Ingredient 1 of 8
Horny Goat Weed in SodaPeak: How Much Is There and What Studies Show
Horny goat weed leaf extract is the first of eight ingredients in SodaPeak's 1,200 mg blend, so it weighs between 150 and 1,200 mg per 2 capsules. Products sold alone usually hold 250 to 500 mg. LiverTox says its claimed sexual and heart benefits are not proven in rigorous trials (LiverTox: Horny goat weed). No study has tested SodaPeak.
Written by the SodaPeak editorial teamUpdated
The basics
What is horny goat weed?
Horny goat weed is a leafy plant from the Epimedium family, used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine. SodaPeak's label names the species Epimedium sagittatum and uses an extract of the leaf.
The plant holds more than 200 compounds. The best known are flavonoids called icariin, icaritin and epimedin (LiverTox: Horny goat weed). Supplement makers mostly sell it for sexual health in men. The colorful name comes from a folk story, not from research.
It is not a vitamin or a mineral, and the body does not need it. The profile table sets SodaPeak's label facts beside the research.
| Label name | Horny Goat Weed Extract (Epimedium Sagittatum) Leaf |
|---|---|
| What it is | Epimedium sagittatum leaf · Herb extract |
| Position on the label | 1 of 8 in the blend (labels list blend ingredients from most to least by weight) |
| Amount per serving (2 capsules) | Not disclosed; first in the blend, at most 1,200 mg |
| Amount used in research | Sold as 250-500 mg a day; no established dose |
| Strength of evidence | Not proven in rigorous trials |
| Why it is used | Traditional Chinese herb with icariin flavonoids |
| Main caution | Heart rhythm reports; may lower blood pressure and slow clotting. |
Label math
How much horny goat weed is in SodaPeak?
SodaPeak prints no horny goat weed amount. It is listed first in the 1,200 mg Test Boost blend, and FDA rules list blend ingredients from heaviest to lightest (FDA labeling guide ch. IV (blends)).
Being first gives it both a ceiling and a floor. It cannot weigh more than the whole blend, 1,200 mg. It must also weigh at least an even share of eight ingredients, which is 150 mg. Seven other ingredients share the same 1,200 mg, so the true figure is almost certainly far below the ceiling.
| Daily dose | Blend weight | Horny goat weed, at least | Horny goat weed, at most |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 capsule | 600 mg | 75 mg | 600 mg |
| 2 capsules (one serving) | 1,200 mg | 150 mg | 1,200 mg |
The label also does not say how strong the extract is. Many horny goat weed products state a share of icariin. SodaPeak's does not, so you cannot compare it with a standardized product. See the whole panel on the SodaPeak Supplement Facts page.
The evidence
What does the research on horny goat weed show?
The best human evidence is about bone, not sex. Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) reports that the strongest trials studied bone loss in women after menopause, including a 24-month trial and a 2022 review (MSK: Epimedium). For sexual function, MSK calls the use traditional and says more studies are needed.
Bone loss in older women
A 24-month trial and a 2022 review point to a benefit for bone density after menopause (MSK: Epimedium).
Sexual function in men
LiverTox says claims about sexual satisfaction are not proven in rigorous controlled trials (LiverTox: Horny goat weed).
Dose and other uses
RxList rates the evidence insufficient for every use and says no proper dose range is known (RxList: Horny goat weed).
Most lab work on icariin uses cells or animals. Those results do not tell you what a capsule does in a man. Every study also tested horny goat weed alone, never SodaPeak's eight-ingredient mix.
Side by side
How does SodaPeak compare with stand-alone horny goat weed products?
The range overlaps, but you cannot tell where SodaPeak lands. LiverTox says stand-alone products usually come as 250 or 500 mg tablets or capsules, taken once a day (LiverTox: Horny goat weed). SodaPeak could hold less or more.
| Measure | SodaPeak (2 capsules) | Typical product |
|---|---|---|
| Amount per day | 150 to 1,200 mg, not printed | 250 or 500 mg, printed |
| Plant part | Leaf extract | Leaf or aerial parts |
| Icariin content | Not published | Often stated on the label |
| Established dose | None: RxList says there is not enough science to set one (RxList: Horny goat weed) | |
| Tested as a product | Not published | Some small studies of the herb alone |
Hidden amounts cut both ways here. A small amount may do little. A large amount raises the chance of side effects, which MSK links to high doses (MSK: Epimedium).
Safety
What are the side effects of horny goat weed?
Most reports are mild, but a few are serious. LiverTox lists stomach upset and, rarely, rash (LiverTox: Horny goat weed). MSK adds sweating and feeling hot at high doses, a fast or irregular heartbeat, and mood changes (MSK: Epimedium).
- Heart rhythm: MSK describes a 66-year-old man with heart failure who was hospitalized with a new arrhythmia and hypomania after two weeks of daily use (MSK: Epimedium).
