Benefits of Epimedium
Epimedium or horny goat weed is a kind of herbal supplement used in the cure of many health disorders. It is available in several forms including powders, pills or like a beverage. Most supermarkets and drug stores offer epimedium and using this herb will benefit you in the following ways.
1. Treats cancer
Epimedium offers significant benefits in treating certain cancers. It contains active ingredients, which inhibit growth of too much blood vessels in the body, thereby limiting the possible development of cancer tumors both on skin and in the organs. Furthermore, lab tests show the capability of epimedium extracts to stop cell growth of cancer cells.
2. Cures sexual disorders
Epimedium products continue to be used for treating sexual disorders, especially in men. For instance, epimedium supplements are normally said to enhance sexual potency, while serving like a strong aphrodisiac. This boosts male libido significantly. Moreover, because epimedium consumption improves blood flow, it is effective in treating erectile dysfunction. In fact, similar libido improving effects have been seen in females taking epimedium supplements.
3. Enhance muscle health
Consumption of epimedium herb or its supplements may benefit your skeletal system and muscles as well. This supplement contains ingredients that may assist in managing cortisol levels in the blood. This reduces bone deterioration, while causing an improvement in size of muscle mass.
4. Anxiety relief
Epimedium can assist to cure anxiety as well as other similar ailments. Chemicals found in this herb increase the production of certain chemicals, including serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. These are the chemicals responsible for causing pleasant experiences. Actually, many anxiety ailments, including depression, are caused by an imbalance or deficiency of the aforementioned chemicals.
Similar with any herbal supplement or medicinal treatment, epimedium should not be used without consulting a doctor first. As epimedium is not legally licensed by FDA, it may contain side effects.
Herbal supplements, on the other hand, are not approved by the FDA as having therapeutic effects, nor claim to have any healing effects. Herbal supplements do not have to be approved as products that would treat a specific ailment and usually contain a variety of vitamins, minerals, and herbs that can add to a person’s physical well being, or help with his diet. It is also important to know that these supplements are not intended to substitute for food or medicine — they are supplemental only.ÂÂÂ
While you are correct to a certain extent, you have to consider the conditions under which drugs are approved. Pharmaceutical companies run their own clinical trials on their own drugs to prove their efficacy. In addition, pharmaceutical companies are allowed to run as many trials as it takes to prove a drug is more effective than a placebo. A drug may therefore be shown ineffective six times and effective once and is then allowed to be considered effective. In addition, pharmaceuticals are well-known to have significant, sometimes fatal side effects.
Compare this to natural remedies and herbal supplements which have typically been used for hundreds or thousands of years by humans. Most herbs have very few, if any, side effects. Many herbal remedies do have empirical evidence (IE studies) to back up their efficacy, though many do not. The reason that there is no empirical evidence is NOT because the herbs do not work but because clinical trials are extremely costly and, since herbal remedies cannot be patented and therefore cannot be profited from, there is no monetary impetus.
Finally, the best situation is a situation in which lifestyle changes (exercise, eating healthy, not smoking, etc.) make drugs and supplements unnecessary. Humans have the most evolved immune systems on the planet and, with the proper support, our immune systems can do amazing things.
I therefore suggest that you do your own research on both drugs and supplements before taking either. I suggest searching pubmed.gov for relevant research. Thanks.