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Horny Goat Weed in SodaPeak: What Icariin and Epimedium Research Shows
Horny goat weed, also called epimedium, is the leaf extract listed first in the SodaPeak blend, so it weighs the most, between 150 and 1,200 mg per two capsules. Memorial Sloan Kettering says scientific evidence for epimedium is limited. Its best-known compound is icariin, and the label prints no amount of either.
Written by the SodaPeak label deskUpdated
What it is01
What is horny goat weed in SodaPeak?
Horny goat weed is the leaf of an Asian plant in the Epimedium group, listed on the SodaPeak panel as "Horny Goat Weed Extract (Epimedium Sagittatum) Leaf". It holds the first place in the blend.
Searchers type it as "icariin", "icarin" and "icarrin", and Memorial Sloan Kettering lists the herb as epimedium. Icariin is its best-known compound. The SodaPeak label names the extract and the plant part only. It does not print an icariin percentage, and it prints no amount.
First place has one hard consequence. Federal rules list blend names from heaviest to lightest (21 CFR 101.36 (eCFR)), so this line weighs at least 1,200 divided by 8, which is 150 mg, and at most the whole 1,200 mg for two capsules. If the two capsules are equal, one capsule holds half of that.
| Name on the label | Horny Goat Weed Extract (Epimedium Sagittatum) Leaf |
|---|---|
| What it is | Leaf of an Asian plant in the Epimedium group, also called epimedium; icariin is its best-known compound |
| Place on the panel | 1 of 8 in the blend |
| Amount per serving of 2 capsules | not printed; at least 150 mg, up to 1,200 mg by label order |
| Same ceiling at 1 capsule | at least 75 mg, up to 600 mg |
| Amount used in research | No dose in our sources; MSK says it has not been studied in clinical trials for fatigue |
| Strength of evidence | Limited. Traditional use for sexual function; MSK says more studies are needed and safety evaluations are lacking |
| Marketed or traditional use | Sold for stamina and vitality; traditional use for sexual function |
| Main caution | MSK: sweating, rapid irregular heartbeat, mood changes; avoid with hormone-sensitive cancers or heart disease; may affect medicines processed by CYP3A4 and aromatase inhibitors. |
The research02
Does horny goat weed work, and what does the research say?
The research is thin. Memorial Sloan Kettering says "scientific evidence to support use of Epimedium is limited" and sorts the claims by how much each has been studied (MSK, Epimedium).
| Use | What the source says |
|---|---|
| Fatigue | Traditional use only; not studied in clinical trials |
| Osteoporosis | Small trials; results are preliminary |
| Sexual dysfunction | Traditional use; more studies are needed |
| Gulf War Illness | A trial found no benefit |
None of those lines is a finding about SodaPeak. The label's bottle claim is "supports healthy muscle", and the source lists no muscle trial. This site makes no claim about sexual performance, erections or hormone levels for this product.
The herb also differs by species and by extract, and the label prints no extract strength. So even a study of an epimedium extract may not match the capsule.
Safety03
What are the side effects of horny goat weed?
Memorial Sloan Kettering lists sweating or feeling hot, a rapid irregular heartbeat, increased energy and mood changes, and says toxicity and safety evaluations are lacking (MSK, Epimedium).
Case reports in the same source include a vasculitic rash and, in a man with heart failure, a fast irregular heartbeat and hypomania. Those are single reports, not rates. They are the reason the source tells people with heart disease to avoid epimedium.
Heart
A racing or irregular heartbeat, or chest pain, means stop and get care. People with heart disease are told to avoid epimedium.
Hormone-sensitive conditions
The source reports estrogenic effects and says to avoid epimedium with hormone-sensitive cancers.
Medicines
It may affect CYP3A4-processed medicines and aromatase inhibitors. The clinical relevance is unknown. Ask a pharmacist.
Stop and get care for chest pain, a racing heartbeat, fainting or trouble breathing. Call 911 for chest pain with trouble breathing.
SodaPeak Capsules: 60 per bottle30 servings of 2 capsules · 1, 2, 3 or 6 bottles · price shown at checkout
See packsHow much04
How much horny goat weed is in SodaPeak?
The label does not say. The order allows anything from 150 mg to 1,200 mg per two capsules, and the panel supports both ends equally.
Our sources give no dose for epimedium, so there is no studied amount to set beside the label. That is itself a finding: with no printed amount and no reference amount, nothing links the capsule to any trial of the herb. The proprietary blend page explains the ceilings and the slider shows how line 1 squeezes the other seven names.
- 1Horny goat weed0
- 2Tongkat ali0
- 3Saw palmetto0
- 4Nettle root0
- 5Wild yam0
- 6Sarsaparilla0
- 7Orchic substance0
- 8Boron amino acid chelate0
Each bar is the most that line can weigh once line 1 is set: at most the weight of line 1 (the list runs from heaviest to lightest) and at most the remainder shared by the lines above it. These are ceilings from arithmetic (21 CFR 101.36 (eCFR)), not the real amounts.
Before you take it05
What should I ask my doctor about horny goat weed?
Ask whether the herb fits your medicines and your heart, and bring the bottle.
Show the label
Hand your pharmacist the panel. Say that the first name is horny goat weed and the total is 1,200 mg.
Name your conditions
Heart disease, a fast or irregular heartbeat, or a hormone-sensitive cancer are the flags the source gives.
List your medicines
Especially aromatase inhibitors and medicines processed by CYP3A4. Do not change a prescribed medicine on your own.
Plan a stop rule
Agree in advance which symptoms mean stop: chest pain, a racing heartbeat or mood changes you did not expect.
Read how the series ranks all eight names on the ingredients page, and the wider medicine list on the side effects page.
FAQ06
SodaPeak questions people ask
What is icariin?
Icariin is the best-known compound in horny goat weed, a plant in the Epimedium group. The SodaPeak label names the leaf extract but prints no icariin amount or percentage.
Is horny goat weed the same as epimedium?
Yes, they are common names for plants in the Epimedium group. Memorial Sloan Kettering uses epimedium for its page, and the SodaPeak label uses the botanical name Epimedium Sagittatum.
Is horny goat weed safe to take daily?
Memorial Sloan Kettering says safety evaluations are lacking and lists effects such as a rapid irregular heartbeat. It advises people with heart disease to avoid epimedium. Ask a clinician first.
Does horny goat weed interact with medicines?
The source says it may affect medicines processed by CYP3A4 and aromatase inhibitors, though the clinical relevance is unknown. Show your pharmacist the label.
Why is horny goat weed first on the SodaPeak label?
Blend names must be listed from heaviest to lightest, so it weighs the most. That could be as little as 150 mg or as much as 1,200 mg per two capsules.
Has horny goat weed been tested for fatigue?
Memorial Sloan Kettering says epimedium for fatigue is traditional use only and has not been studied in clinical trials.
Are there studies on horny goat weed and muscle?
We found no source reporting a muscle trial of epimedium. The bottle's muscle line is wording that FDA has not evaluated.
Who wrote this07
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the seller brief 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 SodaPeak Retailer. It is not the manufacturer, and it does not name one. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
Sources and links (2)
- 21 CFR 101.36 - Nutrition labeling of dietary supplements Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (U.S. National Archives / GPO), 2026
- Epimedium (horny goat weed), About Herbs Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 2023
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