Yohimbe
Background
Yohimbe
is an evergreen tree native to western Africa. It has a compound called
yohimbine in its bark. The bark is used to make extracts, tablets,
and capsules.
In parts of Africa, tea made from yohimbe bark has been used as an
aphrodisiac (to increase sexual desire).
Yohimbe
is used as a dietary supplement for impotence, athletic performance,
weight loss, chest pain, high blood pressure, diabetic neuropathy,
and more.
Yohimbine hydrochloride, a standardized form of
yohimbine, is available in the United States as a prescription drug for
erectile dysfunction. This is a different product than dietary
supplements made from the bark of the tree.
How Much Do We Know?
There
is very little research in people on the effects of yohimbe as a
dietary supplement. But studies have documented the risks of
taking it.
What Have We Learned?
The amount of yohimbine in dietary supplements may vary; some yohimbe
products contain very little yohimbine.
Yohimbe sold as a dietary supplement may not work like the prescription
medication that contains yohimbine.
What Do We Know About the Safety?
Yohimbe has been associated with heart attacks and seizures.
Yohimbe
caused stomach problems, tachycardia (a rapid heartbeat), anxiety, and
high blood pressure, according to a study comparing calls about yohimbe
and other substances made to the California Poison Control System
between 2000 and 2006. People calling about yohimbe were generally more
likely to need medical care than other callers.
Most yohimbe
products don’t say how much yohimbine they contain. The amount may vary
a lot among products, according to a recent analysis of 49 brands of
supplements labeled as containing yohimbe or yohimbine for sale in the
United States. Some of the yohimbine was either synthetic or from
highly processed plant extract.
Keep in Mind
Tell all
your health care providers about any complementary or integrative
health approaches you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to
manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and
safe care.
Key References
- Betz
JM. Yohimbe. In: Coates PM, Betz JM, Blackman MR, et al., eds. Encyclopedia of Dietary
Supplements, 2nd
ed. New York, NY: Informa Healthcare; 2010:861-868.
- Cohen
PA, Wang Y-H, Maller G, et al. Pharmaceutical
quantities of yohimbine found in dietary supplements in the USA. Drug Testing and Analysis. 2016;8(3-4):357-369.
- Kearney
T, Tu N, Haller C. Adverse
drug events associated with yohimbine-containing products: a
retrospective review of the California Poison Control System reported
cases. Annals of Pharmacotherapy. 2010;44(6):1022-1029.
- Yohimbe.
Natural Medicines Web site. Accessed at
naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/ on April 14, 2015.
-NIH
