{"id":604551184690,"title":"Horny Goat Weed vs. Viagra: Which is Better?","created_at":"2022-12-26T17:16:59-05:00","body_html":"\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\/\/ \u003c![CDATA[\n{\n \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"Article\",\n \"headline\": \"Horny Goat Weed vs. Viagra: Which is Better?\",\n \"keywords\": \"horny goat weed vs viagra\",\n \"description\": \"Our research team reviews clinical studies on horny goat weed and Viagra to give our take on which is more likely to improve ED and sexual function in men. We highlight side effects of both compounds.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/horny-goat-weed-vs-viagra\",\n\"author\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"editor\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Taylor Graber\",\n \"honorificSuffix\": \"M.D.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/taylor-graber\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/taylor-j-graber-md-81351642\/\",\n \"https:\/\/www.asapivs.com\/\"\n ],\n \"jobTitle\": \"Content Partner\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"medicine, health, anesthesiology, iv therapy, science, drugs, pharmaceutical, medical research, scientific research, medical journals, entrepreneurship, healthcare, orthopedic surgery, biomedical engineering\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": [\n \"University of California San Diego\",\n \"Arizona University\",\n \"University of Arizona College of Medicine\"\n ]\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"image\": {\n\"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Horny_Goat_Weed_Vs_Viagra_Thumbnail.png?v=1672093218\",\n\"width\": \"2500\",\n\"height\": \"2500\"\n},\n\"citation\": [\n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/horny-goat-weed-review\", \n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/12646997\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/21215308\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3551978\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/10400408\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/8813924\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2387281\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.consumerlab.com\/reviews\/enhancement-supplements-yohimbe-goat-weed-arginine\/enhancement\/?search=Sexual%20Enhancers\",\n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/rugiet-review\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/12076989\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.accessdata.fda.gov\/drugsatfda_docs\/label\/2014\/20895s039s042lbl.pdf\",\n\"https:\/\/www.goodrx.com\/viagra\",\n\"https:\/\/costplusdrugs.com\/medications\/sildenafilcitrate-20mg-tablet\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/12394711\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/8750052\/\",\n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/products\/panax-ginseng-extract\"\n],\n\"mentions\": [{\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"erectile dysfunction\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"FDA\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"ConsumerLab\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"GoodRx\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Cost Plus Drugs\"\n }\n],\n\"datePublished\": \"2022-12-26\",\n\"copyrightHolder\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n},\n\"publisher\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/\",\n \"description\": \"Illuminate Labs is the most transparent supplement company in the U.S., and is a leading publisher of research-based health information.\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"supplements, science, nutrition, exercise, health, medication, pharmaceutical, wellness, diet, weight loss, medical research\",\n \"publishingPrinciples\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/editorial-guidelines\",\n \"memberOf\": [\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"U.S. Chamber of Commerce\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Certified B Corp\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.bcorporation.net\/en-us\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Natural Products Association\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.npanational.org\/\"\n }\n ],\n \"logo\": {\n \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Illuminate_Labs_Favicon_48x48_7595c3cc-e27b-47b8-a4fe-edcc7ed9b29a.png?v=1666502785\", \n \"width\": 48,\n \"height\": 48\n},\n \"foundingDate\": \"2019-01-30\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/illuminate-labs-supplements\",\n \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCpgSJAsIPb-fZ25djtTxBEA\"\n ]\n }\n}\n\/\/ ]]\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Horny_Goat_Weed_Vs_Viagra_Review_Article_Header_Image_Optimized.png?v=1672092900\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDisclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice, and is just the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to erectile dysfunction treatment.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"dc\"\u003eM\u003c\/span\u003eany consumers compare the effects of natural and pharmaceutical treatments for erectile dysfunction (ED), often favoring natural treatments if they’re similarly effective. Horny goat weed and Viagra are two of the most popular treatments for ED.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBut are they similarly effective based on clinical research? Is one safer than the other? Which do we recommend?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we review clinical research to give our take on whether horny goat weed or Viagra is more likely to be effective for treating ED, and for enhancing sexual performance generally.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCan Horny Goat Weed Naturally Treat ED?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAs we documented in our review on “\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/horny-goat-weed-review\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003edoes horny goat weed really work\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e?”, there have actually been legitimate medical trials on this plant for enhancing sexual function.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOne such \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/12646997\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003etrial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAsian Journal of Andrology\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, found that \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ethe active chemical compound in horny goat weed, called icariin, inhibits an enzyme called PDE5 which results in greater blood flow to the penis. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHowever this was a test tube study, so the quality of evidence is weaker than a trial with human or animal subjects.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA 2011 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/21215308\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e on horny goat weed found that the herb increased testosterone levels in animal studies, but this doesn’t necessarily mean the same effects will apply to humans.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAnother \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3551978\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e found that icariin improved erectile function in animal studies and test tube studies.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOverall, we consider horny goat weed to be potentially effective for ED, but there isn’t enough human research to say so conclusively.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIs Viagra Effective for ED?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eViagra is one of the most well-studied pharmaceutical treatments for ED, having initially been approved by the FDA in 1998. The generic name for this medication is sildenafil, and we’ll use these terms interchangeably as they refer to the same active drug ingredient.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/10400408\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emeta-study\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eDrugs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal found that Viagra was effective for improving the frequency, hardness and duration of erections in human trial participants, and that the drug transiently reduced blood pressure levels.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/8813924\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e on Viagra found that at a dose of 50 milligrams (mg), the drug increased erection duration by over 800% compared to a group taking placebo pills.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2387281\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emeta-review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eTherapeutics and Clinical Risk Management\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal analyzed data from over 1,000 patients using Viagra over long periods of time (4 years). Over 94% of the patients responded that they were satisfied with the drug at each yearly assessment, and that it improved their sex life.