Yohimbe bark comes from trees that normally grow in West Africa. The active constituent in the bark is yohimbine, an alkaloid used for centuries in African folk medicine to treat fevers, leprosy and coughs; and for about seventy-five years it has been used in Europe to treat erectile dysfunction in men. The Food and Drug Administration approved yohimbine as a treatment for erectile dysfunction in the United States in 1980. Yohimbine increases the flow of blood to the penis and helps men maintain an erection. It is also used as a weight loss supplement in this country. But yohimbe use can have serious side effects.
Cardiovascular Effects
According to MayoClinic.com, yohimbe can increase the heart rate and elevate blood pressure. Yohimbe acts to increase blood flow by dilating the blood vessels. The body's natural response to vasodilation is to increase blood pressure and heart rate to meet the need for extra blood volume in the dilated vessels. People who have heart conditions, diabetes or other vascular problems should not take yohimbe. Yohimbe is also a short term monamine oxidase inhibitor and can interact with foods that contain tyramine or phenylalanine. All wines, beer and ale contain tyramine. Cheese, salami, bologna, meat extracts, eggplant, tomatoes, avocado, bananas, beans and raisins are foods that contain tyramine. Interaction with these foods can cause severe hypertension.
Central Nervous System Effects
Yohimbe has been known to cause hallucinations according to AARP.org. Both audio and visual hallucinations have been noted. Yohimbe acts similarly to LSD and the hallucinations can last from 2 to 4 hours. Generalized anxiety is another common side effect, along with panic attacks, irritability, hyperactivity, paralysis and even death.
Other General Effects
Yohimbe is associated with nausea and vomiting, nervous stimulation, and fatigue. According to PersonalHealthZone.com, yohimbe is under investigation by the Food and Drug Administration because severe side effects such as renal failure, seizures and death have been reported. People taking certain medications such as tricyclic antidepressants, antihistamines, sedatives and/or using alcohol should avoid yohimbe as the interactions with these medications can be fatal.
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