Ingredient profile
Horny Goat Weed in Vapofil: 8 mg and Mostly Animal Data
Vapofil lists 8 mg of horny goat weed per 2-capsule serving, from a 10:1 extract made from about 80 mg of dry herb. That is the smallest amount on the label. Stand-alone products sell 250 or 500 mg. Most research on its main compound, icariin, comes from lab and animal studies, and a small human trial of a blend found no difference.
Written by the Vapofil editorial teamUpdated
The herb
What is horny goat weed?
Horny goat weed is the common name for Epimedium, a leafy plant used in traditional Chinese herbal practice. Vapofil's label names the species Epimedium sagittatum. The plant is best known for icariin, the compound most studies focus on.
The label line does not say which part of the plant was used. Federal label rules ask botanical listings to name the plant part (21 CFR 101.36, Supplement labels), and five other lines on the Vapofil label do. The photo is a brand stock image; it does not prove the species.
| Label name | Horny Goat Weed (Epimedium sagittatum) |
|---|---|
| What it is | Epimedium sagittatum leaf, from a 10:1 extract |
| Type | Herb extract (10:1) |
| Position on the label | Line 7 of 7, the smallest amount |
| Amount per serving | 8 mg of a 10:1 extract per serving (label: equivalent to about 80 mg of dry herb) |
| What research shows | Evidence comes mainly from lab and animal studies of icariin; a 49-man trial of a blend found no difference |
| Strength of evidence | Mostly lab and animal data |
| Why it is in the formula (brand view) | On the label, but left out of our seller brief's ingredient list |
| Main caution | Not advised for people with heart disease: reports of fast, irregular heartbeat. May weaken aromatase inhibitor drugs. |
The label line
How much horny goat weed is in Vapofil?
8 mg of extract per day. Use the tabs to see what a 10:1 ratio does and does not tell you.
Two capsules give 8 mg of a 10:1 extract. The label adds "equivalent to approximately 80mg of dry Horny Goat Weed powder." That 80 mg describes the herb that went into the extract, not what you swallow. Stand-alone horny goat weed products are sold as 250 or 500 mg pills (LiverTox, Horny goat weed).
- On the label10 mg of a 100:1 extractEach grey square is one part of dry plant; it takes 100 of them to make one blue square of extract.
- "Equivalent to"about 1,000 mg of dry root powderThe amount of raw plant used to make your 10 mg. It is not what you swallow.
- The trials100-200 mg of extract a day in the largest trialThat is 10 to 20 of the blue extract squares, or 1,000 to 2,000 of the grey powder squares. (LiverTox, Tongkat ali)
- On the label8 mg of a 10:1 extractEach grey square is one part of dry plant; it takes 10 of them to make one blue square of extract.
- "Equivalent to"about 80 mg of dry herbThe amount of raw plant used to make your 8 mg. It is not what you swallow.
- The researchNo proven dose; products are 250-500 mgMost evidence comes from lab and animal studies. (MSKCC, Epimedium) (LiverTox, Horny goat weed)
What the ratio tells you
- Roughly how much dry plant went into the extract.
- That the extract is a concentrate, not plain ground root.
What it does not tell you
- How much of the active compounds (such as eurycomanone or icariin) is inside.
- That you get the effect of 1,000 mg. Trials weighed extract, so compare extract with extract.
- That the ratio was tested. No lab result or standard is given.
Federal label rules say an extract is listed by the weight of the dried extract (21 CFR 101.36, Supplement labels), which is why 10 mg is the number to compare. In one review, only 11 of 41 tongkat ali products met the recommended level of eurycomanone (Leisegang 2022, Tongkat ali meta-analysis).
The research
What does icariin research show?
Most of what is known about icariin comes from cells in a dish and from animals. MSK says scientific evidence for Epimedium is limited, and many human trials used multi-herb blends (MSKCC, Epimedium).
The FTC says health claims generally need randomized, controlled human trials, and that animal and test-tube studies alone are generally not enough (FTC, Health Products Compliance Guidance).
How much icariin is in Vapofil's 8 mg. The label does not say, and extracts vary.
People, not animals
Has horny goat weed been tested in men?