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eViagra is clearly highly effective for the treatment of ED, and moreso than horny goat weed. But how do the risks compare? We’ll review that in the next section.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSide Effects of Horny Goat Weed vs. Viagra\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eJust because a supplement is sold over-the-counter (OTC) like horny goat weed doesn’t necessarily make it safer than a prescription drug.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe can’t identify any long-term clinical trials on the safety of horny goat weed in humans, however the plant has been used medicinally for thousands of years so we consider it to be likely safe if dosed appropriately.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOur main concern regarding the safety of horny goat weed is that it’s typically sourced from China, a country with relatively high levels of environmental pollution, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ethere are documented issues with the purity of horny goat weed supplements.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eConsumerLab is an independent testing laboratory that tested three popular horny goat weed supplements in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.consumerlab.com\/reviews\/enhancement-supplements-yohimbe-goat-weed-arginine\/enhancement\/?search=Sexual%20Enhancers\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003ereview\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, and failed all three for different reasons.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOne horny goat weed supplement violated FDA guidelines by failing to accurately label the plant parts, so testing couldn’t be conclusive. Another only contains 10% of the active ingredient as was claimed. The third had a high level of lead.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eTherefore we consider this to be a riskier supplement than average.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eViagra has been extensively safety tested, as we referenced in our review of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/rugiet-review\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eRugiet\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, another prescription ED treatment that contains the active ingredient in Viagra.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/12076989\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e on Viagra reported that the most common side effects were headache, flushing and upset stomach. The drug’s \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.accessdata.fda.gov\/drugsatfda_docs\/label\/2014\/20895s039s042lbl.pdf\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFDA label\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e contains no “black box” warning, which is required when a drug has life-threatening side effects.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOverall we consider Viagra to be less likely to cause serious side effects than horny goat weed\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e given that the drug is extensively safety tested and there are no sourcing or contamination issues.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFor consumers who are set on purchasing horny goat weed, the product we recommend is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3FRuLRD\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eGaia Herbs Male Libido\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e which contains horny goat weed as the first active ingredient, because this brand regularly passes ConsumerLab testing. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3FRuLRD\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHere’s a link\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e to the product’s official Amazon listing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eGeneric Viagra is Significantly Cheaper Than Branded Viagra\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFor consumers interested in trying Viagra, we would recommend speaking with your doctor about generic sildenafil instead.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBrand-name and generic drugs contain the same active drug ingredient and are equally effective, but generic versions are often much cheaper.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eGoodRx \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.goodrx.com\/viagra\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003ereports\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e the average retail price of Viagra to be $822.09 currently. Most patients with health insurance will pay significantly less than this but it proves how expensive brand-name drugs can be.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOn \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/costplusdrugs.com\/medications\/sildenafilcitrate-20mg-tablet\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCost Plus Drugs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, which is Mark Cuban’s generic drug venture, sildenafil is available for as low as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e$4.80\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e for 30 tablets at a 20 mg dose.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan Ginseng Naturally Improve Erection Quality?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Ginseng_Image.png?v=1672046103\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePanax ginseng has been studied in multiple clinical trials for its potential to naturally improve erection quality. We consider panax ginseng to be a better option than horny goat weed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/12394711\/\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003epublished in\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Journal of Urology\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003efound that after eight weeks of treatment,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eerectile function scores were \"significantly higher\" in the ginseng group than the group taking placebo pills.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/8750052\/\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003efound that 60% of patients supplementing with panax ginseng had improvements to ED.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIlluminate Labs sells a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/products\/panax-ginseng-extract\"\u003epanax ginseng extract supplement\u003c\/a\u003e which is third-party tested to ensure label accuracy, potency and purity, and which contains no questionable additive ingredients.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eInterested consumers can check out Illuminate Labs Panax Ginseng Extract\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/products\/panax-ginseng-extract\"\u003eat this link\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto the product page on our website, where the supplement can be purchased for only\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e$15\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eon a subscription basis.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eConclusion\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eViagra has significantly more research backing for improving erection quality than horny goat weed. The research on horny goat weed for ED is preliminary, and most of it does not involve human trial participants.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe would recommend that patients experiencing ED speak with their doctor about Viagra rather than horny goat weed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThere are a number of sourcing and product quality issues in the horny goat weed market, which leads us to believe that the risk of side effects is higher with horny goat weed supplementation than with Viagra use.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFor consumers set on purchasing horny goat weed, Gaia Herbs is the brand we recommend.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFor consumers interested in Viagra, we recommend speaking with your doctor about the generic sildenafil instead as it may be significantly cheaper and should be as effective.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":49281925193,"author":"Calloway Cook","user_id":26601750601,"published_at":"2022-12-26T17:26:08-05:00","updated_at":"2022-12-26T17:26:08-05:00","summary_html":"We review clinical studies on horny goat weed and Viagra to give our take on which is more likely to improve ED and sexual function in men. We highlight side effects of both compounds.","template_suffix":"","handle":"horny-goat-weed-vs-viagra","tags":"_related:erectile-dysfunction, _related:men's-health"}

