Yohimbine

September 24th, 2008

Alternate Names:Yohimbine, also known under the antiquated names quebrachin, aphrodin, corynine, yohimvetol and hydroergotocin, is a purported aphrodisiac. Pausinystalia yohimbe

Description:
Yohimbe is an evergreen tree that grows in western Africa in Nigeria, Cameroon, the Congo and Gabon.
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The bark of the tree contains the active compounds called alkaloids. The principal alkaloid is called yohimbine.The Yohimbe tree is a tall evergreen that is native to southwestern Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, and the Congo. The bark of this West African tree provides a number of medicinal uses. Some researchers and botanists believe that the yohimbe tree may be endangered due to over-harvesting.

Orginally, yohimbe bark was used by west Africans for a variety of conditions including fever, cough, and even leprosy. Yohimbe has also been used to dilate pupils, prevent heart disease, and could be an effective anesthetic. More recently yohimbe has been used as an aphrodisiac and hallucinogen.

Yohimbe bark is harvested during the rainy season, May to September, when its alkaloid content is highest. Since stripping the yohimbe tree of its bark eventually kills the tree, new yohimbe trees are planted regularly. New trees grow relatively fast and can even sprout from the stump of a dead yohimbe tree.

The main active constituent in yohimbe bark is the alkaloid yohimbine, although yohimbe bark also contains a number of other important alkaloids. Yohimbine blocks alpha-2 adrenergic receptors which are part of the sympathetic nervous system. It has also been reported that yohimbine dilates blood vessels and may even inhibit monoamine oxidase (MAO), whereby preventing a number of depressive disorders. However, unlike St. John’s wort and other popular herbs, yohimbe does not have the research to support its medicinal claims.

Today yohimbe is considered effective to use in connection with erectile dysfunction in men. It also believed to have the ability to inhibit monoamine oxidase (MAO) and therefore may be beneficial when used in connection with certain depressive disorders.

Yohimbine is a prescription drug in the United States for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Its popularity has waned since the introduction of Viagra.

Yohimbe bark extracts are also sold in health food stores and online. In Germany, it is not approved for use. Yohimbe can cause a dangerous rise in blood pressure, as well as anxiety and other side effects.

Medicinal Uses:
Traditionally, yohimbe was used in Africa for fever, coughs, leprosy, and as an aphrodisiac. Today, yohimbe is promoted for the following conditions:

Erectile dysfunction
Yohimbe bark extracts are widely promoted online and in health food stores as a natural aphrodisiac to increase libido and treat erectile dysfunction. However, there is no evidence to show that the herbal supplements work. Most clinical studies have looked at the drug yohimbine and not the herbal extract yohimbe.

Yohimbine has been found to relax and dilate blood vessels in the penis, resulting in increased blood flow and erection. It may also stimulate areas in the brain involved in sexual desire.

Studies on the effectiveness of yohimbine have had conflicting findings. For organic erectile dysfunction (erectile dysfunction caused by a physical problem), one small uncontrolled study found that yohimbine was beneficial for men with organic erectile dysfunction. Another study found it was no more effective than a placebo.

Yohimbine appears to work better for erectile dysfunction not caused by a physical problem. A German study examined whether 30 mg/day of yohimbine for 4 weeks would help men with erectile dysfunction not due to a physical problem. Yohimbine was found to be more effective than placebo (71% vs 45%).

To date, there have been no studies comparing yohimbine to newer drugs such as Viagra.

Weight Loss
Yohimbine has been found to increase lipolysis by increasing the release of norepinephrine available to fat cells and blocking alpha-2 receptor activation. However, a controlled study found that 43 mg/day yohimbe had no effect on body weight, body mass index, body fat, fat distribution, and cholesterol levels.

Depression
Yohimbe has been promoted as a herbal remedy for depression, because it blocks an enzyme called monoamine oxidase. However, this is only found in higher doses (over 50 mg/day), which is potentially unsafe.

Aphrodisiac
The NIH states that Yohimbine hydrochloride is the standardized form of yohimbine that is available as a prescription medicine in the United States, and has been shown in human studies to be effective in the treatment of male impotence.

Yohimbine chloride—a standardized form of yohimbine—is a prescription medicine that has been used to treat erectile dysfunction. Controlled studies suggest that it is not always an effective treatment for impotence, and evidence of increased sex drive (libido) is anecdotal only.

Yohimbine has been shown to be effective in the reversal of sexual satiety and exhaustion in male rats. Yohimbine has also been shown to increase the volume of ejaculated semen in dogs, with the effect lasting at least five hours after administration. Yohimbine has been shown to be effective in the treatment of orgasmic dysfunction in men.

Other uses:
Yohimbine hydrochloride has also been used for the treatment of sexual side effects caused by some antidepressants (SSRIs), female hyposexual disorder, as a blood pressure boosting agent in autonomic failure, xerostomia, and as a probe for noradrenergic activity.

Yohimbine has been used to facilitate recall of traumatic memories in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Use of yohimbine outside therapeutic settings may not be appropriate for persons suffering from PTSD.

According to one study, oral yohimbine supplementation may actuate significant fat loss in athletes.[9] Some internet shops sell expensive formulations of yohimbine for transdermal delivery to effect a local reduction of adipose tissue, although there is no experimental evidence that it is effective. Demand for products of this kind is frequently found in the bodybuilding community.

In veterinary medicine, yohimbine is used to reverse anesthesia from the drug xylazine in small and large animals.

Safety Precautions & Side Effects:
In Germany, yohimbe is on the Commission E (the country’s herbal regulatory agency). list of unapproved herbs because of concerns about the herb’s safety and effectiveness. In the United States, the FDA has had a number of reports of seizures and kidney failure following the use of yohimbe.

Yohimbe is not recommended because it has a very narrow therapeutic index. There is a relatively small dosing range–below it, the herb doesn’t work and above it the herb is toxic. Side effects of normal dosages may include dizziness, nausea, insomnia, anxiety, rapid heartbeat, and increased blood pressure. As little as 40 mg a day can cause severe side effects, such as dangerous changes in blood pressure, hallucinations, paralysis. Overdose can be fatal.

Because yohimbe blocks the enzyme monoamine oxidase, people taking yohimbe must avoid all tyramine-containing foods (e.g., liver, cheeses, red wine) and over-the-counter products that contain the ingredient phenylpropanolamine, such as nasal decongestants.

People with kidney or liver disease, stomach ulcers, heart disease, high blood pressure, low blood pressure, post-traumatic stress disorder, and panic disorder should not take yohimbe.

Yohimbe should not be taken by pregnant or nursing women, children, or elderly people.

Yohimbe should not be combined with antidepressant drugs unless under the supervision of a physician.

Yohimbine has significant side effects such as anxiety reactions. According to the Mayo Clinic, yohimbine can be dangerous if used in excessive amounts.

Higher doses of oral yohimbine may create numerous side effects such as rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, and overstimulation. It causes insomnia and sleeplessness.

Disclaimer:The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

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Resources:
http://www.nutrasanus.com/yohimbe.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yohimbine