Common names
Epimedium, also known as barrenwort, bishop's hat, fairy wings, horny goat weed, rowdy lamb herb, randy beef grass or yin yang huo
Active Ingredients
One of the principal active ingredients in Horny Goats weed is "icariin". The concentration may determine much of the potency of each particular species of Epimedium. The icariin works by relaxing smooth muscle tissue, which is different from skeletal muscle tissue. The significance of this is that involuntary tension in the internal tissues can be relaxed, which many believe cause the central nervous system to shift from the so-called fight/flight mode into the rest/restore mode. When this change occurs, many elements of a disease tend to reverse because the body is no longer in a stressed condition. Although this many not cure many problems, especially the ones that are in advanced stages, many people use herbs to manage their condition and obtain some relief.
Habitat
Horny goats Weed is found growing all over the southern areas of China, but can also be found in the Asian countries that immediately border China, as well as some neighboring European countries. The Chinese name is Yin Yang Huo, or Xian Ling Pi, and it is used extensively in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It has become popular in the field of Western alternative medicine for use in treating multiple conditions.
One should realize that although the plant may bear the same name, there are close to 60 species of Epimedium plants and over 15 in China that bears the name "Yin Yang Huo." It might be difficult for the layperson to determine the strength and properties of the plant based on the name alone.
Benefits and Conditions
Horny Goat Weed is often used to treat osteoporosis and various sexual dysfunctions. However, other uses of the plant include the treatment of hypertension, bronchitis, coronary heart disease, polio and more. This makes sense because the active ingredient works on smooth muscle tissue. This is the tissues that surround the heart. When the heart muscles are under strain, it is easy to visualize how this can cause other problems in the surrounding affected systems.
Secondary benefits can also occur when the smooth muscle tissues relax. The health benefits could extend to relieving fatigue in both the mind and the body, as this herb is employed for this purpose in TCM. It has been used to treat joint pain, numbness, memory problems, painful or cold low back and/or knees, as well as irregular menstrual cycles, spermatorrhea, and impotence. It has been cited as producing an anti-aging effect and can improve the immune system as well as the endocrine system.
Potency and Doses
Although there are many natural concentrations of icariin found in this plant in nature, during the process of cultivation, it is possible to regulate the dose for individual consumption. The individual dose will be partly determined by height, weight and other medical conditions. As always, it is highly recommended for anyone with a medical condition to speak with their appropriate health care professionals about the use of this herb in treating their condition. Overdoses should be avoided, and the potency of the herb is difficult to determine unless provided by a trained professional.
The leaves of this plant are edible, but are known to be extremely bitter and are sold most frequently in capsule form. However, some herbal outlets will also sell it in a prepared form that can be used to make a medicinal tea. The leaves will have been cooked, soaked and re-boiled before packaging to remove the excessive bitterness.