Horny Goat Weed vs. Viagra: Which is Better?

Horny Goat Weed vs. Viagra: Which is Better?


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Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice, and is just the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to erectile dysfunction treatment.

Many consumers compare the effects of natural and pharmaceutical treatments for erectile dysfunction (ED), often favoring natural treatments if they’re similarly effective. Horny goat weed and Viagra are two of the most popular treatments for ED.

But are they similarly effective based on clinical research? Is one safer than the other? Which do we recommend?

In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we review clinical research to give our take on whether horny goat weed or Viagra is more likely to be effective for treating ED, and for enhancing sexual performance generally.

Can Horny Goat Weed Naturally Treat ED?

As we documented in our review on “does horny goat weed really work?”, there have actually been legitimate medical trials on this plant for enhancing sexual function.

One such trial, published in the Asian Journal of Andrology, found that the active chemical compound in horny goat weed, called icariin, inhibits an enzyme called PDE5 which results in greater blood flow to the penis. 

However this was a test tube study, so the quality of evidence is weaker than a trial with human or animal subjects.

A 2011 medical review on horny goat weed found that the herb increased testosterone levels in animal studies, but this doesn’t necessarily mean the same effects will apply to humans.

Another medical review found that icariin improved erectile function in animal studies and test tube studies.

Overall, we consider horny goat weed to be potentially effective for ED, but there isn’t enough human research to say so conclusively.

Is Viagra Effective for ED?

Viagra is one of the most well-studied pharmaceutical treatments for ED, having initially been approved by the FDA in 1998. The generic name for this medication is sildenafil, and we’ll use these terms interchangeably as they refer to the same active drug ingredient.

