Goat weed is a general term used for the Epimedium species of plant. This plant, an invasive weed of livestock pastures, has been used for generations in Chinese medicine. In Japan and China, it is called Ying Yang Huo. Other names for the plant include horny goat weed, barrenwort and bishop's hat. The flowers of the plant grow in the shape of a bishop's hat, pendant-shaped.
History
Goat weed is described in ancient Chinese medicinal texts. Many cultures have reported that goat weed will increase libido, improve erectile function and relieve menopausal symptoms. Eight different species of these plants have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM. Chinese physicians often apply the goat weed in many variations and formulas. Initial processing occurs by chopping the upper plant into small pieces for drying or frying them in sheep fat.
Components
The first chemical isolated from goat weed was flavonoid glycoside icariin. Since then, many other chemical constituents have been studied including flavonoid glycosides, flavones, icarisides and phytosterols or in regular terms, sugars and cholesterols. Each species contains its own chemical makeup, which accounts for product variability. TCM requires standard amounts of icariin present within the plants for proper medicinal treatment.
Medicinal Formulation
The Chinese Pharmacopoeia, 2005, requires goat weed contents of favonoids to be greater than 5 percent and icariin greater than 0.5 percent. Only the leaves of the plants meet these standards. The best products are those standardized to a flavonoid called icariin. A typical goat weed dosage is 250 to 1000mg daily, depending on the purity of the compound. Most swallow capsules for their dosage, but some use powder mixed into wine or tea.
Effects
Studies in "Tissue Engineering" and the "Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis" indicate goat weed extracts enhance bone formation and exhibit estrogenic effects respectively. Researchers proved in 2006 that goat weed components enhanced immune response. Currently, marketing experts tout it as a treatment for erectile dysfunction, but no scientific evidence supports these claims. The properties and functions of this product need further investigation.
Considerations
Natural products with medicinal properties have potential for both positive and negative side effects. Allergic reactions can occur with goat weed, so watch for itching, rash, swelling of mouth or throat and difficulty breathing. Due to this product's ability to increase blood flow, people with low blood pressure may faint. Also, possible drug interactions indicate a need for medical consultations prior to using goat weed.
References
- Journal of Medicinal Plants Research: Variation in Icariin and Flavonoid Contents of Barrenwort Species
- Poultry Science: Chinese Herbal Ingredients are Effective Immune Stimulators for Chickens Infected with the NewCastle Disease Virus
- Progress in Drug Research: Chemical and Pharmological Investigations of Epimedium Species
- Tissue Engineering: Icariin A Potential Osteoinductive Compound for Bone Tissue Engineering
- Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis: Pharmacokinetics fo Prenylflavonoids and Correlations with the Dynamics of Estrogen Action in Sera Following Ingestion of a Standardized Epimedium Extract
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