Yohimbe herbal products come from an African evergreen tree called the yohimbe or, in scientific terms, Pausinystalia yohimbe. The part thought to be medicinally valuable is a chemical called yohimbine, which comes from the bark. According to Medline Plus, yohimbe products may help with anything from erectile dysfunction to obesity to dry mouth. The yohimbe products sold as supplements belong to the category of alternative or complementary medicine. Check with your physician before trying them.
Background
Groups in countries such as as Cameroon, Nigeria, Gabon and the Congo have used yohimbe for generations for problems ranging from impotence to leprosy to high blood pressure, according to the American Cancer Society. Other applications have included: a drug to induce hallucinations, an antiseptic, a pain treatment and a stimulant for warriors. It made its way to Europe in the 1890s, primarily as a treatment for impotence, and was well established in the United States by the late 1930s. It declined, but did not end, in the 1990s as Viagra hit the market.
Types
Yohimbe bark and related extracts come in tablet, capsule, powder and liquid forms. You can buy them in health food stores, as well as on the Internet, according to the American Cancer Society. But some, according to the group, actually contain little or none of the active ingredient. Also derived from the yohimbe tree is the prescription drug yohimbine hydrochloride, sometimes called simply yohimbine.
Uses
The primary usage of herbal yohimbe bark extracts is as a sexual enhancer or aphrodisiac for both women and men. Other uses are as an antioxidant that can help prevent heart attacks, as an anti-depressant, as a weight-loss aid and as a stimulant, according to the American Cancer Society. Prescription yohimbine hydrochloride serves to alleviate impotence by promoting blood flow to the penis, the American Cancer Society notes. Doctors also prescribe it for treatment of exhaustion and certain cases of low blood pressure.
Dosage
There are no standard dosing recommendations for yohimbe bark products. For the prescription medication, 5.4 mg taken three times per day is typical, with a course of the medication to last no more than 10 weeks, according to the American Cancer Society.
Warning
Yohimbe bark extract products are not proven as effective treatment or prevention for any condition, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, because scientists have not conducted clinical trials on them. Prescription yohimbine hydrochloride, which does have scientific evidence to support its use for erectile dysfunction, can cause side effects that could theoretically occur with use of the herbal versions, as well, according to Medline Plus. They include fluid retention, increased blood pressure and heart rhythm abnormalities. The drug can also interact with other medications and with alcohol.
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