A meta-study published in the Drugs journal found that Viagra was effective for improving the frequency, hardness and duration of erections in human trial participants, and that the drug transiently reduced blood pressure levels.

A clinical trial on Viagra found that at a dose of 50 milligrams (mg), the drug increased erection duration by over 800% compared to a group taking placebo pills.

A meta-review published in the Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management journal analyzed data from over 1,000 patients using Viagra over long periods of time (4 years). Over 94% of the patients responded that they were satisfied with the drug at each yearly assessment, and that it improved their sex life.

Viagra is clearly highly effective for the treatment of ED, and moreso than horny goat weed. But how do the risks compare? We’ll review that in the next section.

Side Effects of Horny Goat Weed vs. Viagra

Just because a supplement is sold over-the-counter (OTC) like horny goat weed doesn’t necessarily make it safer than a prescription drug.

We can’t identify any long-term clinical trials on the safety of horny goat weed in humans, however the plant has been used medicinally for thousands of years so we consider it to be likely safe if dosed appropriately.

Our main concern regarding the safety of horny goat weed is that it’s typically sourced from China, a country with relatively high levels of environmental pollution, and there are documented issues with the purity of horny goat weed supplements.

ConsumerLab is an independent testing laboratory that tested three popular horny goat weed supplements in a review, and failed all three for different reasons.

One horny goat weed supplement violated FDA guidelines by failing to accurately label the plant parts, so testing couldn’t be conclusive. Another only contains 10% of the active ingredient as was claimed. The third had a high level of lead.

Therefore we consider this to be a riskier supplement than average.

Viagra has been extensively safety tested, as we referenced in our review of Rugiet, another prescription ED treatment that contains the active ingredient in Viagra.

A medical review on Viagra reported that the most common side effects were headache, flushing and upset stomach. The drug’s FDA label contains no “black box” warning, which is required when a drug has life-threatening side effects.

Overall we consider Viagra to be less likely to cause serious side effects than horny goat weed given that the drug is extensively safety tested and there are no sourcing or contamination issues.

For consumers who are set on purchasing horny goat weed, the product we recommend is Gaia Herbs Male Libido which contains horny goat weed as the first active ingredient, because this brand regularly passes ConsumerLab testing. Here’s a link to the product’s official Amazon listing.

Generic Viagra is Significantly Cheaper Than Branded Viagra

For consumers interested in trying Viagra, we would recommend speaking with your doctor about generic sildenafil instead.

Brand-name and generic drugs contain the same active drug ingredient and are equally effective, but generic versions are often much cheaper.

GoodRx reports the average retail price of Viagra to be $822.09 currently. Most patients with health insurance will pay significantly less than this but it proves how expensive brand-name drugs can be.

On Cost Plus Drugs, which is Mark Cuban’s generic drug venture, sildenafil is available for as low as $4.80 for 30 tablets at a 20 mg dose.

Can Ginseng Naturally Improve Erection Quality?

Panax ginseng has been studied in multiple clinical trials for its potential to naturally improve erection quality. We consider panax ginseng to be a better option than horny goat weed.

A clinical trial published in The Journal of Urology found that after eight weeks of treatment, erectile function scores were "significantly higher" in the ginseng group than the group taking placebo pills.

Another clinical trial found that 60% of patients supplementing with panax ginseng had improvements to ED.

Illuminate Labs sells a panax ginseng extract supplement which is third-party tested to ensure label accuracy, potency and purity, and which contains no questionable additive ingredients.

Interested consumers can check out Illuminate Labs Panax Ginseng Extract at this link to the product page on our website, where the supplement can be purchased for only $15 on a subscription basis.

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Conclusion

Viagra has significantly more research backing for improving erection quality than horny goat weed. The research on horny goat weed for ED is preliminary, and most of it does not involve human trial participants.

We would recommend that patients experiencing ED speak with their doctor about Viagra rather than horny goat weed.

There are a number of sourcing and product quality issues in the horny goat weed market, which leads us to believe that the risk of side effects is higher with horny goat weed supplementation than with Viagra use.

For consumers set on purchasing horny goat weed, Gaia Herbs is the brand we recommend.

For consumers interested in Viagra, we recommend speaking with your doctor about the generic sildenafil instead as it may be significantly cheaper and should be as effective.




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