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Yohimbe
( Pausinystalia johimbe )
Family
Pausinystalia
Synonyms
None
Character
Aphrodisiac
Description
Yohimbe grows along the tropical
west coast of Africa. It is an evergreen with broad, leathery-looking
leaves.
Phytochemistry
Yohimbe contains various minor
alkaloids including ajmaline, alloyohimbine, corynanthine, qubrachine and
tetrahydromethylcorynanthein. Yohimbine is the herb's most active ingredient
and is considered a precursor to testosterone.
Traditional rain forest use
The inner bark of the yohimbe
tree has been used in folk medicine to treat high blood pressure and angina.
It was also dried and made into an hallucinogenic snuff. Yohimbe decoctions
have been used to treat leprosy and fevers and chewing the bark is a
traditional remedy for coughs. West Africans have use the bark tea as a
sexual stimulant. Rubbing the bark on the body, smoking it or consuming bits
of bark have been prescribed to enhance sexual desire and performance.
Modern medicinal applications
Yohimbine has been recognized by
physicians as a medicine approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
It appears in the Physician's desk Reference as a sexual stimulant. Both
physiological and psychological forms of impotence have responded to yohimbe
therapy. Yohimbine is available in prescription combinations and yohimbe
extracts are sold in health food stores. ( NOTE: By yohimbe only from
reliable sources who ensure potency and purity. )
Authentication
Canadian, Italian and American
clinical studies have confirmed the value of using yohimbe for the
successful treatment of impotence. Recent studies published in the Journal
of Urology describe the use of yohimbine to treat a group of men with
chronic sexual dysfunction. The improvement rate was 81 percent for men who
had been impotent for less than two years. Italian research confirms a 71
percent success rate using yohimbe tablets for psychogenic impotence.
Canadian studies with the yohimbine compound found that daily doses improved
the sexual performance of men who had become impotent due to heart disease
and diabetes.
Safety
Yohimbe must be used with caution
and under professional supervision. It has been associated with
hallucinations, elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate, dizziness and
headaches. It is not recommended for anyone suffering from heart conditions,
psychological disorders, or kidney disease. Women should not use yohimbe.
Overusing this herb may result in
fatigue, stomach distress or general weakness. Yohimbe should not be taken
in combination with foods containing tyramine ( ie, cheeses, red wine,
liver, and most seafood ). Yohimbe also should not be taken with
phenylpropanolamine, a compound commonly found in over-the-counter
decongestants and diet pills. |
