Yohimbine

Yohimbine - History

There is little mention of Yohimbe in Western literature prior to the 20th century. Yohimbine Hydrochloride was clearly in use as an aphrodisiac by 1902 - as I found an advertisement offering it "for male impotence" in Pharmazeutische Zentralhalle für Deutschland, Volume 43 [3] of that year.

The first scientific reference I can find to claims of aphrodisiac quality is from a 1916 paper investigating Muira Puama in Pamphlets on Biology: Kofoid collection, Volume 472 [4] which states (translated from German using Google Translate):

We can make enough sense of this translation to deduce that Yohimbine was known to medical practice in the 19th century. In the 20th century, much work appears on Yohimbine.

Yohimbe and the environment

Yohimbe supplements, and yohimbine (the alkaloid) are typically made from the bark of the Pausinystalia yohimbe tree. However, a tree stripped of its bark will die - and it takes over 10 years for the tree to grow to a size which makes it valuable. Yohimbe trees are often found in poor countries such as Nigeria - and the tree, in native rainforest, has a population density of around 5 trees per hectare. [10] So as a result of the plunder, Pausinystalia yohimbe is now an uncommon plant there. It has also become rare in Cameroon, which was the main supplier even as recently as the 1990's.[5] Some plantations have begun to be established, but much of the Yohimbe supplied is not plantation sourced. [10]

Yohimbe quality

As a result of both the scarcity and potential side effects of Yohimbine, "pseudo Yohimbe" has been sold to the supplement industry. Either that, or the yohimbe bark products contain such a small amount of the alkaloid yohimbine, that neither any beneficial nor any adverse affects are felt![5]

Is Yohimbine an Aphrodisiac?

Several scientific studies have shown strong indicators of aphrodisiac qualities with Yohimbine. A 2003 study showed that Yohimbine reversed sexual satiety in male rats. [6]

Yohimbine / Yohimbe bark is included in a wide variety of "sexual enhancement" type formulas - although some formulas give two options, "with" and "without" Yohimbe. Yohimbe is listed (as Pausinystalia johimbe) in the AHPA's "Herbs of Commerce", p.107 [7]

Yohimbine Side Effects

Note - this is not medical advice, it is just reportage of information found on other web sites. Significant side effects have been noted from Yohimbine - including anxiety reactions, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure and insomnia.

The dosage range is narrow - in other words, the range between an effective and a dangerous dose is small. It is said that Yohimbine can be dangerous if used excessively. It should not be used by anyone with liver, kidney, heart disease, pregnancyor a psychological disorder. [1] [8]

I also found a document listing several interactions with other medicines, notably Tricyclic Antidepressants [8] [9]

In summary - numerous yohimbe bark supplements are widely available - however, with environmental concerns, purity concerns and side effect concerns; over here at aphrodisiacs-info.com , this researcher imagines that it might be a good idea to consider other options...