Health uses of icariin extract

Icariin is used for many different health benefits, with new benefits and uses being discovered every year. This article, however, focuses on the following primary uses of icariin:

  1. Sex Drive (low libido)
  2. Male Impotence (erectile dysfunction)
  3. Athletic Performance (from cardiovascular fitness through to bodybuilding)
  4. Osteoporosis (including bone health in general)

Most adults have at some stage either heard of, seen or tried the sexual enhancement herb called Horny Goat Weed, however, it's a common fact that the vast majority of people, unfortunately, do not have a strong understanding as to how this natural remedy actually works.

Horny Goat Weed has been put under the microscope in a big way over the past couple of decades and this research has shone a light on a specific active element of the Horny Goat Weed plants make-up, an element found to be responsible for all the health benefits we know and love from this plant extract.  The name of this active element is 'icariin' and the following article will show you exactly what icariin is used for, showing just how capable of a health remedy icariin actually is.

What Health Uses Does Icariin Encompass?

Icariin is used as a remedy for many different health ailments and scientists are finding new beneficial uses for icariin as we speak, however, the most well-established uses of icariin are as follows:

LOW SEX DRIVE/LOW LIBIDO
Icariin used for low sex drive/libido

Sex drive is a key benefit of taking icariin from Horny Goat Weed. It's key simply because it is the very reason why Horny Goat Weed is known as 'Horny Goat Weed'. The story is as quirky as the name itself, and as far as names goes, it very much tells the tale. That tale being of a Chinese goat herder who observed is herd being very much more sexually active after spending some time grazing on a field of Epimedium plants (Epimedium being the plant family name of Horny Goat Weed). How icariin from Horny Goat Weed is used to boost up your libido comes down to its ability to increase the efficient use of free-form testosterone hormones. Free-form testosterone hormones are essential for men to feel sexually motivated. In other words, bio-available testosterone hormones give men the desire to pursue sexual intercourse with their partners. Unfortunately, however, with age, we sometimes lose the ability to produce and utilize these free-form testosterone hormones fully, especially compared to men in their teens to late 20s, but with icariin being available this problem can now be tackled naturally and men can re-establish their high levels of sex drive they once had.

ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION
Icariin used for erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction is the main beneficial use that put Horny Goat Weed/icariin on the map, a fact indicated quite clearly by the use of the word 'horny'. As mentioned above, initially in Traditional Chinese Medicine Horny Goat Weed plants were used for the purpose of being a natural sex drive/libido booster, however, it soon became apparent that the people taking the remedy were not only feeling elevated in terms of sex drive but were also able to achieve solid erections on a more frequent basis and maintain said erections for a longer duration. Icariin addresses male impotence through its ability to increase the transmission of a naturally occurring substance known as Nitric Oxide. Men require Nitric Oxide to achieve ample blood supply to the penile tissues because, without enough Nitric Oxide transmission, the body will undersupply the penis with blood upon arousal. ED is a very important use of icariin because it challenges many of the prescription remedies available and boasts the advantage that it can be taken as a long-term remedy for ED as opposed to a temporary solution, mainly due to the fact that it bears very little in the way of side effects.

BODYBUILDING/SPORTS PERFORMANCE
Icariin used in bodybuilding

Despite what many may think, Horny Goat Weed is no stranger to the world of bodybuilding supplements, in fact, Horny Goat Weed or as it's less informally known; Epimedium has held a sturdy position on the Champions podium for a few decades now. There are two main reasons why Horny Goat Weed/icariin is used for sports performance and these two reasons have been mentioned above however for their sexual benefits rather than their sporting benefits. The boost in testosterone from taking icariin is a huge advantage for bodybuilders because testosterone not only promotes muscle increases but it also gives one the mental drive required to break through their weight lifting barriers, essentially speaking low levels of testosterone will cause a huge backward step in the progression at the gym. Using icariin as a bodybuilding supplement not only takes care of dwindling T-levels but also increases the levels of Nitric Oxide signaling, this translates to massive leaps forward in your performance and power burst when building up your muscles. For this very reason, many bodybuilders choose to use icariin as a pre-workout supplement as it gives one the 'get on with it' state of mind when starting a weight lifting session. Nitric Oxide boosts from taking icariin will also equate to direct improvements in muscle tissue and muscle repair, this is because Nitric Oxide signaling tells the body where and when to deliver blood when the body requires more of it within a certain area, so with good healthy levels of Nitric Oxide your muscles are never being starved of the blood and oxygen required to make those final hard lifts and also speeds up your repair time between each gym session.

