Yohimbe is derived from the bark of a West African evergreen tree, and pure yohimbine alkaloids are active chemicals found in the said bark.
It is cultivated into supplement form, or yohimbine hydrochloride, which is a standardized form of yohimbine that is available as a prescription drug.
Members of the yohimbine alkaloid family possess a characteristic pentacyclic indole skeleton, and representative compounds in this family include the Rauwolfia alkaloids, such as reserpine, deserpidine, and the yohimbines.
These alkaloids exhibit a wide range of medicinal properties.
Yohimbine alkaloids stimulate the body, causing an increase in energy levels, sex drive, erectile function, fat metabolism, and mental focus.
Pure yohimbine supplements are most commonly used for sexual performance, weight loss, and bodybuilding.
Yohimbe dilates the blood vessels and can lower blood pressure, so experts figured, if it can do that, it must give you an erection and help treat erectile dysfunction.
Some individuals say that Yohimbe extracts are powerful antioxidants that can prevent heart attacks, act as a stimulant and an anti-depressant, and can aid in weight loss.
key Benefits of Pure Yohimbine Alkaloids
Treats erectile dysfunction:
When taken as an oral supplement, yohimbine can work as an aphrodisiac, to boost sexual performance, energy, to support weight loss, and to enhance cognitive function.
It has both recreational uses and medicinal uses and may be prescribed by a doctor as part of a comprehensive treatment program to treat a variety of health concerns.
The benefits are somewhat speculative and inconclusive, as there is insufficient evidence to rate its efficacy for many of its uses.
However, Yohimbine alkaloid extract may be helpful in improving certain types of erectile dysfunction, and studies on subjects have found it to improve male performance.
Multiple clinical trials have found that yohimbine improves sexual dysfunction in both men and women, especially, those who take a selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI for depression or mood disorder.
Aids in fat loss:
Yohimbe and its alkaloids in the bark extract are said to block specific receptors that actually inhibit fat loss.
A 1991 study, that lasted three weeks observed 20 obese females on 1,000-calorie diets, who were given 20 mg of Yohimbe each day and lost three pounds more than the group receiving placebos.
The weight loss result is not a drastic one, but enough to give experts hope that Yohimbe can help with weight loss.
Other studies have found that Yohimbe increases the amount of non-esterified fatty acids, a result that shows a fast fat break down.
The extracted chemicals, yohimbine, is not the same as Yohimbe bark, and studies with yohimbine are expected to give different results than studies that used the raw extract from the plant.
Improve exercise performance
As a supplement to improve exercise performance, yohimbine’s benefit remains unproven in clinical studies.
A study found that it aided fat loss in competitive athletes, but did not increase muscle mass or exercise performance.
Furthermore, it may help those with orthostatic hypotension (dizzy spell some feel when they stand up suddenly), which usually occurs due to a sudden drop in blood pressure.
Safety
There are some safety concerns with this supplement, especially when abused, or used orally at high dosages.
It is considered to be safe when used under medical supervision, but its use as a dietary supplement is believed to carry a higher risk of adverse effects.
Side effects may be related to users taking excess dosages, combining it with other drugs or supplements that can cause unsafe reactions, or use it against recommendations.
A dose of yohimbine that is too big could drop one’s blood pressure, resulting in dizziness, facial flushing, and nausea.
Yohimbine may also increase heart rate and raise blood pressure, and no one should experiment with it without talking to their doctor first.
Potential interactions between Yohimbe and other drugs and herbs should be considered, as some of these combinations may be dangerous.
There are a number of potentially serious side effects such as:
- Cardiac arrhythmia
- Agitation
- Myocardial infarction, and
- Seizure
But research has shown that the drug may be used safely for as long as 10 weeks with medical supervision.
Furthermore, the use of this drug is not intended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and children should not use yohimbine in any form unless specifically requested by a doctor.
Dosage Recommendation (Suggested intake)
The problem with yohimbine is that you can’t regulate the amount in dosage, and the amount of extract you get will vary.
The FDA researchers analyzed a number of over-the-counter Yohimbe bark products, and they found that the supplements contained only seven percent or less of the amount of yohimbine that was supposed to be found in actual Yohimbe bark.
This suggests that they contained little or no Yohimbe, prompting the prescription form of yohimbine to be strictly regulated by the FDA.
It is approved only for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and is available in tablets and capsules.
For erectile dysfunction, 5.4mg to 10 mg, taken three times daily has been studied and regarded as the generally safe dose.
However, to improve orgasm for men not taking antidepressant drugs, research studies have started with 20 mg, and increased the dosage gradually to 50mg, without any serious risk.
For sexual dysfunction associated with SSRIs, some have used 15 to 18 mg daily in divided doses, and some research recommends taking a dose up to two to four hours before having sex. You can do this for at least three weeks.
In all cases, it is recommended to start with the lowest effective dosage and to gradually increase the dose to test results.
However, do not increase the dose unless necessary.