Yohimbine, a chemical originally isolated from the yohimbe tree, increases blood flow by mimicking certain effects of adrenaline. A prescription version of yohimbine is prescribed to treat erectile dysfunction in men and lack of sexual desire in people taking certain medication. Extracts of the yohimbe tree and other plants with similar properties are often added to dietary supplements.
About Yohimbine
Yohimbine is a plant alkaloid found in an evergreen tree, Pausinystalia yohimbe, originating in certain regions of Africa. Yohimbine can also be isolated from other plants, including Indian snakeroot and Rauwolfia serpentina. Yohimbine acts on a protein in the body called the alpha2A-adrenergic receptor, preventing signaling through the receptor. Signaling through the alpha2A adrenergic receptors shuts down blood flow in response to adrenaline, decreases hormone secretion from the pancreas and increases blood clotting.
Uses
Yohimbine is available as a prescription medication to treat erectile dysfunction in men. Yohimbine increases blood flow to the penis and decreases the flow of blood out of the penis. Yohimbine might also be prescribed to increase sexual responsiveness in patients taking some antidepressants, specifically selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, such as Prozac. In theory, yohimbine might increase blood flow to fat stores, increasing fat burning, so it's included in many weight loss supplements. However, no reliable scientific evidence supports this use.
Effectiveness
A 2010 article in the journal "Science" suggests that yohimbine might be promising in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, although the effectiveness has not yet been investigated in humans. According to the National Institutes of Health and Drugs.com, the only reliable use of yohimbine is treatment of erectile dysfunction and SSRI-related sexual dysfunction. Yohimbine might be useful for promoting sexual excitement or treating exhaustion, chest pain, depression or other conditions, but no clinical trials have demonstrated the safety of efficacy of yohimbine for these conditions.
Side Effects
The National Institutes of Health considers yohimbine possibly unsafe. Potentially serious side effects include rapid or irregular heartbeat, kidney damage, seizures and heart attack, effects that have been reported in some individuals taking yohimbine, which is not safe for children or pregnant and breast-feeding mothers. People with neuropsychiatric disorders, prostate problems, liver or kidney disease, high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes should not take yohimbine without close supervision by a doctor. Yohimbine should not be taken with monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or MAOIs, which are used to treat depression.
