The primary active component of HGW is a chemical called icarin
. Icarin increases levels of nitric oxide in the body which relaxes the smooth muscle lining the blood vessels. This causes vasodilation (dilation of blood vessels), and increases blood flow to the penis. The way that HGW functions is very similar to popular erec; the icarin present in HGW inhibits the PDE-5 enzyme, which is the same way that popular prescription erectile dysfunction medications work. The PDE-5 enzyme destroys nitric oxide.