OSTEOPOROSIS
Icariin used as osteoporosis treatment

Another lesser-known health use of icariin, or should we say rather; a more recent discovery of icariin is its benefits offered with bone health. Icariin has been trialed on various occasions at a scientific level and each time has proven to provide benefits when it comes to the early prevention of osteoporosis and also the remedy of previously established osteoporosis. The trials illustrated that when icariin is taken over a long period of time it promotes and speeds up the efficiency of both bone tissue health and maintenance. Horny Goat Weed itself was quite obviously not founded on bone health however as this herbal medicine has gained interest it has established itself within this area of ailment.

Icariin Content Is Given As A Percentage, So Which Percentage Of Icariin Is Most Effective At Achieving The Health Benefits Described Above?
Icariin percent explained

Right, so we know what icariin is used for, and what are the main benefits discovered at the present day. Therefore, it's now time to breakdown 'icariin strength' in order to provide you with a complete understanding of how to get the best out of this highly effective extract.

When it comes to icariin percentages there is a very clear divider between what is effective and non-effective. The initial way to separate this crucial divider is to look at the icariin percentage content of the product in question. A very basic but essential rule is that standardized extracts are accurate in terms of strength, while non-standardized extracts are essentially unpredictable. What standardized means is that the extract is certified and guaranteed to yield a certain percentage of icariin flavonols. This is key with Horny Goat Weed extracts because at the 70% icariin content grade this herbal remedy starts to become unbalanced and less effective which is entirely due to what is known int he industry as over-extraction, which means that the raw plant matter is void of its original active structure. This loss of structure means loss of effective benefit.

You will notice that retailers are selling Horny Goat Weed extracts in the 98% icariin range for a relatively good price and the reason for this is exactly due to the above. 98% icariin Horny Goat Weed extract may only yield the same active icariin flavonols as say a 10% or 20% icariin Horny Goat Weed extract, not good!

For this very reason, it is widely researched and recognized that standardized extracts are the best most reliable ones to buy. Having mentioned above that 70% icariin is where the loss of active structure begins to occur it is no surprise that 60% icariin standardized Horny Goat Weed is the most potent percentage that can be extracted. So we know that 60% is the holy grail of Horny Goat Weed strengths but there is a limitation to this level of purity and that limitation is that 60% icariin is too potent for use by women, therefore, unfortunately, ladies, you'll need to leave this strength to be used by the guys only. This doesn't mean that women should be disappointed by icariin/Horny Goat Weed, as women can obtain great results with all the above-stated benefits by simply taking a 20% icariin product instead, yes women won't be able to gain the benefits of a 60% icariin product like men but most of the time when it comes to such aspects as boosting nitric oxide an testosterone levels, women do not require the same amount of boost as men require.

As we are focusing on the most effective percentage of icariin extract we shall now look at a supplement within the 60% icariin standardized purity category and of course this will be aimed at the benefit of men.

Best icariin supplement

The supplement pictured above is widely recognized as being the best Horny Goat Weed extract on the market and of course, is standardized to a rating of 60% icariin. This supplement is called icariin60™ and is made by the manufacturer World A.B.S. This icariin product is now seen as the go-to supplement for men who require either of the following benefits:

  • Increased sex drive/libido.
  • Remedy for erectile dysfunction.
  • Formidable gains in muscle mass for bodybuilders.
  • Increased athletic stamina for all sportsmen.
  • Improved bone health.

Icariin60™ is made from solely 60% icariin Horny Goat Weed extract and contains no other herbal extracts whatsoever, which means that it is very pure, very powerful and very focused on its intended use. You can find out more about icariin60™ by clicking on the following link:

ICARIIN - Information Site

And So Now You're In The Know...

There you go! Now you know exactly what icariin is used for, including the main benefits this supplement offers, along with tips on the most effective icariin supplement available at the present day. Horny Goat Weed itself becomes a whole new ball game once you learn all the important factors of what is held within this natural remedy.