Horny Goat Weed: An Alternative to Viagra

It may surprise you to learn that up to forty-five percent of men in the United States suffer from intermittent problems with impotence. Up until now the standard treatment for erectile dysfunction has been with drugs such as Cialis, Viagra, and Levitra. Although these drugs are effective in the majority of men, they aren’t without their side effects which can include flushing, indigestion, muscle aches, and headache. Viagra has the potential to cause serious adverse reactions in men with heart disease including increasing the risk of heart attack which is a big price to pay for treatment of impotence. Although these drugs will likely remain the primary treatment for erectile dysfunction in the foreseeable future, there may be a promising new impotence alternative on the horizon.

Researchers in Milan, Italy believe that a Chinese herbal remedy known as “horny goat weed” may hold the potential to be a viable impotence alternative treatment. Medications, like Viagra, used to treat erectile dysfunction block the function of an enzyme known as phosphodiesterase type 5 which when inhibited increases blood flow to the penis. The researchers were able to isolate a compound from the horny goat weed plant, which when modified, blocked the enzyme phosphodiesterase type 5 as well as Viagra did. The researchers believe their natural impotence alternative may have fewer side effects than Viagra.

The researchers emphasized that the active ingredient synthesized from horny goat weed would need to be tested in animals as well as humans before it could be marketed or recommended as an impotence alternative. The hope is that at some point, this more natural alternative may be a substitute for men who are unable to tolerate the side effects of Viagra. They also believe that this “natural Viagra” may not increase the risk of heart attack in men who suffer from heart disease as Viagra does, although this would need to be confirmed through testing.

Because horny goat weed has been used in Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years, it’s available as a supplement and is claimed to improve sexual function in both men and women, the form currently available hasn’t been modified and may not be as safe or effective as the form synthesized by the researchers from the natural enzyme found in the plant.

Until further studies confirmed the safety and effectiveness of the modified form of horny goat weed as an impotence alternative, it’s best to stick with the current treatments that have been proven to be effective with the hope that this new natural treatment will prove to be a viable alternative.