- Breathing: RxList says very large amounts may cause spasms and severe breathing problems (RxList: Horny goat weed).
- Liver: LiverTox rates liver injury as unlikely, its "E" category (LiverTox: Horny goat weed).
- Blood pressure and clotting: it may lower blood pressure and slow blood clotting (RxList: Horny goat weed).
Chest pain, a racing or irregular heartbeat, or fainting after starting any supplement needs a doctor the same day. Bring the bottle with you.
Medicines
Can you take horny goat weed with blood pressure pills or blood thinners?
Ask your doctor first, because both combinations carry a known risk. RxList lists moderate interactions with blood pressure drugs, where pressure may drop too low, and with blood thinners, where bleeding risk may rise (RxList: Horny goat weed).
The same source flags estrogen medicines and drugs that affect the heart's QT interval. MSK adds that horny goat weed may speed up a liver enzyme called CYP3A4, which clears many common drugs (MSK: Epimedium). That could lower the effect of some prescriptions.
Stop it before surgery, since it slows clotting (RxList: Horny goat weed). In SodaPeak, saw palmetto also carries a blood-thinner warning, so the two add up. Our guide to herbs and blood thinners lists the rest.
Before you start
Who should avoid horny goat weed?
People with heart disease or a hormone-sensitive cancer should avoid it unless their doctor agrees. MSK advises against it in both groups, because of heart-rhythm reports and estrogen-like effects (MSK: Epimedium). It may also blunt aromatase inhibitors used in breast cancer care.
- Anyone with low blood pressure or a heart-rhythm problem
- Anyone on blood thinners, blood pressure drugs or estrogen
- Pregnant or nursing women and anyone under 18, as the label says
Weak erections are worth a checkup on their own. The NIDDK says erectile problems can be a sign of heart disease, diabetes or high blood pressure (NIDDK: ED symptoms & causes).
Our take
Is the horny goat weed in SodaPeak worth it?
Not as a reason on its own. It is the largest ingredient, yet the label hides its amount and strength, and its main selling point rests on tradition.
In its favor
- First in the blend, at least 150 mg
- Low liver-injury rating from LiverTox
- Some bone research in older women
Against it
- Sexual benefits not shown in rigorous trials
- Heart-rhythm and blood-pressure cautions
- No icariin content printed
Keep exploring
What comes after horny goat weed in SodaPeak?
Next on the label is tongkat ali root powder, at most 600 mg. Every ingredient has its own page with the same label math.
FAQ
Horny goat weed in SodaPeak: common questions
How much horny goat weed is in SodaPeak?
SodaPeak does not print the amount. Because horny goat weed is first in a 1,200 mg blend listed by weight, it holds between 150 and 1,200 mg per 2 capsules. Stand-alone products usually contain 250 or 500 mg, so SodaPeak could fall below or above that.
Does horny goat weed work for erectile dysfunction?
Rigorous trials have not shown that it does. LiverTox says claims about sexual satisfaction are not proven, and Memorial Sloan Kettering calls the sexual use traditional. Erection problems can signal heart disease or diabetes, so a doctor visit is the better first step.
Is horny goat weed bad for your heart?
It can be for some people. Memorial Sloan Kettering reports a fast or irregular heartbeat as a side effect and describes a man with heart failure hospitalized with an arrhythmia after two weeks of use. People with heart disease should avoid it unless their doctor agrees.
Does horny goat weed lower blood pressure?
It may. RxList says horny goat weed might lower blood pressure and lists a moderate interaction with blood pressure medicines, where levels could drop too low. If you take blood pressure pills or often feel dizzy on standing, ask your doctor first.
Is horny goat weed safe for the liver?
Liver injury from horny goat weed looks unlikely. LiverTox, the NIH resource on liver injury from drugs and supplements, rates it in category E, meaning an unlikely cause. Its most common complaints are mild stomach upset and, rarely, a rash.
What is icariin?
Icariin is the best-known flavonoid in horny goat weed and the compound most lab studies focus on. Many products state their icariin share. SodaPeak's label does not, so its horny goat weed strength is unknown.
Can women take horny goat weed?
Some research on horny goat weed involves women, mostly for bone loss after menopause. SodaPeak is sold for men, though, and the herb has estrogen-like effects. The label says pregnant or nursing women should consult a physician first.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Plain-language pages built from the bottle label, the order page and linked public health sources such as NIH, FDA and CDC.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a U.S. stocking partner for SodaPeak, not by the manufacturer. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
Keep reading
More about SodaPeak
Ingredients
All eight SodaPeak ingredients in label order, with the most each can weigh and what the research says.
Read more
Side effects
Side effects and drug interactions for all eight SodaPeak ingredients, plus a five-question safety check.
Read more
Herbs and blood thinners
Saw palmetto, horny goat weed and nettle root with warfarin and other blood thinners, before surgery and at the pharmacy.
Read moreU.S. stocking partner for SodaPeak
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