A bone to pick There's just something about horny goatweed that brings out the maturity level of a 12- year-old in all of us. But I suppose there's something to be said for calling it like it is, and this herb's primary claim to fame has always been as an aphrodisiac and sexual performance booster. A recent study, though, has found that there's more to this herb than its name might suggest. According to researchers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Shanghai University of Chinese Medicine, horny goatweed, technically known as epimedium, may also offer significant protection against osteoporosis. The study looked at a group of 85 women randomly assigned to take either an epimedium supplement or a placebo each day. Both groups also took a daily dose of 300 milligrams of calcium. Two years later, the researchers found that the women taking epimedium had better bone mineral density than at the study's outset: Their hip density increased by 1.6 percent and their lower spine density increased by 1.3 percent. The placebo group, on the other hand, experienced decreases in the bone mineral density in both areas: 1.8 percent lower in the hip, and 2.4 percent lower in the spine. The women in the epimedium group also had nearly a 40 percent drop in a specific substance used to measure bone loss. While these results shouldn't steer you away from supplementing with other critical bone-building nutrients like calcium, magnesium, and strontium, it looks like adding a little horny goatweed into the mix might give you an added boost of protection. And if it helps spark your libido a bit in the process, I doubt you'll have (or hear) any complaints. You can find horny goatweed supplements in many natural food stores. Source:
"Horny goatweed linked to better bone health," NutraIngredients (www.nutraingredients.com), 7/13/07 | 
