Tribulus and horny goat weed
Tribulus and Horny Goat Weed: The Last Two Lines on the Label
Tribulus and horny goat weed (epimedium) are the eighth and ninth lines in Maxforce. Memorial Sloan Kettering says the evidence for tribulus in erectile dysfunction is not definitive, and for epimedium it is limited. Together they hold at most 20 mg per gummy, which is below what any source we read calls a dose.
Written by the Maxforce label deskUpdated
The last two01
What are tribulus and horny goat weed?
Tribulus terrestris is a spiny ground plant, and horny goat weed, also called epimedium, is a Chinese herb. Both are sold for male vitality.
The Maxforce label lists "Tribulus Terrestris Extract" eighth and "Horny Goat Weed Extract" ninth. The final two lines hold the smallest shares, since the order runs from largest to smallest. Together with ashwagandha and L-arginine they share at most 20 mg.
Horny goat weed was used as an aphrodisiac in traditional Chinese medicine, according to Drugs.com (Drugs.com, Horny goat weed). Its marketing name sets expectations that the research does not meet.
| Name on the label | Tribulus Terrestris |
|---|---|
| What it is | Tribulus terrestris, a spiny ground plant |
| Place on the label | 8 of 9 in the 82 mg proprietary blend |
| Amount per gummy | Not printed; at most 5 mg (listed after the 5 mg caffeine line) |
| Amount used in research | No dose in the source used |
| Strength of evidence | Mixed for testosterone; ED evidence not definitive |
| Marketed or traditional use | Traditional tonic |
| Main caution | Case reports of liver, kidney and nerve harm and priapism; may add to blood pressure, diuretic and diabetes drugs. |
| Name on the label | Horny Goat Weed Extract |
|---|---|
| What it is | Epimedium species (icariin) |
| Place on the label | 9 of 9 in the 82 mg proprietary blend |
| Amount per gummy | Not printed; at most 5 mg (listed after the 5 mg caffeine line) |
| Amount used in research | No study sets a dose (products are often 250-500 mg) |
| Strength of evidence | Animal and lab work; trials in men are lacking |
| Marketed or traditional use | Traditional aphrodisiac |
| Main caution | MSK advises avoiding it with heart disease; arrhythmia case reports. |
Tribulus02
What does the research say about tribulus?
Memorial Sloan Kettering says human studies on tribulus and testosterone gave mixed results, and evidence for erectile dysfunction is not definitive (MSK, Tribulus terrestris).
The source adds a detail that matters for a blend: testosterone increases occurred only when tribulus was part of a combined supplement, so the effect of tribulus alone cannot be separated (MSK, Tribulus terrestris). That is the same situation as a gummy with nine lines.
| Question | Finding |
|---|---|
| Testosterone in humans | Mixed; rises only in combined supplements |
| Erectile dysfunction | Not definitive |
| Common side effect | Stomach irritation |
| Case reports | Severe liver, kidney and neurological toxicity; priapism |
| Prostate cancer | Consult physicians first |
Case reports are single stories, not rates. They are listed because they are severe, not because they are common. They tell a buyer what to watch for.
Horny goat weed03
What does the research say about horny goat weed?
Even less. Drugs.com says the main evidence is from rats and in-vitro work, and that controlled trials in men with erectile dysfunction are lacking (Drugs.com, Horny goat weed).
Memorial Sloan Kettering adds that scientific evidence for epimedium is limited and that toxicity and safety evaluations are lacking (MSK, Epimedium (horny goat weed)). Possible side effects include sweating, rapid irregular heartbeat, increased energy and mood changes. Case reports describe a vasculitic rash, and a rapid heart rhythm with hypomania in a patient with heart failure (MSK, Epimedium (horny goat weed)).
Drugs.com gives no dose recommendation, since no clinical study supports one. Products are commonly 250 to 500 mg standardized to icariin (Drugs.com, Horny goat weed). A Maxforce gummy holds a small fraction of that, because its entire blend weighs 82 mg.
Cautions04
Who should avoid tribulus and horny goat weed?
Men with heart disease should avoid epimedium, according to Memorial Sloan Kettering, and anyone with a hormone-sensitive cancer should use caution (MSK, Epimedium (horny goat weed)).
- Heart disease or rhythm problems: MSK advises avoiding epimedium (MSK, Epimedium (horny goat weed)).
- Hormone-sensitive cancers: caution, since epimedium showed estrogenic effects in lab studies (MSK, Epimedium (horny goat weed)); prostate cancer patients should consult physicians about tribulus (MSK, Tribulus terrestris).
- Medicines: epimedium may affect CYP3A4 and aromatase-inhibitor drugs (MSK, Epimedium (horny goat weed)); tribulus may add to diuretics, blood pressure and diabetes drugs (MSK, Tribulus terrestris).
- Clopidogrel: stent thrombosis was reported with clopidogrel plus a tribulus-containing formula (MSK, Tribulus terrestris).
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: safety of horny goat weed is unknown (Drugs.com, Horny goat weed).
Not every item will apply to a gummy with trace amounts, but the label gives no figure, so the cautions stand. Bring the label to a pharmacist, as in our medicines guide.
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See packsReading it05
Why does the order of the blend matter for these two?
Because the last place usually means the smallest share, these two are probably present for the label's sake, not for a studied effect.
This is inference, not proof. A maker can order a list any way, but US rules ask for descending weight within a blend (21 CFR 101.36 (eCFR)). On that rule, horny goat weed is the lightest line, and it carries the longest list of cautions in the research we read.
That is worth saying plainly. A buyer who wants a reason to trust the herb names on a label should ask for the amounts, the species and the extract ratios. The batch verification page explains what to request, and the testing and quality page shows what the maker says about its facility.
Keep reading06
Where do you go after the ingredients?
Move on to the label as a whole, the price or the side-effect list.
Read the supplement facts page for the full label, pricing for the packs, or go back to L-arginine. The ingredients overview lists all nine lines.
FAQ07
Maxforce questions people ask
Does tribulus raise hormones in men?
Human studies gave mixed results. Memorial Sloan Kettering says increases occurred only when tribulus was part of a combined supplement, so tribulus alone has not been shown to do it.
Is horny goat weed the same as epimedium?
Yes. Epimedium is the botanical name, and horny goat weed is the common marketing name. The active compound most often cited is icariin, but the label does not state it.
Is horny goat weed safe for the heart?
Memorial Sloan Kettering advises avoiding epimedium with heart disease and notes a case of a rapid heart rhythm in a patient with heart failure. If you have a heart condition, ask a cardiologist first.
What are tribulus side effects?
Stomach irritation is reported. Case reports describe severe liver, kidney and neurological toxicity, and priapism. These are rare reports, not rates, but they are why a doctor visit helps.
Can I take tribulus with blood pressure medicine?
Possibly, but ask. MSK notes additive effects with diuretics, blood pressure drugs and diabetes drugs. A pharmacist can check your list against the label.
How much horny goat weed is in Maxforce?
The label does not say. It is listed last, so if the label is in weight order it is the smallest share, at most 5 mg. Common products use 250 to 500 mg, far above a gummy.
Who wrote this08
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by Maxforcevitality, a Maxforce U.S. retail desk, not by the manufacturer or the distributor named on the label. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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