Health Benefits of Yohimbe, Uses And Its Side Effects
Last Updated: Sep 02, 2020
The primary active ingredient found in Yohimbe bark is the alkaloid yohimbine. Yohimbe has a chemical structure that is similar to several medications, and even recreational drugs, that are used to manage conditions like mood-related disorders such as depression or schizophrenia, low libido, dizziness due to low blood pressure, and others.
While yohimbine doesn’t actually have psychedelic effects, it impacts neurotransmitters including dopamine, adrenaline and serotonin. It also seems to help some people suffering from symptoms due to mental illness.
Yohimbe
Yohimbe is the name of an evergreen tree found in parts of central and western Africa. The bark of Yohimbe contains a chemical called yohimbine, which is used to make medicine.
Both the crude bark and purified compound pf the Yohimbe tree have long been hailed as aphrodisiacs, and has also found its way into modern medicine for treating a variety of sexual conditions, such as erectile dysfunction, low libido, hormonal imbalances as well as symptoms like low energy.
Health Benefits of Yohimbe
Mentioned below are the best health benefits of Yohimbe. You can use Yohimbe for weight management and improve libido for sexual performance. It acts as an energy booster, Whenever you feel low or tired then include some Yohimbe with caffeine drink. Not only benefits we also listed out some side of consuming this bark herb and how you can use this amazing herb in your diet in different forms
Yohimbe improves sexual health
Yohimbe used to treat sexual diseases such as low libido and erectile dysfunction. Yohimbine bark has the capability to enhance the nitric oxide pathways, thus increasing blood flow to the genital organs.
Pharmaceutical aphrodisiacs often have a number of side effects as well, so Yohimbe is a very natural solution to treating sexual disorders quickly and efficiently.
Yohimbe improves mental health
As an alpha 2-antagonist, yohimbine has properties that can help increase dopamine levels in the brain when used alone or in combination with other anti-depressant treatments.
Yohimbine also helps to increase levels of the coenzyme NAD, which positively affects metabolism, cognitive processes, and detoxification of drugs in the body.
Yohimbe treats hypertension
Yohimbe bark is capable of easing tension in arteries and blood vessels, thus improving overall cardiovascular health. Your heart has to work extra hard to pump blood through tight, constricting blood vessels, causing a rise in blood pressure. This can be a major contributor to heart attacks and strokes, as constricted blood vessels are more likely to become blocked.
By adding yohimbine supplements to your diet in some way, you can improve your overall heart health and prevent an acceleration of coronary heart disease.
Yohimbe supplement promotes weight loss
One of the most valuable and widely relied on uses of Yohimbe relates to its effect on losing weight. Yohimbine is capable of blocking certain adrenoreceptors in the body, which allows for higher norepinephrine levels in the body. Norepinephrine doesn’t allow for fat mobilizing to take effect, which leads to additional fat break down in those difficult areas of the body.
Yohimbe lower the side effects of certain medications
Sometimes, people who take medication of anxiety and depression can suffer from certain side effects such as sexual dysfunction or loss of interest in sex.
Medicines containing yohimbine can counter these side effects. Yohimbine is often used to offset negative effects of treating mental illnesses.
Yohimbe treats blood pressure problems
As an alpha-2 antagonist, yohimbine promotes sympathetic activity. According to a number of studies, Yohimbe bark can help increase blood pressure. Yohimbine works by dilating blood vessels and acting on the sympathetic nervous system.
Uses of Yohimbe
Yohimbe is a natural herbal supplement that is strongly associated with anti-aging effects. Yohimbe has a long history of use in Western Africa, and is still widely used there today, to treat a variety of sexual disorders, including low libido and erectile dysfunction.
Medically, yohimbine is a pre-synaptic alpha-2-adrenergic blocking agent, which is capable of increasing sympathetic nervous system activity, thus resulting in increased amounts of epinephrine (also known as adrenaline) and norepinephrine in the blood stream.
The main effects epinephrine and norepinephrine have on the body include increasing blood pressure and heart rate. Yohimbe is also often used for weight loss, although the evidence supporting this claim is inconclusive.
Side-Effects & Allergies of Yohimbe
Yohimbe, if taken by mouth, can cause several side effects such as irregular or rapid heartbeat, kidney failure, seizure and even heart attack.
The primary active ingredient in Yohimbe is a drug called yohimbine, which can be safely used over a short-term period, when monitored by a health professional. However, it is not appropriate for unsupervised use due to potentially serious side effects that it can cause. Yohimbe should not be used by women who are pregnant and/or breastfeeding.
Cultivation of Yohimbe
Yohimbe is a popular herb that has its origins in South Africa, and is known worldwide as an excellent aphrodisiac. Yohimbe was first discovered and used for its aphrodisiac qualities by the Pygmies and the Bushmen in West Africa, where it grows wild. The Bantu speaking tribes of West Africa still use and praise
Yohimbe today for its powerful aphrodisiac effects. In the 19th century, some German missionaries discovered Yohimbe while in West Africa and brought it back to Europe where it quickly became very popular. In its natural habitat, the Yohimbe tree may grow as tall as 100 feet, although the average size for trees grown outside of their forest habitat is closer to 50 feet in height.
They require a warm, semi-tropical environment. While these trees grow naturally from seeds, young seedlings are prone to dampening off, a condition caused by a fungal disease.
References
- Ernst E, Pittler MH. Yohimbine for erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. The Journal of urology. 1998 Feb 1;159(2):433-6. [Cited 07 August 2019]. Available from:
- World Agro Forestry. Pausinystalia johimbe, 2009 [Internet]. [Cited 26 June 2019]. Available from:
- National Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health. Yohimbe 2016 [Internt]. [Cited 26 June 2019]. Available from:
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