Yohimbe Safety

Yohimbe is a tree that grows natively in West Africa and its bark is used in traditional herbal remedies as an aphrodisiac. The alkaloid compound called yohimbine is derived from yohimbe bark and used in a prescription medication for treating impotence or erectile dysfunction in men. Because yohimbe and its derivative yohimbine pose some potentially serious safety risks, you should consult your doctor before taking this remedy.

Uses

Today, you might use yohimbe to treat impotence or erectile dysfunction, as well as female sexual dysfunction, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Some other proposed uses for yohimbe bark are inducing sedation and boosting athletic performance. A study published in 1994 found that the alkaloid yohimbine effectively treated erectile disorders in men and sexual dysfunction in women, says the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Also, a review of randomized clinical trials conducted in 1998 revealed that yohimbine was effective in treating erectile dysfunction. A 2002 double-blind study of 23 women with female sexual arousal disorder found that taking yohimbine and the amino acid arginine together increased physical arousal, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Despite these promising studies, no conclusive medical evidence proves that yohimbe is safe and effective for treating any health condition. You should talk with your physician before taking yohimbe and take this herbal remedy only under the close supervision of a health-care professional.

Function

The active compound in yohimbe bark is the alkaloid yohimbine, which stimulates the central nervous system. Specifically, yohimbine stimulates the release of noradrenaline, which inadvertently increases blood flow to certain parts of the body. Yohimbine's actions in dilating genital blood vessels and increasing sensitivity in genital tissues may be responsible for yohimbe's potential effects in treating sexual dysfunction in men and women, explains the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Side Effects

Yohimbe's stimulation of the central nervous system may produce certain side effects, especially if you take more than 40 mg of yohimbine daily, Drug Digest warns. You could experience nervousness, anxiety, nausea, dizziness, difficulty sleeping, heart rhythm changes, sudden blood pressure fluctuations and even temporary paralysis in your feet or legs. Even in lower doses, taking yohimbe may cause you to experience these side effects, as well as increased urination, weakness, drooling, diarrhea, stomach pain, sweating and vomiting, says the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Health Risks

You could experience priapism, or a painful sustained erection, while taking remedies containing yohimbe, Drug Digest cautions. A case report published in 2009 involved a man who experienced severe priapism after taking yohimbe extract, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Because yohimbe can affect neurotransmitters, you may experience emotional problems, manic episodes and even psychoses while taking yohimbe, especially if you have a psychological disorder.

Drug Interactions

Yohimbe bark and remedies containing yohimbine can produce negative interactions with certain medications. You shouldn't take yohimbe if you're taking tricyclic antidepressants, amphetamines and sympathomimetics or other drugs that stimulate the central nervous system, phenothiazines, monoamine oxidase inhibitors or "MAOIs," naloxone, buproprion, certain diuretics, beta blockers, or calcium channel blockers and other medications for treating high blood pressure. You should discuss with your doctor any medications that you're taking and their potential interactions with yohimbe.