Men and women alike are always on the lookout for ways to enhance their love and sexual life. This is nothing new in our day, and traditional cultures have used various methods, including herbal medicine, in their quest for the right aphrodisiac. One of these herbs that were traditionally used in Africa is the now heavily debated supplement Yohimbe, originally from the West African Yohimbe tree bark and used during fertility celebrations. Yohimbe is known for increasing sexual desire, reversing erectile dysfunction, and even aiding in weight loss, but does not always work on everyone and can have drastic side effects- which can be quite the turn-off indeed. 

So is this supplement really dangerous? Should it be avoided at all costs? Or is this a natural alternative to “Viagra” and can even help men and women lose body fat?

Why is this miracle libido maker listed as one of the three supplements Dr. Oz would never take?

What is Yohimbe made of?

The active ingredient behind the Yohimbe bark tree is Yohimbine, an alkaloid found in the tree that it said to increase blood flow and nerve impluses and can lower blood pressure.

As a dietary supplement, the dried bark of the yohimbe tree was traditionally made into tea and taken by mouth. Today, Yohimbine is also extracted and put into capsules and tablets. In the United States, you can find it under names such as Actibine, Aphrodyne, Yohimar, Yohimex and Yoman.

What does Yohimbe do?

Treat impotence and increase sexual desire:

Researchers do not know the exact reason why Yohimbe works, but since Yohimbe increases blood flow to the genitals, it is said to have treated impotence in men and frigidity in women and can even reverse erectile dysfunction. However, before running to your doctor to get a prescription, it is good to note that this effect does not work on all men and women – while some have had very positive effects on their sexual drive, others reported no changes in their libido.

Helps to lose excess fat:

Because Yohimbe is known to stimulate the nervous system, increase fatty acid mobilization and decrease fat synthesis, so many people turn to this supplement to increase their chances of losing weight during diet and exercise.

It has also been used to help in athletic performance, prevent exhaustion, relieve chest pain, lower high blood pressure, and treat depression.

Like many natural supplements, the effects are not always felt right away. Patience is a virtue with Yohimbe, and can take several weeks before you feel its full potential.

Side effects:

  • Now comes the less fun part. Yohimbe may be a great aphrodisiac, but it may provoke some serious side effects, such as breathing problems, dizziness, headaches, blood pressure changes, chest pain, heart palpitations, nausea, vomiting and insomnia.
  • Yohimbe should also be used with caution when taken with medicines for high blood pressure, tricyclic antidepressants, or phenothiazines (a group of medicines used mostly for mental health conditions such as schizophrenia).

Since there haven’t been many clinical studies on this drug, it is hard to tell if the good outweighs the bad. The bottom line is that you should definitely consult a doctor before taking Yohimbe and make sure you take the doses recommended to you – do not try to take more for a faster effect without talking to your doctor. According to the Mayo Clinic, the average adult dosage is 5.4 -6 mg, up to 3 times a day.

Yohimbe is known to have great physical and mental benefits when taken with caution, so if you want to try this African aphrodisiac, please make sure you start with low doses to build your tolerance and when you speak with your doctor, don’t forget to list all other medications you are currently taking since Yohimbe could bring potential harm when taken with certain other medications.

Have comments? We’d love to hear them! Leave us a comment or use the Twitter and Facebook links to share with friends.


Sources:
Yohimbe – Herb of Controversy and Potential http://www.chinese-herbs.org/yohimbe/
The Truth about Yohimbe : http://www.mensfitness.com/nutrition/supplements/the-truth-about-yohimbe
Yohimbe for Weight Loss: http://www.livestrong.com/article/292864-yohimbine-for-weight-loss/
Mayo Clinic: Yohimbine hcl – http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-information/DR601453