Horsemen Horny Goat Weed: What the Icariin Research Shows and How Safe It Is
Yes, Horsemen contains horny goat weed. It is the fifth of nine ingredients in the 1,000 mg Test Boost Proprietary Blend, listed as Horny Goat Weed Extract (Epimedium grandiflorum) Plant. The label does not say how much is inside. Human research on its main compound, icariin, has tested safety and absorption so far, not results.
Why Look at Horny Goat Weed on Its Own?
It is the herb most people know by name on the Horsemen label. That makes it worth a careful, plain look.
Many buyers search for Horsemen horny goat weed before they order. The name is famous, and it is often sold alone as a men's herb. So it is fair to ask what it does inside this capsule.
This page answers four things. Where the herb sits on the label. What the research on it has tested. How much could fit in one serving. And what the safety record says. We use only the bottle label and the sources listed on our ingredients page.
Is Horny Goat Weed in Horsemen, and Where Does It Sit?
Yes. Turn the bottle around and you will see one panel called the Test Boost Proprietary Blend. It totals 1,000 mg per serving of two capsules. Nine names follow in a fixed order. Horny Goat Weed Extract (Epimedium grandiflorum) Plant is number five.
A blend lists its parts from the largest share to the smallest. So four ingredients come before it: L-lysine HCL, apple cider vinegar, garcinia cambogia and tongkat ali. Four come after it: wild yam, cinnamon, bitter melon and raspberry ketones. The middle spot tells you the herb is neither the biggest nor the smallest part. It does not tell you a number.
You can see the full panel, word for word, on our Supplement Facts page.
What Is Horny Goat Weed and Why Is It in a Men's Formula?
Horny goat weed is a leafy plant from the Epimedium family. It has a long history in traditional herbal use for men's vitality. That reputation is the main reason it shows up in men's energy and stamina formulas.
The compound people talk about most is icariin. It is the main active part of the plant. Extracts are usually sold for their icariin content, but the Horsemen label does not state an icariin percentage or an extract ratio.
Remember what the label itself claims: Energy Support, Vitality Support and Stamina Support. It makes no promise about sexual performance. The front panel adds energy to perform, stamina to endure and vitality to thrive. Horny goat weed fits that general men's vitality theme. It is one part of the blend, not the whole story.
What Has Horny Goat Weed Research Actually Tested?
The honest answer is: less than the name suggests. There is one human trial of icariin that we rely on. It tested safety and how well the body absorbs it. It did not test whether it improves energy or stamina.
| Study | What it tested | What it found |
|---|---|---|
| Human trial (Brown et al., 2019) | Safety and absorption of oral icariin | Well tolerated up to 840 mg a day; stomach side effects at 1,680 mg a day; poor absorption from the gut |
| Animal study (Shindel et al., 2010) | Icariin in rats with nerve injury | Signs of better sexual response in rats, not people |
| LiverTox review (2023) | Liver safety reports | Rated an unlikely cause of liver injury |
So the signal for results comes from rats. The human data is about tolerance. That gap is common for traditional herbs, and it is why we rate the evidence for horny goat weed as weak.
For the full side-by-side of all nine ingredients, see how Horsemen works.
How Much Horny Goat Weed Is in Each Horsemen Serving?
Nobody outside the maker knows. The label gives one total for all nine ingredients: 1,000 mg per two-capsule serving. If the blend were split evenly, each ingredient would get about 111 mg. Blends are rarely split evenly, so that is only a rough guide.
Compare that with the trial. Icariin was tested at up to 840 mg a day just to check safety. And icariin is only one part of a whole horny goat weed extract. So the amount of icariin in a Horsemen serving is almost surely far below the trial range.
That has two sides. A small amount may mean a gentle effect. It also lowers the chance of the stomach upset seen at high trial doses. Our post on proprietary blends shows how to read this kind of label.
Is Horny Goat Weed in Horsemen Safe?
The safety record is mixed but mostly calm. LiverTox rates horny goat weed an unlikely cause of liver injury. The human icariin trial found it well tolerated up to 840 mg a day. Stomach and gut complaints appeared only at 1,680 mg a day.
There is one warning sign worth knowing. A 2025 case report described severe muscle spasms with high creatine kinase and creatinine after a man used an unregulated Epimedium product bought online. That case involved a different product with an unknown dose. It is still a reminder that quality and dose control matter.
- Do not take Horsemen with another icariin or horny goat weed product. Your total could climb without you knowing.
- Ask a doctor first if you take heart, blood pressure, diabetes or hormone medicine.
- Stop and call a doctor if you notice muscle pain, dark urine or stomach trouble that does not settle.
Our side effects page covers all nine ingredients and the label caution in full.
How Should You Take Horsemen With Horny Goat Weed in Mind?
Follow the label. It says to take one or two capsules daily with an 8 oz. glass of water. The Supplement Facts panel counts two capsules as one serving, and each bottle holds 60 capsules, or 30 servings.
Store the bottle in a cool, dry place. Plant extracts like horny goat weed do not like moisture, so a kitchen cupboard is better than a steamy bathroom. Check the expiry date on your own bottle; the sample bottle reads 07-2028.
Give it time. Buyers most often report waiting three to four weeks before they notice a change, and some feel nothing. Our how to use page has tips on timing and missed doses.
What Are the Key Facts About Horny Goat Weed in Horsemen?
Key facts
- Listed as Horny Goat Weed Extract (Epimedium grandiflorum) Plant, fifth of nine ingredients.
- Part of one 1,000 mg Test Boost Proprietary Blend per two-capsule serving.
- Amount of horny goat weed and icariin in Horsemen: not published.
- Main human icariin trial tested safety: well tolerated up to 840 mg a day, stomach effects at 1,680 mg a day.
- Signs of better sexual response come from a rat study only.
- LiverTox rates it an unlikely cause of liver injury; one 2025 case report involved an unregulated online product.
Frequently asked questions
Does Horsemen contain horny goat weed?
Yes. Horny Goat Weed Extract (Epimedium grandiflorum) Plant is the fifth of nine ingredients in the 1,000 mg Test Boost Proprietary Blend. The label does not give its exact amount.
How much icariin is in Horsemen?
The label does not say. It lists no icariin percentage and no single-ingredient amounts. With nine ingredients sharing 1,000 mg, the icariin level is likely well below the 840 mg a day used in the human safety trial.
Can I take Horsemen with another horny goat weed supplement?
It is better not to. Two products with the same herb raise your total intake, and Horsemen does not publish its amount. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before you combine them.
Our view
Horny goat weed is the name that sells many men's formulas. In Horsemen, it is one of nine parts, in the middle of the label. The research on it is thin. The human trial was about safety, and the results signal comes from rats.
We like that the label does not over-promise. It claims energy, vitality and stamina support, nothing more. We would like to see the icariin amount printed, so buyers can compare.
If you try Horsemen, take it as the label says, keep it away from other icariin products, and judge it after a few weeks, not a few days.
Horsemen is a dietary supplement. It is not meant to diagnose any medical condition, and no supplement replaces care from a doctor. If you are pregnant, nursing, under 18, have a medical condition or take medicine, ask your doctor before you start.
Last updated November 6, 2026
Keep reading
Look at Horsemen on the secure listing
Read the guarantee terms and today's pack prices on the secure listing before you decide whether to try it.
Gethorsemen is an authorized retailer and earns money when you buy through the order links on this site.
