Epimedium: Does it work for ED?

Epimedium also known as barrenwort, bishop's hat, fairy wings or horny goat weed is a genus of flowering plants in the family Berberidaceae. The majority of the species are endemic to China, with smaller numbers elsewhere in Asia, and a few in the Mediterranean region.

Epimedium has health benefits including to treat high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and fatigue, but the plant is most famous for to treat ED in Asia In fact, Epimedium’s Chinese name directly translation to English is horny goat weed which the name itself explains some many things.  

ED (erectile dysfunction) is defined as the inability to get and maintain an erection firm enough to have sexual intercourse. Most men have experienced times when they were unable to sustain an erection, but that doesn’t mean they have ED. However, if this happens on a regular basis, you may have ED.

Epimedium species used as a dietary supplement is Epimedium grandiflorum which contains icariin. Icariin inhibits the activity of the PDE5 that’s blocking dilation of the arteries in the penis. This allows blood to fill the arteries and the three cylinders in the penis and create an erection. The prescription medication sildenafil (Viagra) works in much the same way. Icariin is much milder PDE5 inhibitor than Viagra and other prescription ED medications. Icariin isn’t as potent as Viagra in its natural state, but the extract is available over-the-counter as horny goat weed or as one ingredient in various supplement formulations.

So does Epimedium work? Several animal studies have found that icariin inhibits PDE5 in cavernosal smooth muscle, the kind of tissue that relaxes and allows the penis to fill with blood during an erection. Another study found that horny goat weed seemed to benefit rats who had blood vessel damage, allowing them to synthesize nitric oxide in penile tissue better than a placebo. Some believed that Epimedium can also increase libido in women, but so far no lab result can support this claim.

Laybio is a wholesale bulk supplier of Epimedium that sold in powder, tablet, capsule and tincture forms. please feel free to contact our sales team should you have any question about Epimedium.