What Is Yohimbe Good for?

Yohimbe is an herb derived from the bark of the yohimbe tree, which is native to West Africa. It is sold as a supplement in tablet and tincture form, and the dried bark can also be taken as a tea for a variety of medicinal purposes. As with any supplement, you should consult your healthcare practitioner before taking yohimbe.

List of Purported Benefits

Yohimbe's active ingredients are thought to be phytochemicals: indole alkaloids and tannins. Phytochemicals are potent antioxidant compounds found in plants that can help to prevent and treat disease in humans. The effects of yohimbe stem from its ability to stimulate the central nervous system. According to Vitamin-Supplements.org, yohimbe is purported to increase energy levels, promote fat oxidation and weight loss, prevent fatigue and treat impotence. More research needs to be done, however, to confirm the validity of these claims.

Sexual Performance

Yohimbe is perhaps most commonly used for the enhancement of sexual function and performance. According to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, yohimbe increase blood supply to the male and female sexual organs, enhances sensations in the genital tissue and increases reflex excitability in the sacral region. It has been used for centuries as an aphrodisiac, and the indole alkaloids it contains are currently being studied for their potential to treat sexual dysfunction in men and women. Common side effects of SSRI antidepressant drugs are sexual dysfunction and a decreased libido, and "Nursing Herbal Remedies Handbook" states that taking yohimbe as an adjunct to SSRIs may help to counteract these effects.

Muscle Growth and Enhanced Athletic Performance

Yohimbe is marketed as a steroid and said to increase serum testosterone levels. It is used in combination with other supplements in formulations to increase strength and promote muscle growth. Yohimbe is also used to enhance athletic performance, and its ability to do so is likely due to the fact that yohimbe enhances levels of noradrenaline in the body. Noradrenaline is the substance responsible for the "fight or flight" reaction, and it enables the body to perform well in stressful situations. Noradrenaline produces effects such as increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, dilation of pupils, dilation of air passages in the lungs and narrowing of blood vessels in the extremities.

Precautions

Short-term oral use of yohimbe is generally considered safe, but its long-term safety has not been studied. Yohimbe may cause nervous excitement, tremors, high blood pressure, nausea, dizziness, insomnia and vomiting. Yohimbe should not be taken along with caffeine-containing products, and it can interact with various medications including MAO antidepressants and calcium channel blockers. In addition, yohimbe is contraindicated in patients with schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, kidney disease, pregnancy, liver disease, angina and heart disease.