Ingredient: horny goat weed
Horny Goat Weed in HoneyBoost: 10 mg of 8:1 Extract, Checked
Horny goat weed in HoneyBoost is an Epimedium extract at an 8:1 ratio, printed at 10 mg per gummy, equal to 80 mg of plant. Sloan Kettering cites no human trial of sexual function. LiverTox lists products of 250 or 500 mg, roughly 25 to 50 times the label amount. Heart disease is a listed caution.
- Per gummy10 mg extract
- Ratio8:1
- Plant equivalent80 mg
Written by the HoneyBoost label deskUpdated
The basics
What is horny goat weed in HoneyBoost?
Horny goat weed is the common name for Epimedium, a group of plants with heart-shaped leaves. The label prints it as “Horny Goat Weed (Epimedium spp.) Extract 8:1, 10 mg”, equivalent to 80 mg of horny goat weed.
The “spp.” means the label does not name one species. Sloan Kettering lists its traditional uses as fatigue, osteoporosis and sexual dysfunction, and adds that more studies are needed (MSK, Epimedium (horny goat weed)). LiverTox calls it a traditional tonic (LiverTox, Horny goat weed).
The gummy holds the 10 mg of extract, not the 80 mg of plant. An 8:1 ratio means about 8 parts of plant were used for 1 part of extract. The photo above is the brand's picture of the plant, not of the extract.
| Name on the label | Horny Goat Weed (Epimedium spp.) Extract 8:1 |
|---|---|
| What it is | Epimedium; the label prints an 8:1 extract and an 80 mg plant equivalent |
| Place on the label | 3 of 7 lines, in label order |
| Amount per 1-gummy serving | 10 mg of extract per gummy, equivalent to 80 mg horny goat weed |
| Daily Value | Not established |
| Amount used in research | Products of 250 or 500 mg once a day (LiverTox); no human sexual-function trial dose in the MSK summary |
| How the label compares | 10 mg of extract is 25 to 50 times less than a 250 to 500 mg product (extract strengths differ, so this is a rough guide) |
| Strength of evidence | Very limited: MSK cites no human trial of sexual function; LiverTox says rigorous trials are lacking; the PDE5 result is a test-tube study |
| Marketed or traditional use | A traditional tonic sold for vitality |
| Main caution | MSK says not to take it with heart disease (rapid irregular heartbeat is reported), to use caution with hormone-sensitive cancers, and notes possible effects on aromatase inhibitors and CYP3A4 medicines. |
What studies say
Does horny goat weed work for men?
We found no source that shows it does. Sloan Kettering cites no human trial of sexual function, and LiverTox says rigorous controlled trials are lacking (MSK, Epimedium (horny goat weed)) (LiverTox, Horny goat weed).
LiverTox adds that studies of Epimedium extracts look promising for sexual satisfaction but are not proven. Trials of products with several ingredients showed slight or no benefit, and reviews are mixed (LiverTox, Horny goat weed).
Sexual function
MSK cites none for this use.
Reviews
Promising in some studies, not proven in controlled trials.
10 mg of extract
No source we read tested the label amount.
The label makes no claim in words about this plant. Its front says “Male Vitality Formula”, with a dagger leading to the FDA statement.
Lab result
What is icariin, and does it block PDE5?
Icariin is a compound found in Epimedium. In a laboratory enzyme test, an Epimedium extract and icariin blocked human PDE5, the enzyme that prescription erection medicines target (Dell'Agli 2008, Icariin and PDE5 (lab)).
That was a test-tube result. It was not a human trial, and it says nothing about a gummy. The label does not print an icariin amount, so we cannot tell how much of the 10 mg is icariin.
The result is the reason doctors warn about this category. If a product acted like an erection medicine, it could be risky with nitrates for chest pain. Ask your doctor or pharmacist first if you take nitrates or any erection medicine.
We do not say horny goat weed works like an erection medicine in people. No source we read shows that.
Amounts
How much horny goat weed is in HoneyBoost compared with other products?
One gummy has 10 mg of extract. LiverTox describes horny goat weed tablets and capsules of 250 or 500 mg, usually one a day (LiverTox, Horny goat weed).
| Measure | Amount | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| HoneyBoost, extract per gummy | 10 mg | 1 gummy |
| Plant equivalent (8:1) | 80 mg | 10 mg times 8 |
| Product of 250 mg | 250 mg | 25 times more than the extract |
| Product of 500 mg | 500 mg | 50 times more than the extract |
| Human trial dose in MSK | Not given | No comparison possible |
Extract strengths differ between products, so call the gap rough. Even so, the label amount sits far below what is sold in single-ingredient products. See all seven lines on the label vs studies page.
