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The new-onset tachyarrhythmia and hypomania in this patient may have been related to the effects of neuro- and cardio-excitatory compounds in the herbal supplement preparation or herb-drug interactions in someone predisposed to heart disease and possible mood disorder. The patient attributed the onset of these symptoms to an herbal supplement that he had taken approximately 2 weeks before. The patient reported that he took one pill per day of a product called horny goat weed, an over-the-counter herbal supplement marketed to increase pleasure for men.
– Psychosomatics. 2004 Nov-Dec;45(6):536-7. Tachyarrhythmia and hypomania with horny goat weed.Partin JF, Pushkin YR.
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Botanical extracts differ from conventional supplements in that they are complicated mixtures of many bioactive compounds. Here they describe their experience with a traditional Chinese medicinal plant Epimedium sp. (goat weed) to illustrate the scientific challenges of firstly, obtaining a standardized product from a complex mixture and secondly, evaluating that product for preclinical and clinical efficacy. In contrast, to its colloquial name ‘Horny goat weed’ and Internet advertisements as a herbal ‘Viagra’ for men, extracts of Epimedium are strongly oestrogenic due to the presence of novel potent phytoestrogens of the prenyl-flavone family.
– Novartis Found Symp. 2007;282:173-88; discussion 188-91, 212-8. Standardization and evaluation of botanical mixtures: lessons from a traditional Chinese herb, Epimedium, with oestrogenic properties.Yong EL, Wong SP, Shen P, Gong YH, Li J, Hong Y.
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There are some reports of people experiencing an increase in heart rate, blood pressure and insomnia so caution should be used by those taking other stimulative herbs, supplements or medications.
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