Description

Written by Keith Pearson, PhD, RD on October 13, 2017, retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/yohimbe

What Is Yohimbine and How Does It Work?

Yohimbine is an herbal supplement. It has a long history of use in West African traditional medicine to improve sexual performance.

More recently, Yohimbine has been sold as a dietary supplement with a wide variety of common uses. These range from treating medical conditions like erectile dysfunction to aiding in weight loss.

The supplement is derived from the bark of an evergreen tree found in western and central Africa called the Pausinystalia Johimbe.

It is often sold in capsule or tablet form and marketed as Yohimbine bark extract or Yohimbine, the active ingredient in Yohimbine bark. Many believe that Yohimbine works by blocking receptors in the body called alpha-2 adrenergic receptors (1Trusted Source).

These receptors play an important role in inhibiting erections. Therefore, Yohimbine is thought to help alleviate erectile dysfunction by blocking the receptors responsible for preventing erections (2Trusted Source).

Yohimbine may also promote the release of nitric oxide. This could lead to the dilation of blood vessels and an increase in blood flow to sexual organs (2Trusted Source).

SUMMARY: Yohimbine is a herbal supplement that is used to treat erectile dysfunction and promote weight loss. The main way that Yohimbine works in the body is through blocking alpha-2 adrenergic receptors.

Yohimbine Helps Erectile Dysfunction

Yohimbine is well-known for its claimed abilities to alleviate erectile dysfunction, but many wonder if there is any evidence behind this claim.

A review of seven controlled studies indicates there may be truth to the claim. In this study, Yohimbine was clearly more effective than a placebo in treating erectile dysfunction (3Trusted Source).

One of the studies in the review examined the effects of Yohimbine on 82 male veterans with erectile dysfunction (4Trusted Source).

After a month of treatment, 34% of patients taking Yohimbine experienced at least a partial improvement in symptoms, while 20% of patients reported full and sustained erections. Only 7% of veterans taking a placebo reported any improvements.

However, organizations like the American Urology Association do not recommend Yohimbine for the treatment of erectile dysfunction due to insufficient evidence and the potential for adverse side effects (5).

SUMMARY: Studies show that taking Yohimbine is more effective at treating erectile dysfunction than taking a placebo. However, medical organizations are hesitant to recommend the supplement due to insufficient evidence and potential side effects.

It Helps Reducing Weight Loss

Yohimbine supplements are also marketed to help with weight loss and improve body composition.

Yohimbine ability to block the alpha-2 adrenergic receptors located in fat cells could, in theory, lead to increased fat loss and weight loss. Several controlled studies have evaluated this and found mixed results.

One study examined the effects of Yohimbine in 20 obese females who consumed a 1,000- calorie diet for three weeks. The women taking Yohimbine lost significantly more weight than those taking a placebo — 7.8 pounds (3.6 kg) vs. 4.9 pounds (2.2 kg) (6Trusted Source).

Yohimbine was also studied in elite soccer players, and was found to decrease body fat by 1.8 percentage points over the course of three weeks. No significant changes were found in the placebo group (7Trusted Source).

SUMMARY: Some studies have found that taking Yohimbine led to greater weight loss and decreases in body fat. More research, however is needed to evaluate if Yohimbine is an effective weight loss supplement.

Who Shouldn’t Take Yohimbine?

There are a number of people who should not take Yohimbine.

People with a history of heart disease, high or low blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease and mental health conditions should not take Yohimbine (10Trusted Source).

Pregnant women and children under the age 18 should also refrain from using Yohimbine.

If you have erectile dysfunction and are seeking to alleviate symptoms, consider talking to your doctor about treatment options. Safer and more effective medications have been developed, so doctors now prescribe Yohimbine hydrochloride less frequently.

The current evidence for the effects of Yohimbine on weight loss is inconclusive. There are numerous other lifestyle changes you can make to help you lose weight.

If you do decide to take Yohimbine supplements, buy from NeoPowders. Our products have been tested for quality and safety and clearly labeled how much to take.

Dosage

There are no standard dosing guidelines for Yohimbine supplements. Some sources have suggested taking no more than the equivalent of 30 mg of Yohimbine hydrochloride per day, or around 10 mg three times daily (10Trusted Source).

Other studies have used 0.09 mg/pound/day (0.20 mg/kg/day) in study participants. That is equivalent to 15 mg/day for a 165-pound (or 65-kg) adult (13Trusted Source, 14Trusted Source).

The Bottom Line

Yohimbine is a popular herbal supplement marketed to help with erectile dysfunction and improve body composition and weight loss.

Yohimbine is the main active ingredient in Yohimbine supplements, and there is evidence that it can effectively improve erectile dysfunction and weight loss.