Horny Goat Weed for Bodybuilding & Nitric Oxide Production

The uses of horny goat weed for bodybuilding include increasing production of nitric oxide and testosterone to enhance muscle buildling.

Horny goat weed is perhaps most commonly used in the West for sexual dysfunction. However, some of the supplement’s characteristics are also appealing to bodybuilders.

Contemporary analysis reveals horny goat weed contains a flavonoid called icariin, which has been observed to cause the synthesis of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is favored by bodybuilders and other strength athletes because it brings on generalized vasodilation, which may help improve circulation as well as support muscle growth and repair.

Horny Goat Weed

Herbal Supplement

Libido

Erectile Function

Testo- sterone

How It Works:

• Inhibits PDE-5 enzyme & raises nitric oxide
• Boosts male & female libido
• Supports erectile function & performance

Dosage:

Between 250 - 1000 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Possibly Safe

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Horny Goat Weed Overview

The horny goat weed supplement is composed of up to 15 different species from the genus Epimedium.

Although the genus has 64 different species, not all are thought to exhibit medicinal properties.

Medicinal Epimedium has long been used in the practice of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and is there referred to by its Chinese name yin yang huo.

Within TCM it is considered a yang tonic and used to treat a number of conditions, including fatigue and sexual dysfunction.

Horny Goat Weed for Bodybuilding

Horny goat weed extract contains a flavonoid phytonutrient called icariin. Icariin is a phytoestrogen phenylflavonoid that boosts the production of nitric oxide.

Nitric oxide induces vasodilation, or the widening of blood vessels, which can help improve circulation and lower blood pressure. With enhanced circulation muscles may be better able to obtain the protein, hormones and nutrients they need to endure difficult workouts and quickly repair muscle damage.

Icariin is also thought to enhance the body’s capacity to use free-traveling testosterone. Many bodybuilders consume horny goat weed for its icariin content. Advocates claim that the supplement helps them developed increased muscle size, stamina and strength.

Further, improvements in both mental and physical energy are reported by athletes who supplement with yin yang huo.

Although horny goat weed is growing in popularity within the bodybuilding community, there are no clinical trials to support the assertion that horny goat weed supplementation leads to any physiological benefits. Current research into the medicinal effects of the plant is limited and most knowledge derives from traditional practice.

Horny Goat Weed and Sexual Dysfunction

Horny goat weed is commonly associated with treating sexual dysfunction in both men and women. It is claimed to increase libido in males and females, alleviate symptoms of erectile dysfunction, reduce premature ejaculation and even treat male and female infertility.

It has been used in traditional medicine practices for centuries and is now commonly available in many regions of the world. Clinical research into the sexual benefits of horny goat weed is limited and many of the plant’s uses are based on historical practice and limited laboratory evidence.

Icariin is a known phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor. It acts in a manner similar to the active ingredient in popular erectile dysfunction (ED) medications, which include a synthetic PDE5 inhibitor.

PDE5 prevents adequate blood flow to the corpus cavernosums of the penis, which prevents erections. Icariin is a natural PDE5 inhibitor.

Preliminary research suggests icariin may help alleviate ED symptoms, especially in the case of male impotence. The effects of icariin and its subsequent natural stimulation of nitrogen oxide synthesis are claimed to be quite effective at restoring sexual performance in men.

PDE5 is also found in the lining of the lungs. By acting as an inhibitor to PDE5, horny goat weed may help alleviate respiratory symptoms linked to PDE5. It may also improve circulation and breathing, which could result in enhanced athletic performance.

This could result in further benefits for bodybuilders who take Horny Goat Weed as a pre-workout supplement to improve exercise intensity and stamina.

These are only hypotheses for horny goat weed’s mechanisms of action. Additional research is required before any therapeutic claims can be attributed to horny goat weed supplementation based on clinical evidence alone.

Other Uses of Horny Goat Weed

Taking horny goat weed for bodybuilding and erectile dysfunction represent only two of the plant’s many uses.

Epimedium is used for a number of conditions, including:

• Degeneration in knee and back bones, especially in postmenopausal women;
• Generalized joint pain;
• Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis;
• Liver disease;
• Mental and physical fatigue;
• Heart disease;
• Hypertension;
• Bronchitis;
• Chronic leukopenia;
• Memory loss.

Side Effects of Horny Goat Weed for Bodybuilding

Appropriate doses of horny goat weed are generally well tolerated by healthy adults. However, long-term, excessive supplementation is not recommended. A case of heart arrhythmia was reported when horny goat weed was combined with another, prescribed sex-enhancement medication. Excessive use for long periods of time may induce muscle spasms and lead to difficulty breathing.

Other less serious side effects may include dizziness, vomiting, nose bleed and dry mouth.

If you are considering using horny goat weed for bodybuilding purposes, or any other supplementation purposes, please contact your doctor to ensure safety. Some groups are not recommended for yin yang huo supplementation, including pregnant/nursing women, upcoming surgery patients, those with low blood pressure, those with bleeding or clotting disorders and those with hormone-sensitive cancers.

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