Horny goat weed / yin yang huo (淫羊藿)

Epimedium brevicornu(?)

Chinese

Photo credit: Rudolphous

Safety information

Toxicity: Generally mild, but idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity reported with Epimedium-containing products (icaritin/icariin implicated in some case reports).

Contraindications: Yin-deficiency heat patterns (TCM); avoid in pregnancy; hormone-sensitive conditions (estrogenic activity).

Interactions: Theoretical additive with PDE5 inhibitors (sildenafil); caution with hepatically cleared drugs.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Avoid in pregnancy.

Evidence level

Preclinical

Supported by laboratory or animal studies; not yet confirmed in humans.

Preparations

powder · aerial parts/leaf

Part used: aerial parts/leaf

Evidence:Preclinical

processed with lamb fat (zhi yin yang huo) · aerial parts/leaf

Part used: aerial parts/leaf

Evidence:Traditional (systematized)

decoction · aerial parts/leaf

Part used: aerial parts/leaf

Traditional use: tonifies kidney yang, strengthens sinew and bone, expels wind-damp; yang/aphrodisiac tonic, joint pain, osteoporosis-type complaints

Proposed mechanism: prenylated flavonoids (icariin, icaritin, icariside II) — PDE5-inhibitory, osteogenic, estrogenic/neuroprotective

Evidence:Preclinical

General preparation guide →

Associated conditions

impotence Joint pain osteoporosis

Nutritional notes

n/a

Healing traditions

Chinese

Sources (2)

[E8] Epimedium folium traditional-uses review (2024)
[E7] J. Ethnopharmacol genus Epimedium ethnopharmacological & phytochemical review (Ma et al.)

All sources →