see what your Dad is growing back there. This is obviously a mischievous attempt to make you squirm at the possible reason why your Dad would be growing it at all – it is obviously just for ornamental effect!
However, more traditionally the plant is thought to be an aphrodisiac. Ancient medicine elders would give the herb as a treatment for impotence and involuntary or premature ejaculation. However, it has also been prescribed for 2000 years as nourishment to the kidney. Scientists are less happy to support the efficacy of claims that it is a healer of the kidney, though anecdotal evidence is reassuring.
So, why would the immortals be taking it?
Well, clearly the immortals lived forever so had a bit of time to kill. So, why not find a way to keep your pecker up… Apologies for that dreadful pun! The truth is that the supplement is part of the ancient myth of Yin and Yang. This mythic creature was said have one hundred orgasms a day – and even 2000 years ago this was thought to be kind of extraordinary. Yin is the internal explosion of an orgasm in women and Yang is the outward explosion of ejaculation. So, if you imagine the intertwined image of two figures in intercourse – this is the explosion of orgasm internally and externally.
The concept of Yin/ Yang is an important part of Taoism. Man and Woman combined was thought to be the whole – a combination of heaven and earth that became disconnected. Therefore, the significance of the bringing together of man and woman on earth is the reconnection with immortality. Yin and Yang together were eternal, separate the man and woman and they suffer a premature death. The texts of Taoists spend much time exploring special positions and actions in lovemaking to celebrate the importance of the reconnection of that which becomes disconnected.
In ancient Chinese texts, there was a demand for a constant supply of Yin – choosing many women, particularly virgins, for men. The Yin energy is meant to bring strength to men – nourishing Yang. Therefore, according to Taoist traditions a man should have sexual relations with multiple partners but only ejaculation once. So, the role of the man is to battle with his Yang and seek as much nourishment from the internal explosion of Yin – giving satisfaction to many women before releasing the power of his own Yang. Yes, we are pretty sure this legend was written by a man – particularly when you realize that every time a man reaches a “true Yang”, twelve years are added to his life. Makes you think how well those old guys who lived beyond 110 must have done at “true Yang!”
However, legend also has it that the immortals are the goats which were observed one night by their herder, become insatiable in their desires for each other after munching down on the plant. This is, of course, why the herb got its most popular name and seems a little more likely than an ancient god intertwined in constant sexual orgasm – but it all depends on who you talk to, I guess.
How might it help me?
This supplement is a great way to stimulate a lagging libido. It can also counter the effects of erectile dysfunction. As you can imagine from the legend of Yin and Yang, the Chinese firmly believe that the herb is a benefit to both men and women. The accepted knowledge is that Horny Goat Weed can counter some of the symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome and the mood related problems associated with menopause. For this reason, many Chinese medics believe it is actually better for women – though I suspect there are quite a few husbands shouting “Nope – that still helps me out too!”
The herb has grown in popularity recently because of an increasing understanding by scientists in relation to how the supplement works. Due to the ecosystem within which the plant grows, it is acknowledged now that there are a variety of flavonoids, polysaccharides, sterols and magnaflorine – all of which are known to be effective in the treatment of reduced libido, ED, fatigue and alleviating hormonal imbalance in women.
In 2008, a lab found that the herb blocks the effects of an enzyme that restricts blood flow. Obviously, to achieve an erection, the penis needs a healthy supply of blood. Therefore, this is one reason why the herb was thought to be so successful at overcoming erectile dysfunction. Epimedium, which is the active ingredient in the weed, acts as a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, similar to the way actual pharmaceutical drugs companies design erectile dysfunction medication to work.
The general belief is that the active ingredient in the herb, Icariin, inhibits the activity of PDE5 – which works to block the blood flow to the arteries in the penis. This is exactly how Viagra is designed to work. In theory, Horny Goat Weed is said to work better because it has fewer side effects than the chemically produced meds offered by science.
A study claimed to have isolated icariin in the supplement, which is the inhibitor that works against hormones that cause erectile dysfunction. However, they further determined that Viagra was 80 times more potent. The general dosing advice with Horny Goat Weed is regular and often – so that the effects build up. Therefore, it is not meant to work the same way as Viagra does. However, by isolating the active ingredient, Science finally agrees that the supplement does work.
Is it all about the sex?
Horny Goat Weed has other ways of making you feel immortal. If you noticed – it is referred to as a brain tonic. Therefore, the supplement has some interesting possibilities in the treatment of the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease. Studies are beginning to emerge that suggest Alzheimer’s, in particular, can be countered to a certain degree, thanks to the icariin in this herb. Icariin has long been associated with increased sexual performance and for the building of muscles. However, for this reason, the benefits of icariin to memory have long been overshadowed.
Horny Goat Weed is not a cure for either Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease. It can reduce the impact of symptoms and some medics subscribe to the idea that it could be taken as a preventative measure. Patients have reportedly regained some of their memory function and had an improved sense of spatial awareness.
Horny Goat Weed is also recommended for stress related depression, the treatment of diabetes and overcoming the effects of fatigue. Ultimately, the success of this herb in medicinal circles is due to the ecosystem in which it thrives. It draws nutrients out of the soil to survive and these in turn help those who take the supplement. This is grade school science – therefore there is little to question Horny Goat Weed is good for you!
Any ill effects?
Common side effects of Viagra include: dizziness, headache, flushing, stomach upset, changes to vision including blurring and over sensitivity to light. There is also a chance that the erection might be so effective that you will need to visit an emergency department to have the hardness reduced using three small cuts to the penis. This releases the blood from the three tubes that run through the penis, which is how an erection is formed.
The ill effects of Horny Goat Weed? Most people tolerate short term use pretty well – up to three months with very little problems. Some report an upset stomach and a dry mouth. It can cause nosebleeds after extended use. The general advice is if you have heart problems or any other serious ailment that requires medication, then you should check with your doctor. Your doctor should be made aware of any supplements you are taking anyway; in case they interact with your meds.
In Short
Horny Goat Weed is a great supplement for your all-round health. It is likely that a lot of people, men in particular, were sold at the mention of a hundred orgasms a day. However, there is more to it than just sex. Libido will be improved and the hormones that causes erectile dysfunction can be inhibited by Horny Goat Weed. It is also true that the supplement can reduce the anxiety and moods associated with PMS and menopause – which, let’s face it men, increase our chances two or three-fold in getting sex in an evening. However, it is also a supplement that work to improve the mind, our mood and the renal health of our body.
There is no shame in wanting to live a full life into older age. We are living longer than ever and it is a long time from 60 or 70 to feel old and to feel that the body is failing us. Therefore, taking the lead from the Traditional Chinese Herbalists, who call on 5000 years of experience, and use a natural supplement seems just plain common sense. Remember, this is an all-time good guy of the supplement world and just because someone may titter when you tell them you are taking it – shrug – and go “Hey, I want to live forever, like the immortals and therefore I have to join heaven and earth together and experience paradise.” That should shut anybody up!
And, don’t feel too embarrassed to go into your local pharmacy and ask for Horny Goat Weed. It is going to be worth it when you start experiencing the wondrous benefits we have talked about in this article. See for yourself the change!