Before we get to the name of the herb – it is always important to garner a little anticipation – it is important to understand why men opt to take Viagra in the first place. There are going to be a lot of jokes in this article – because the name of the herb is funny – it really is. However, it is important to note from the beginning that the reason people need Viagra is no laughing matter. Sure, people make jokes out of and sure, men who take it laugh along. However, it really isn’t something that any man wants to be laughing about.
After the age of 30 men have a decreasing amount of testosterone. The Leydig cells in the testicles and the gland in the brain create less of the hormone. There is also a protein in the body that combines with testosterone in increasing amounts as a man gets older. This makes less testosterone available to man. As an added bonus, the man’s body starts to create more estrogen – which doesn’t play well with testosterone.
Therefore, men, like women, go through a form of menopause. This is called andropause – and is a reduction in the man’s vitality. This is presumably because the body is protecting itself into old age, lessening desires and reducing passion and aggression. However, 30 is no longer old, it is barely out of childhood in our modern world – and men want to feel vital and energetic in their 60s and 70s, maybe even their 80s.
It is not just that men lose libido, it is that they struggle to maintain an erection, the gap between erections reduces and the ejaculation is weaker – with less semen. This not only makes the orgasm less satisfying but also makes the man progressively less fertile. It is as important to men to become fathers, as it is for women to become mothers. No-one has ever made a joke about a woman who hits the menopause before she has had a chance to go through childbirth.
Erectile dysfunction can also occur because an enzyme called protein phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) interferes with the nitric oxide that signals to a chemical called cyclic guanosine monophosphate (CGMP) with allows in an inflow of blood into three tube-like cylinders in the penis. With the interference comes no signal and with no signal comes no erection.
So, Viagra is the chemical compound created by scientists to solve the almost universal experience of men. It is there to help men overcome depression, as testosterone produces dopamine and without testosterone, there is less dopamine. It is there to help men stop the process of losing hair and losing muscle tone. It is there to make sure men have the energy and vitality they used to feel before age determined they should slow down a little now.
However, what science does now, nature has likely done since the beginning of time. There are numerous herbs found by Chinese and Indian herbalist, which for centuries have helped men become fathers. So, it is time to introduce you to the miracle herb that is going to put Viagra out of business…
Say hello to Horny Goat Weed…
Horny Goat Weed – yep – you heard it right – Horny Goat Weed is the actual name of a supplement that is going to put Viagra out of business. It is so effective at improving libido that it even has the Goat rampant. The proper supplement name is GH-2, mostly I guess because people would be embarrassed to walk up to a shop assistant and ask for that supplement that turned Goat on. Enough of the jokes – let’s get down to some proper scientific facts about GH-2.
The actual name of the plant is Barrenwort, which is not nearly so much fun. It is also known as Bishop’s Hat, Fairy Wings or Yin Yang Huo. It has also been called rowdy lamb herb, randy beef grass and brain tonic of the immortals. It is probably who the person was watching when first noticing the effects that resulted in the naming. It is probably best not to theorise about who the immortals were and how they became involved. Its scientific name is Epimedium and it is part of the Berberidaceae class of plants. It is actually quite a pretty little flower and you can see why people chose Fairy Wings and why some might find the name Horny Goat Weed odd – especially the weed bit. Though obviously you are still giggling inside at the Horny Goat bit. This plant is now largely grown as an ornamental flower all around the world. So, next time you visit your Gran’s house you might want to check out the borders to see if it is growing there!
The herb has been known for centuries as a welcome aid to a lagging libido and to counter the effects of erectile dysfunction. Although evidence of its scientific impact is pretty scarce at the moment, the Chinese herbalists have been using the pretty little weed for centuries. The Chinese population looks pretty healthy – so this is a good evidence base you could say. In fact, the herb is part of an ancient story of Yin Yang, which is a mythic creature that had one hundred orgasms a day. Even 2000 years ago this was seen as a pretty fruity reaction to the plant – and probably not something anyone should aspire to recreate. There is also the story of the goat herder who saw the effects on his flock – hence the name, I guess.
In fact, the Chinese believe that the herb is useful for both men and women’s libido. Some believe that is particularly useful for relieving PMS and menopause-related symptoms. A lot of doctors in China feel the herb is most successful with women, though it is likely that with reduced PMS the men are feeling happier too.
However, seriously, the herb is a tried and tested aphrodisiac. It has been used for over 2000 years in Traditional Chinese Medicine but recently has become increasingly popular around the world. The plant grows in high altitudes and has to draw a lot of nutrients out of the stony ground to survive. There the leaves contain a variety of flavonoids, polysaccharides, sterols and an alkaloid called Magna Florine. As yet, it is not fully known how the herb works, it is just known that it is effective with libido, erectile dysfunction, fatigue and alleviating menopausal symptoms.
There are have been scientific findings into how the herb works. 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 pretty 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 in the Journal of Sexual medicine reported that the supplement made ageing rats go rampant. Another study claimed that it had isolated icariin in the supplement, which is the inhibitor needed for erectile dysfunction but determined that Viagra was 80 times more potent. The general dosing advice with GH-2 is regular and often – so that the effects build up. Therefore, it is not meant to work the same way as Viagra does. However, the isolating of the active ingredient does suggest that science has come some way towards agreeing that the supplement should work. The general advice is to not expect the supplement to work until a month after taking the supplement.
Traditional Chinese Medics prefer to use 5000 years of evidence, rather than tests in the lab. They claim to look at the whole person and not to the disorder, so have been known to prescribe GH-2 to those with diabetes and Parkinson’s. However, they are also pretty certain that it is the best sex tonic for both men and women used in their clinical practice. They claim that not only does it resolve erectile dysfunction, boost libido and rebuild youthful sexual vitality but they unequivocally believe that it also enhances sexual performance too. This may be as a result of the boost to the confidence or the quality of the erection but who cares, if this is what they believe to be true!
Any ill effects?
Common side effects of Viagra include dizziness, headache, flushing, stomach upset, changes to vision including blurring and oversensitivity 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 or simply have an ejaculation, not such a bad side effect to have uh?
The ill effects of GH-2? 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 require 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.
So, the bottom line?
Horny Goat Weed or Rampant Beef Herb, or whatever name cracks you up the most, is an effective aid to the natural effects of getting older. Despite the obvious comedy and the potentially embarrassing reason for needing the supplement, it does serve a serious service to men’s and women’s health. The libido, the vitality, the ability to get an erection, are all important facets of a healthy life. If these are limited by age or by health, then our psychological wellbeing will soon suffer.
There is a lot of scientific evidence to suggest that the level of our testosterone is directly linked to our mental state. The more testosterone, the more dopamine. The more our body believes it needs to produce Leydig cells, which in turn stimulates semen production, the more testosterone the body will produce and the happier that we are. It is not just that being sexually active makes us happy but that our body burn off cortisol and produces dopamine and therefore we actually are happier.
The side effects of Viagra could be unacceptable. It may give 80 times the potency of the active ingredient of GH-2 but it also carries an equal amount of additional risk. Taken regularly, over a period of time, GH-2 offers the same effects on a regular basis, with only a minor chance of reaction or interaction.
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 Traditional Chinese Herbalists, who call on 5000 years of experience, and use a natural supplement. The benefit is not only to your sexual performance, the Chinese traditional medics believe it helps your mind, potentially warding off the effects of Parkinson’s disease. It is also used for blood disorders and diabetes by Chinese medics. This is an all-time good guy of the supplement world.
And, if you are too embarrassed to go into to your local pharmacy and ask for Horny Goat Weed, remember the grown up name is GH-2. Alternatively, you can purchase it here.