Mineral and amino acid: 2 lines
- ZnZinc (as zinc gluconate)2.5 mg · 23% DV
- ArL-arginine10 mg · DV not established
Plant extracts: 5 lines
- MaMaca root extract 10:110 mg · DV not established
- HGHorny goat weed extract 8:110 mg · DV not established
- DaDamiana leaf extract 5:110 mg · DV not established
- TATongkat ali root extract 100:125 mg · DV not established
- MuMucuna seed extract (98% L-DOPA)10 mg · DV not established
From the Supplement Facts box, in label order. Every amount is printed; there is no proprietary blend. Other ingredients (sugar, corn syrup, water, pectin, citric acid, natural flavor, guar gum, tapioca starch, sodium citrate, artificial color) are not active lines.
HoneyBoost: 2, 3 or 6 bottles30 gummies a bottle · 30 days at 1 a day · 60-day money-back guarantee
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What are the horny goat weed side effects?
Horny goat weed is generally well tolerated in LiverTox's review, with minor stomach upset and nausea, and rare rash or allergic reactions. Liver injury is rated unlikely (LiverTox, Horny goat weed).
Sloan Kettering lists more to watch: sweating or feeling hot, rapid irregular heartbeat, increased energy and mood changes. It describes a case of fast, irregular heartbeat in a man with heart failure (MSK, Epimedium (horny goat weed)).
- Heart disease: MSK says not to take it. The label says not to use it with a medical condition.
- Hormone-sensitive cancers: use caution. MSK notes estrogen-like activity.
- Aromatase inhibitors: icariin may reduce their effect.
- CYP3A4 medicines: horny goat weed may speed their breakdown.
Keep taking prescribed medicine and never stop it for a supplement. Chest pain or a racing heartbeat with other heart attack signs: call 911 (CDC, Heart attack signs). An erection lasting over 4 hours needs emergency care (Mayo Clinic, Priapism).
Bottom line
Is horny goat weed a reason to buy HoneyBoost?
Not on the evidence we found. The label prints the amount, which is fair. But the plant has no cited human trial for the use it is sold for, and heart disease is a listed caution.
If erections worry you, see a doctor. Diabetes, heart disease, medicines and stress are common causes, and many can be treated (NIDDK, Causes of ED (incl. medicines, mood)). See the when to see a doctor page.
Prices and guarantee terms are on the pricing page; the live checkout is final.
FAQ
HoneyBoost questions people ask
What is horny goat weed?
Horny goat weed is the common name for Epimedium, a plant used in traditional medicine for fatigue and sexual complaints. HoneyBoost lists an 8:1 extract at 10 mg per gummy, equal to 80 mg of plant.
Is Epimedium the same as horny goat weed?
Yes. Epimedium is the plant's genus name and horny goat weed is its common name. The HoneyBoost label prints Epimedium spp., so it names the genus and does not name one species.
What is icariin?
Icariin is a compound found in Epimedium. In a laboratory test it blocked the PDE5 enzyme. That was a test-tube result, not a human trial, and the label prints no icariin amount for the gummy.
Is horny goat weed safe for the heart?
Not for everyone. Memorial Sloan Kettering says not to take it with heart disease and reports a fast irregular heartbeat in a man with heart failure. Ask your doctor before use if you have any heart condition.
Can horny goat weed interact with medicines?
It may. Memorial Sloan Kettering says icariin may reduce aromatase inhibitors and horny goat weed may induce CYP3A4, an enzyme that breaks down many drugs. Show the bottle to your pharmacist before you start.
How much horny goat weed is in one gummy?
One HoneyBoost gummy lists 10 mg of 8:1 extract, which the label equates to 80 mg of the plant. A 30-gummy bottle holds 300 mg of extract. LiverTox describes products of 250 or 500 mg.
Does the horny goat weed photo show the extract?
No. The header photo is the brand's stock picture of the plant, with heart-shaped leaves and yellow flowers. The gummy holds a 10 mg extract, not leaves, so the picture shows the source plant only.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the brand panels and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is the information site for a USA Authorized HoneyBoost Retailer. It is not the manufacturer or the distributor named on the label. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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