Between the high social premium placed on sexual potency and the increasing popular attention to herbal remedies, a supplement called "horny goat weed" is sure to sell like hot cakes. Unfortunately, not only is the herb's efficacy in restoring sexual performance in question, but so is its safety, especially in regard to its possible interactions with other medications. If you're thinking about taking horny goat weed, talk with your doctor first to identify any potential problems.
About the Herb
"Horny goat weed" is a term referring to various flowering plants of the Epimedium genus, among them E. grandiflorum, E. brevicornum and E. sagittatum. Other common names for these plants include barrenwort and yin yang huo. Traditional Chinese medicine has recommended the use of Epimedium leaves to increase sexual desire and improve symptoms of erectile dysfunction. Horny goat weed has also been used to aid in recovery from strokes, treat allergies and reduce osteoporosis. It also is used as an alternative treatment for cancer and HIV. Most health claims concerning horny goat weed remain largely unsupported by clinical studies.
About the Supplement
You can usually buy horny goat weed by itself or in tablet or capsule form. The capsules and tablets may contain other herbs in addition to horny goat weed. The high variability among supplement formulations makes interpreting side effects and drug interactions difficult. Additionally, traditional Chinese herbal medicine practice often involves taking multiple herbs simultaneously so that each ingredient moderates the others' effects. This makes it difficult to track down the compound responsible for a given reaction.
Theoretical Drug Interaction Risks
Clinical studies have not yet confirmed any particular drug interactions. However, according to eMedTV, if you are taking medications for high blood pressure, taking horny goat weed might increase your risk of hypotension, or dangerously low blood pressure. Similarly, horny goat weed has the potential to increase the risk of bleeding if you're taking blood-thinning medications, especially anti-coagulants and anti-platelet medications such as heparin and warfarin.
A Case Study
A 2004 article in the journal "Psychosomatics" reports that a 66-year-old-man was admitted to a community hospital with reports of shortness of breath, chest pain and new-onset symptomatic arrhythmia. He already had a history of coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, ischemic cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure. He was taking medications that included atenolol, terazosin, simvastatin, aspirin and sildenafil. He reported having added to his regimen an over-the-counter horny goat weed supplement about two weeks before. He associated the new symptoms with this herbal supplement. At the time of his admission, he also evinced hypomanic symptoms for which he had no previous history. The new-onset tachyarrhythmia and hypomania may have been related to the horny goat weed supplement interacting with his existing drug program, though whether the culprit was the horny goat weed itself or some other listed or unlisted compound in the supplement remains unclear.
Further Cautions
Herbal supplements such as horny goat weed are not susceptible to the same scrutiny in the U.S. as drugs are, so the fact that stores can legally sell it presents no guarantee that all components are safe to be taken as indicated. Discuss in detail with your doctor any supplements you plan on taking, and have a full ingredient list for teas, tablets and capsules.
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