What Is Yohimbe?
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Medically reviewed by Arno Kroner, DAOM
Yohimbe, scientifically known as Pausinystalia yohimbe, is an evergreen tree whose bark is traditionally used in Africa to treat cough, fever, heart disease, and leprosy. The bark extract has also been used traditionally as an aphrodisiac, hallucinogen, and anesthetic. Now, in the West, it’s often used to treat erectile dysfunction.
The compound responsible for these touted effects is known as yohimbine. Yet, there are many risks associated with yohimbe supplements, to the extent that some countries have banned them. Due to the potential risks and side effects, it's important to speak to a healthcare provider before taking yohimbe.
Benefits of Yohimbe
Yohimbe is most commonly used for treating erectile dysfunction, but some also use it to enhance athletic performance. While many experts do not recommend taking yohimbe due to its risks, some research has shown evidence to support these potential benefits.
May Help Improve Erectile Dysfunction
The most widely touted benefit of yohimbe is improving erectile dysfunction; some research supports this.
Some studies have found yohimbe to be effective at treating erectile dysfunction. For example, one study found taking 10.8 milligrams (mg) of yohimbine three times a day improved erectile response and sexual satisfaction in men of varying ages. Researchers believe this is partly because yohimbe blocks alpha-2-adrenergic receptors, which prevent erections.
Other studies have shown yohimbine is effective at improving erectile disorder when combined with other supplements, such as L-arginine, due to both supplements' ability to improve blood flow to the penis. These studies have found yohimbe to be particularly helpful in mild or moderate cases of erectile dysfunction.
Despite the potential for yohimbe to help with erectile dysfunction, experts do not recommended using the supplement as a standard treatment for erectile dysfunction.
Related: Common Signs and Symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
May Enhance Athletic Performance
There’s some emerging research that suggests yohimbe may be helpful when it comes to boosting athletic performance.
One study found for men, taking 2.5 milligrams (mg) of yohimbe 20 minutes before activity led to increased power output during repeated sprints. Participants who took yohimbe also reported less fatigue than those who took a placebo.
Another study found taking yohimbe two hours prior to exercise improved metrics of endurance amongst cyclists including distance, time, and their velocity of oxygen uptake maximum (the speed at which an individual is using the most amount of oxygen).
Researchers aren’t totally sure how yohimbe impacts athletic performance on a biological level, but they believe it’s because yohimbe is a stimulant that increases blood flow and may aid with immediate energy availability.
However, taking too much yohimbe may cause a rapid heart beat or increased blood pressure. Researchers have also found yohimbe’s effects may wear off over time, and they haven’t established an optimal dose or supplement duration.
How to Take Yohimbe
Yohimbe supplements are typically sold as capsules or powders. You can also purchase the bark of the yohimbe tree to make your own liquid extract.
There is also a prescription drug sold in the United States called Yohimbine hydrochloride (brand name Aphrodyne), which is used to treat erectile dysfunction. If you are prescribed this medication, follow your healthcare provider's instructions for how to take it.
Dosage
There is not a standard recommended dose for yohimbe. Some research states the usual recommended dose of synthetic, purified yohimbine is 5–10 milligrams (mg) three times daily. Other studies found therapeutic doses (the amount needed to be effective) of yohimbine range from 50 to 300 nanograms per milliliter in the blood.
An individual may build up a tolerance to yohimbine, meaning the same amount of the drug starts to become less effective with consistent use. The body also consumes and processes yohimbine very quickly. When taken orally, yohimbine has a half-life of about 30 minutes, meaning it takes that much time for half of the dose to be removed from the body.
Is Yohimbe Safe?
Although yohimbe isn’t banned in the United States, there are many risks associated with taking it. Yohimbe has been associated with serious side effects like heart attacks and seizures, as well as increased heart rate and high blood pressure.
As a result of the potential risks and frequent mislabeling, other countries have banned or restricted yohimbe from being sold as a dietary supplement.
Pregnant and breastfeeding individuals and children shouldn’t take yohimbe orally.
Due to safety concerns, it's important to speak with your healthcare provider before taking yohimbe.
Potential Drug Interactions
You should not take yohimbe if you are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor for depression, including phenelzine (Nardil) or tranylcypromine (Parnate).
There is also some evidence to suggest yohimbine increases the release of norepinephrine—a vasoconstrictor (narrows the blood vessels). In this case, taking yohimbe may cause poor blood pressure control in people taking antihypertensive or diuretic medications.
What to Look For
Yohimbe is native to central and western Africa. It’s an evergreen tree in the Rubiaceae family of flowering plants. You can find yohimbe sold as a supplement throughout the world.
Herbal supplements aren’t regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so it’s best to purchase products that have been third-party tested for purity and potency. Reputable third-party testing organizations include ConsumerLab, NSF International, and U.S. Pharmacopeia.
Third-party testing doesn't confirm the product is necessarily safe or effective; it just means the label is accurate and it hasn’t been contaminated by other, unlisted ingredients.
One of the challenges with yohimbe supplements is many products don’t list the amount of yohimbine they contain, and the amount in each supplement can vary greatly. Finding third-party tested yohimbe supplements is hard. Yohimbe supplements are restricted or banned in certain countries because of frequent, potentially dangerous mislabeling.
One study examined 49 brands of supplements sold in the United States claiming to contain yohimbe or yohimbine to check how accurate and thorough the labels were. Only 22% of products included a specific yohimbine quantity on the label, and only 4% listed accurate yohimbine quantities and information on the known adverse effects of yohimbine.
Can You Take Too Much Yohimbe?
Taking too much yohimbe can cause serious health issues and even death. Yet, there aren’t specific tolerable upper limits established for yohimbe.
A few cases of yohimbine intoxication have been reported. In one case, a man took 0.2 grams (g) of yohimbine which led to mild side effects like anxiety and hypertension; however, in other cases, taking 3 grams (g) or more has led to unconsciousness, seizures, and death.
Side Effects of Yohimbe
Yohimbe is associated with several risks and potential side effects. Side effects include:
Nausea
Insomnia
Chest pain
Sweating
Stomach problems
Anxiety
Drowsiness
Taking higher amounts of yohimbe, especially above 3 grams (g), increases the risk of serious side effects like unconsciousness or potentially death. Overdosing on yohimbe can lead to:
Hypotension (low blood pressure)
Rapid heartbeat
Confusion or disorientation
Tremors
Heart attack
Seizures
Paralysis
Coma
Death
Taking extract from the yohimbe bark itself, compared to taking a synthetic version of yohimbine, may increase the chances of experiencing side effects. This is because it can be more difficult to determine the correct dose, and there may be other active components in the bark.
A Quick Review
Yohimbe is an evergreen tree native to Africa whose bark is thought to have active compounds that can help improve erectile dysfunction and athletic performance. However, the research on these benefits is limited.
Taking yohimbe an have serious side effects ranging from nausea and heart palpitations to seizures, heart attack, and potentially death when taken in high doses.
It’s always best to speak with a trusted healthcare provider before starting a new supplement to ensure it is safe and that it won’t interact with any medications or other supplements you are taking.
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