Evidence supporting the use of: Epimedium extract
For the health condition: Sex Drive (low)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Epimedium extract, also known as "horny goat weed," is primarily justified for use in supporting sex drive (libido) by traditional medicine rather than robust scientific validation. Epimedium has a long history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where it is called Yin Yang Huo and is used to address conditions such as low libido, erectile dysfunction, and fatigue. The purported active compound, icariin, is believed to exert effects similar to phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, which are used in pharmaceutical treatments for erectile dysfunction. However, scientific studies in humans are limited, small in scale, and often of low methodological quality. Most available research includes animal studies or in vitro experiments suggesting possible mechanisms for increasing nitric oxide levels and improving blood flow, but these findings have not been conclusively demonstrated in large, well-controlled human trials. As such, while there is a strong tradition and some preliminary scientific rationale, the overall level of evidence supporting Epimedium extract for treating low sex drive in humans is weak. It continues to be used primarily due to its historical and cultural reputation rather than firm scientific endorsement.

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