Yohimbe
Botanical Description & Habitat
Pausinystalia johimbe, corynanthe yohimba
Family
Rubiaceae
Common Names
Yohimbe
Yohimbine
Description
A tree native to West Africa.
Habitat
Many regions of Africa
Medicinal Parts
The bark
Historical Properties & Uses
Yohimbe bark has been used as an aphrodisiac in western Africa for centuries.
Yohimbe bark has not achieved approval status by the German Commission E. Either there was insufficient evidence in favor, or a contraindication.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Method of Action
Yohimbe is properly reserved for the bark while yohimbine applies to the purified alkaloid derivative from the bark.
Yohimbe is a Sympathetic Adrenergic Blocking Agent
Yohimbe owes its medicinal and pharmacological actions to the presence of the alkaloids yohimbine, quebrachine, corynine and aphrodines. Yohimbine is a sympatholitic adrenergic blocking agent (apparently an alpha-2-receptor blocker) and a monoamine oxidase inhibitor. It has been used in angina pectoris and arteriosclerosis, as a local anesthetic, mydriatic and aphrodisiac.
Yohimbe is Hypotensive and a Cardiovascular Depressant
Yohimbe owes its hypotensive, cardiovascular depressant, hypnotic, and relatively toxic properties to the same chemicals listed above. Yohimbe dilates blood vessels of the skin, the kidneys, the intestinal tract, most mucous membranes, and the genitals, thereby lowering blood pressure.
The aphrodisiac activity has not been explicated, though it has been validated. It may be attributed to the enlargement of blood vessels in the sexual organs, and to increased reflex excitability in the sacral region of the spinal cord controlling sexual arousal, or to central mechanisms involving the metabolism of norepinephrine, dopamine and other neurotransmitter and enzymes.
Yohimbe Increases Sexual Potency
In clinical tests, yohimbe has been found to increase the sexual potency of a significant portion of the male subjects in the studies.
Side effects at therapeutic doses were limited to temporary dizziness and nausea. In animal studies, yohimbe definitely increased sexual arousal in treated animals.
The key to obtaining significant results is to uses doses large enough to be active but not so large as to elicit other unwanted response that compete with the desired behavior.
Yohimbe Inhibits Platelet Aggregation
Other recent studies have confirmed yohimbe inhibits platelet aggregation in the blood, reduces and prevents obesity by affecting intermediate metabolism.
Drug Interactions & Precautions
Possible Interactions
Veratrum alkaloids may potentiate the activity of yohimbe (up to 50%). Additive effects may occur between the hypotensive property of this herb and dopamine receptor agonists such as bromocriptine mesylate.
Yohimbe should be used with caution in conjunction with CNS depressants or stimulants.
Yohimbine has been classified as an alpha-2-adrenergic blocking agent.
The hypotensive effect of this herb may be potentiated by anoretic drugs such as fenfluramine whose effects are mediated by brainstem serotonin, and may be additive with the analgesics nalbuphine HCl and propoxyphene HCl.
Yohimbe and sparteine may have synergistic oxytocic activity.
The antiarrhythmic agent, quinidine, may increase the hypoprothrombinemic effect of yohimbe.
Comments
Angina pectoris drugs such as nadolol, propranolol HCl, etc., may reduce av conduction induced by yohimbe.
The hypotensive property of yohimbe may be additive with the CNS depressant activity of the analgesic nalbuphine HCl. The same is true of the analgesic propoxyphene HCl. Due to hypotensive principles, it would be wise to avoid using yohimbe with procarbazine antineoplastic agents, to eliminate the chance of CNS depression.
Due to the presence of blood serum platelet aggregation inhibitors, such as linolenic acid, yohimbe may potentiate the effects of anticoagulant drugs such as heparin.
Though not a likely interaction, the presence of tyramine and/or tryptophan in yohimbe could produce hypertension if a MAO inhibitor is also being used.
Safety Factors & Toxicity
The FDA regards yohimbe an unsafe herb. This is mainly because it is a MAO inhibitor, and thus must not be used in a diet containing tyramine-rich foods (cheese, liver, red wines) and drugs containing phenylpropanolamine.
It is also contraindicated in diabetes, low blood pressure, and heart, kidney and liver disorders. There is evidence yohimbe might precipitate psychotic episodes in schizophrenics.
The German Commission E notes numerous possible side effects from therapeutic administration of yohimbine: nervousness, tremor, sleeplessness, anxiety, hypertension and tachycardia, as well as nausea and vomiting; plus an interaction with psychopharmacological herbs.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Preparation & Administration
Safe dosage factors for yohimbe have not been determined. Should probably only be used under medical supervision. Recommend following manufacturers' recommendations. If buying bulk, study the recommendations of experts in the field of herbal medicine.
One herbal recommendations is as follows:
Brew it up by simmering a quart of water with 1 gm of ascorbic acid to 5 gm yohimbe until there's only 50% of the original water volume left.
Add a lot of sugar afterward.
Mixes synergistically with sassafras and Pau d'arco.
Most people who have tried yohimbe have been disappointed because they didn't know you need to brew it 20 to 30 minutes with an organic acid to release the alkaloid components.
The active alkaloid, yohimbine bitartrate, is the component of the only allopathic medicines known to cause erection in impotent males and approaches the concept of an aphrodisiac. Yohimbine bitartrate particularly affects nerves and changes blood flow regulators in the genital area. It does the same thing to women.
Note: This Herbal Preparation information is a summary of data from books and articles by various authors. It is not intended to replace the advice or attention of health care professionals.
References
Anon. Lancet, II, 1194-1195, 1986.
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Braun, H. & D. Frohne. Heilplanzen-Lexikon Fuer Aerzte und Apotheker. Gustav Fisher Verlag, Stuttgart, New York, 1987.
Duke, J. CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, CRC Press, Inc., Florida, 1985.
Holmberg, G. & S. Gershon. Psychopharmacologia, 2, 93-106, 1961.
Ingram, C.G. Clinical pharmacology and Therapeutics, 3, 345- 352, 1962.
Morales, A et al., Yohimbine for treatment of impotence in diabetes. NEJM. 1981, 305:1,221.
Morales, A et al., Nonhormonal pharmacological treatment of organic impotence. J. Urol. 1982, 128:45.
Mowrey, Daniel B., Ph.D. Exper. Psych., Brigham Young University. Director of Nebo Institute of Herbal Sciences. Director of Behavior Change Agent Training Institute. Director of Research, Nova Corp.
Osol, A. & G. Farrer. The Dispensatory of the United States of America, 25th ed., Philadelphia, J.P. Lippincott Co., 1975.
Reid, K., et.al. The Lancet, Aug 22, 421-423, 1987.
Riley AJ. Yohimbine in the treatment of erectile disorder. Br J Clin Pract. 1994, 48:133-6.
Tyler, V. The New Honest Herbal, Stickley, Philadelphia, 1987.
Tyler, V.E. Pharmacy International, 7, 203-207, 1986.
Watanabe, K et al., Ca2+ channel-blocking effect of yohimbine derivatives, 14B-benzoyloxyyohimbine. J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 1987, 39:439.
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