Background
Horny goat weed contains chemicals that might help increase blood flow and improve sexual function. It also contains phytoestrogens, chemicals that act somewhat like the hormone estrogen.
People use horny goat weed for erectile dysfunction (ED), sexual problems, weak and brittle bones, health problems after menopause, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support any of these uses.
Safety Safety definitions
But some types of horny goat weed are possibly unsafe when used for a long period of time or in high doses. Serious side effects including severe breathing problems have been reported.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy: Horny goat weed is possibly unsafe when taken by mouth during pregnancy. It might harm the developing fetus. Avoid using it.Breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if horny goat weed is safe to use when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Bleeding disorders: Horny goat weed might slow blood clotting. This might increase the risk of bleeding. Taking horny goat weed might make bleeding disorders worse.
Hormone sensitive cancers and conditions: Horny goat weed acts like estrogen and can increase estrogen levels in some people. Horny goat weed might worsen some estrogen-sensitive conditions, such as breast and uterine cancer.
Surgery: Horny goat weed might slow blood clotting. This might increase the risk of bleeding during surgery. Stop taking horny goat weed at least 2 weeks before surgery.
Effectiveness
Dosing & administration
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Estrogens
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Horny goat weed might have some of the same effects as estrogen and might increase blood levels of estrogen in some people. Taking horny goat weed with estrogen might increase the effects and side effects of estrogen.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Horny goat weed might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2B6 (CYP2B6) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Horny goat weed might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Horny goat weed might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Horny goat weed might lower blood pressure. Taking horny goat weed along with medications that lower blood pressure might cause blood pressure to go too low. Monitor your blood pressure closely.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Horny goat weed might slow blood clotting. Taking horny goat weed along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood pressure: Horny goat weed might lower blood pressure. Taking it with other supplements that have the same effect might cause blood pressure to drop too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include andrographis, casein peptides, L-arginine, niacin, and stinging nettle.
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: Horny goat weed might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng.
Interactions with foods
Products
View all products- Epimedium sagittatum (Horny goat weed) ext. 43.33 mg
- Asparagus racemosus ext. 133.33 mg
- Angelica polymorpha ext. 50 mg
- Anemarrhena asphodeloides ext. 85 mg
- Curculigo orchioides ext. 71.43 mg
- Actaea racemosa ext. 100 mg
- Vitex agnus-castus ext. 25 mg
- Epimedium sagittatum (Xian Ling Pi) ext. 37.11 mg
- Astragalus membranaceus ext. 46.41 mg
- Rehmannia glutinosa ext. 46.41 mg
- Morindae officinalis ext. 37.11 mg
- Cynomorium songaricum ext. 37.11 mg
- Cyperus rotundus ext. 27.84 mg
- Anemone altaica ext. 18.57 mg
- Polygala sibirica ext. 15.45 mg
- Schizandra chinensis ext. 15.45 mg
- Panax ginseng ext. 9.27 mg
- Cinnamomum cassia (bark) ext. 9.27 mg
- Epimedium sagittatum (Xian Ling Pi) ext. 29.04 mg
- Rehmannia glutinosa ext. 58.08 mg
- Astragalus membranaceus ext. 29.04 mg
- Codonopsis pilosula ext. 29.04 mg
- Dioscorea oppositifolia ext. 29.04 mg
- Poria cocos ext. 29.04 mg
- Cuscuta hygrophilae ext. 29.04 mg
- Cornus officinalis ext. 23.19 mg
- Lycium barbarum ext. 23.19 mg
- Citrus reticulata ext. 11.61 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 9.69 mg
- Epimedium sagittatum (Xian Ling Pi) ext. 27 mg
- Morindae officinalis ext. 27 mg
- Cuscuta hygrophilae ext. 27 mg
- Lycium chinense ext. 26.7 mg
- Dioscorea oppositifolia ext. 26.7 mg
- Eucommia ulmoides ext. 26.7 mg
- Rubus chingii ext. 26.7 mg
- Cnidium monnieri ext. 26.7 mg
- Angelica polymorpha ext. 24 mg
- Paeonia lactiflora ext. 24 mg
- Cornus officinalis ext. 24 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 13.5 mg
- Epimedium sagittatum (Xian Ling Pi) ext. 22.14 mg
- Astragalus membranaceus ext. 22.17 mg
- Paeonia lactiflora ext. 22.17 mg
- Rehmannia glutinosa ext. 22.17 mg
- Codonopsis pilosula ext. 22.17 mg
- Angelica polymorpha ext. 22.17 mg
- Ziziphus jujuba ext. 22.14 mg
- Curcuma longa ext. 22.14 mg
- Cyperus rotundus ext. 22.14 mg
- Bupleurum falcatum ext. 22.14 mg
- Lindera strychnifolia ext. 22.14 mg
- Curculigo orchioides ext. 22.14 mg
- Morindae officinalis ext. 22.14 mg
- Zingiber officinale ext. 12.03 mg
- Epimedium brevicornum (Yin Yang Huo) ext. 21.96 mg
- Rehmannia glutinosa ext. 36.6 mg
- Eucommia ulmoides ext. 29.28 mg
- Cullen corylifolium ext. 29.28 mg
- Achyranthes bidentata ext. 29.28 mg
- Dipsacus asper ext. 21.96 mg
- Angelica polymorpha ext. 21.96 mg
- Lycium barbarum ext. 21.96 mg
- Citrus aurantium ext. 21.96 mg
- Paeonia veitchii ext. 21.96 mg
- Spatholobus suberectus ext. 21.96 mg
- Epimedium brevicornum (Yin Yang Huo) ext. 21.78 mg
- Biota orientalis ext. 12.09 mg
- Rehmannia glutinosa ext. 43.56 mg
- Codonopsis pilosula ext. 21.78 mg
- Ophiopogon japonicus ext. 21.78 mg
- Cornus officinalis ext. 21.78 mg
- Dioscorea oppositifolia ext. 21.78 mg
- Poria cocos ext. 21.78 mg
- Inula britannica ext. 21.78 mg
- Perilla frutescens ext. 21.78 mg
- Prunus armeniaca ext. 21.78 mg
- Ziziphus jujuba ext. 24.18 mg
- Citrus maxima ext. 12.09 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 12.06 mg
- Epimedium sagittatum (Xian Ling Pi) ext. 19.8 mg
- Triticum aestivum ext. 66.3 mg
- Ziziphus jujuba ext. 22.2 mg
- Albizia julibrissin ext. 19.8 mg
- Curculigo orchioides ext. 19.8 mg
- Lycium barbarum ext. 19.8 mg
- Eucommia ulmoides ext. 19.8 mg
- Loranthus parasiticus ext. 19.8 mg
- Morindae officinalis ext. 13.2 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 11.1 mg
- Rehmannia glutinosa ext. 33 mg
- Chrysanthemum sinense ext. 13.2 mg
- Lilium brownii ext. 22.2 mg
- Epimedium sagittatum (Horny goat weed) ext. 55 mg
- Vitex agnus-castus ext. 70 mg
- Angelica polymorpha ext. 70 mg
- Paeonia lactiflora ext. 55 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 55 mg
- Tetradium ruticarpum ext. 70 mg
- Ligusticum striatum ext. 55 mg
- Cinnamomum cassia ext. 55 mg
- Zingiber officinale ext. 55 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 10 mg equiv. pyridoxine 8.23 mg
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 5 mg