Yohimbe

Description:
Yohimbe comes from the bark of an African tree and the active compound, yohimbine, can also be found in high amounts in the South American herb, Quebracho (Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco). It has traditionally been used as a stimulant and aphrodisiac in West Africa and South America. In the USA, yohimbe and quebracho are most often promoted in dietary supplements for treating impotence, stimulating male sexual performance (often marketed as "herbal Viagra") and enhancing athletic performance (as an alternative to anabolic steroids). A purified extract from yohimbe bark yields an alkaloid (stimulant similar to caffeine and ephedra) called Yohimbine, which is regulated as a prescription medication and used for treating erectile dysfunction in males Also promoted as a male aphrodisiac and a natural form of Viagra.

Claims:

Enhances sexual performance (aphrodisiac and erectile function)

Increases muscle mass (boosts testosterone levels)

Promotes weight loss

Boosts energy levels

Relieves depression

Theory:
The active compound in yohimbe, an alkaloid called Yohimbine, functions as a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor to increase levels of the neurotransmitter, norepinephrine. Yohimbine also acts as a central nervous system stimulator, where it blocks specific receptors (alpha-2 adrenergic receptors) and may increase energy levels and promote fat oxidation. In addition to these effects, yohimbe can also dilate blood vessels – making it a potentially useful treatment for erectile dysfunction and some forms of impotence in men. Because of the MAO inhibition, yohimbe is occasionally recommended as a treatment for mild depression – but St. John’s wort has much better clinical support for effectiveness and safety.

Scientific Support:
Although yohimbe is frequently promoted as a "natural" way to increase testosterone levels for muscle building, strength enhancement and fat loss, there is no solid scientific proof that yohimbe is either anabolic or thermogenic. Results from a few small trials show that yohimbine can increase blood flow to the genitals (an effect that may occur in both men and women). As such, yohimbe may be effective in alleviating some mild forms of both "psychological" and "physical" impotence. In the few studies conducted on the purified form of yohimbine, only about 30% of subjects reported beneficial effects in terms of erectile function and sexual performance.

Safety:
As the number of yohimbe products on the retail market increases, concerns about their safety are raised because of the reported toxicity of yohimbine (the major alkaloid of the plant). Reported side effects from yohimbe use include minor complaints such as headaches, anxiety and tension to more serious adverse events including high blood pressure, elevated heart rate, heart palpitations, and hallucinations. People with high blood pressure and kidney disease should avoid supplements containing yohimbe as should women who are (or who could become) pregnant (due to abortion risk). Also, caution should be used with yohimbe taken in combination with certain foods containing tyramine (red wine, liver, and cheese) as well as with nasal decongestants or diet aids with ephedrine or phenylpropanolamine (which could lead to blood pressure fluctuations). Occasionally, yohimbe is combined with serotonergic supplements (such as St. John’s wort or 5-HTP) to increase their effectiveness. It is not recommended to combine yohimbe with other anti-depressant supplements or medications except under the advice and supervision of a nutritionally-oriented physician.

Value:
For nearly a century, yohimbe has been used as an aphrodisiac and sexual enhancer - although no effect on human sex drive or performance has been adequately demonstrated. Yohimbine (the drug) has been evaluated in the management of erectile disorder in a few small studies, where it appears to have a modest therapeutic benefit over placebo (especially in "psychological" erectile dysfunction). Laboratory analyses (via chromatogram) of commercial yohimbine extracts, however, indicate that although many products contained measurable quantities of the alkaloid yohimbine, the vast majority are largely devoid of effective levels of the compound. Concentrations of yohimbine in commercial yohimbe products typically range from zero to almost 500 ppm (compared with over 7000 ppm in authentic yohimbe bark). Because yohimbe bark has been reported to contain up to 6% total alkaloids, 10-15% of which are yohimbine, it is likely that most supplements containing yohimbe also contain undeclared diluents (which you’re paying a high price for)

Because there are more effective and safe supplement remedies for increasing circulation to promote erectile function (arginine, cordyceps and ginkgo biloba), enhancing muscle strength (HMB and creatine) and weight loss (green tea, banaba leaf and gymnema) and relieving mild depression (SAM-e and St. John’s wort), yohimbe is of limited value.

Dosage:
Although there are no standard accepted dosage recommendations for yohimbe, it is known that more than 40mg/day of yohimbine can result in adverse side effects such as dizziness, headaches, loss of coordination and hallucinations. Typical daily amounts of yohimbine alkaloids found in commercial supplements (label claims) are often in the range of 10-30mg and occasionally standardized to yohimbine or total alkaloid content.


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References:
1. Adimoelja A. Phytochemicals and the breakthrough of traditional herbs in the management of sexual dysfunctions. Int J Androl. 2000;23 Suppl 2:82-4.
2. Betz JM, White KD, der Marderosian AH. Gas chromatographic determination of yohimbine in commercial yohimbe products. J AOAC Int. 1995 Sep-Oct;78(5):1189-94.
3. De Smet PA, Smeets OS. Potential risks of health food products containing yohimbe extracts. BMJ. 1994 Oct 8;309(6959):958.
4. Deutsch HF, Evenson MA, Drescher P, Sparwasser C, Madsen PO. Isolation and biological activity of aspidospermine and quebrachamine from an Aspidosperma tree source. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 1994 Oct;12(10):1283-7.
5. Lyon RL, Fong HH, Farnsworth NR, Svoboda GH. Biological and phytochemical evaluation of plants. XI. Isolation of aspidospermine, quebrachidine, rhazinilam, (-)-pyrifolidine, and akuammidine from Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco (Apocynaceae). J Pharm Sci. 1973 Feb;62(2):218-21.
6. Riley AJ. Yohimbine in the treatment of erectile disorder. Br J Clin Pract. 1994 May-Jun;48(3):133-6.
7. Sandler B, Aronson P. Yohimbine-induced cutaneous drug eruption, progressive renal failure, and lupus-like syndrome. Urology. 1993 Apr;41(4):343-5.
8. Tunmann P, Wolf D. The N(b)-oxide of rhazidigenin, an alkaloid from the bark of Aspidospermia Quebracho blanco Schlecht. Z Naturforsch B. 1969 Dec;24(12):1665-6.

Added: September 6th 2002
Reviewer: SW Tech Staff
Related Link: Yohimbe
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