LiverTox says claimed effects on sexual satisfaction are "not proven in rigorous controlled trials." In one trial, 49 men took a multi-ingredient Epimedium product. Their sexual function and hormone levels did not differ from the control group. A 2015 review described a "dearth of evidence" (LiverTox, Horny goat weed).
The sales page makes sexual and hormone claims we do not repeat. We check them one by one on the sales claims page.
A gap in the marketing
Why is horny goat weed missing from Vapofil's ingredient list?
It is on the label, but not everywhere else. The brand's "Inside Vapofil" graphic shows six ingredient tiles and leaves horny goat weed out. The named ingredient list in our seller brief skips it too.
No reason is given. The label is the legal record of what is inside, so we treat horny goat weed as a real ingredient. If you avoid this herb, read the label rather than the graphic. Every line is typed out on the Supplement Facts page.
- Label: lists it, 8 mg of a 10:1 extract
- Brand graphic: six tiles, no horny goat weed
- Seller brief: named list leaves it out
Safety
Who should avoid horny goat weed?
Men with heart disease, and men on certain hormone drugs. The details are below.
Heart disease
MSK lists use with cardiovascular disease as a reason not to take it. Reported effects include a fast, irregular heartbeat, and one man with heart failure had a dangerous heart rhythm (MSKCC, Epimedium).
Aromatase inhibitors
Icariin may reduce the effect of aromatase inhibitor drugs, MSK says (MSKCC, Epimedium). Ask the prescriber first.
Usually mild
LiverTox calls it generally well tolerated, with possible stomach discomfort, nausea and rare rash, and an unlikely cause of liver injury (LiverTox, Horny goat weed). MSK adds sweating, feeling hot and mood changes (MSKCC, Epimedium).
ED can be an early sign of heart disease or diabetes, and the urology guideline says men with ED should be checked (AUA, ED guideline). See a doctor first, especially before any herb with heart warnings.
Fair verdict
Is the horny goat weed in Vapofil worth anything?
In its favor
- The amount and extract ratio are printed.
- At 8 mg, side effects are less likely than at product-sized doses.
Against it
- Mostly lab and animal evidence for icariin.
- A small fraction of common product sizes, and no icariin figure.
- Left out of the brand graphic.
Compare all seven doses in the Vapofil dose guide or the ingredient overview.
FAQ
Horny goat weed questions
What is horny goat weed used for?
Horny goat weed, or Epimedium, is sold for sexual function and other uses, but LiverTox says those effects are not proven in rigorous controlled trials. Most research on its compound icariin comes from lab and animal studies.
How much horny goat weed is in Vapofil?
Two Vapofil capsules hold 8 mg of a 10:1 horny goat weed extract, the smallest amount on the label. The label says that is equivalent to about 80 mg of dry herb, which is the plant used to make it. Stand-alone products are sold as 250 or 500 mg pills.
Is horny goat weed safe for men with heart problems?
No, not without a doctor's advice. MSK lists cardiovascular disease as a reason to avoid Epimedium, citing reports of a fast, irregular heartbeat. Erection problems can themselves be an early sign of heart disease, so a checkup should come before any supplement.
What is icariin?
Icariin is the main compound studied in horny goat weed. Its reported effects come mainly from lab and animal research, according to MSK. The Vapofil label does not state how much icariin its extract contains, so the amount in each serving is unknown.
Why doesn’t the Inside Vapofil graphic show horny goat weed?
The brand's graphic shows six ingredient tiles and skips horny goat weed, even though the label lists 8 mg of it. The reason is not given. The label is the legal record of what is inside, so treat horny goat weed as part of the formula.
Does horny goat weed interact with medications?
It may. MSK says icariin may reduce the effect of aromatase inhibitor drugs, and it advises against use with heart disease. Show the Vapofil label to your doctor or pharmacist before you start.
How long does horny goat weed take to work?
No reliable answer exists, because controlled human trials have not shown a clear effect. A 49-man trial of an Epimedium blend found no difference from the control group in sexual function or hormone levels. Vapofil's 8 mg dose has never been tested on its own.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Plain-language pages built from the label, the sales page and linked public health sources.
Last updated . Our editorial standards explain how we check reviews. This website is run by Vapofildaily, a U.S. stocking partner for Vapofil, not by the manufacturer or the distributor named on the label. Purchases through our order links earn us a commission.
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