Chinese aphrodisiac (Yin Yang Huo) may outperform blockbuster drug Viagra

Italian researchers are testing a promising alternative to Viagra that they're calling 3,7-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-icaritin - or more simply put, "horny goat weed."

In lab experiments, a semi-synthetic derivative of the active compound in Epimedium brevicornum, an ancient Chinese herbal remedy for impotence, performed as well as Viagra but with the potential for fewer side effects, the researchers say.

The study is scheduled for the Oct. 24 issue of the American Chemical Society's Journal of Natural Products.

"The inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual function is an increasing problem with a considerable impact on interpersonal relationships and quality of life for men," the researchers write.

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