Yohimbe

Warning: Stay Clear of any product that contains Yohimbe.

What is Yohimbe?

Yohimbe is derived from the bark of a west African evergreen tree. Yohimbine is an active chemical (an alkaloid) found in said bark and is cultivated into supplement form. Yohimbine hydrochloride is a standardized form of yohimbine that is available as a prescription drug in the United States. These terms are all related but are interchangeable. Extracted chemicals are not the same as yohimbe bark. Studies with yohimbine are expected to give different results than studies that used the raw plant yohimbe.
The problem with yohimbine is that you can’t regulate the amount in a dosage. It all depends on what part of the tree it comes from and how it is cultivated and exported. The amount of extract you get will vary and that is a problem. A very serious problem.

Yohimbe can be found marketed in a number of products for body building, enhanced male performance and weight loss all claiming to be effective. However, there are no conclusive studies using the botanical Yohimbe published which show the same positive effects.

Is It Safe?

Yohimbe is Banned by the governments of Canada, Australia, Norway, and Finland as well as 17 other countries, just to name a few. Yohimbe has been banned because of its potential to be life threatening. It is being actively studied by the FDA in the US as we speak and may most likely been banned in the near future, and NO! this does not mean go out and rush to get it before it is gone. Stay Clear!!

Reported side effects include hypertension, anxiety, rapid heart rate, abdominal pain, hallucinations, incoordination, confusion, chills, lethargy, lupus like syndrome and renal failure, according to a 2010 study in The Annals of Pharmacotherapy.

The FDA removed yohimbine from prescription status in mid-90s because of its potential for harm. Meaning that it was not safe for a doctor to prescribe the ingredient. However it was never fully banned in the United States, and it has found its way back into the unregulated market of herbal supplements and dietary aides.

There are no legitimate studies that show yohimbe actually improves athletic performance, male enhancement or speeds up weight loss. Yohimbine has been given orally to treat erectile dysfunction and for its ‘alleged aphrodisiac properties’, but there’s no convincing evidence that it’s effective. Perhaps it’s added to dietary supplements so that a consumer feels a rush, tingling or other sensation when they take the supplement, causing them to think it must be working.

Serious Side Effects & Risks

Yohimbe can be toxic and should be avoided.
Serious adverse effects in addition to those above, include renal failure, seizures and death, and have been reported to FDA with products containing yohimbe and are currently under investigation.
Yohimbe should also be avoided by individuals with hypotension (low blood pressure), diabetes, and heart, liver or kidney disease. Symptoms of overdosage include weakness and nervous stimulation followed by paralysis, fatigue, stomach disorders, and ultimately death.
May induce excessive adrenal or sympathetic nerve stimulation, anxiety, panic attacks, high blood pressure, increased heart rate, irritability, headache, nausea, skin flushing, sweating, dizziness, frequent urination, water retention, rise in body temperature, and hyperactivity, weakness, paralysis, gastrointestinal problems, hallucinations, psychosis and even death.
People who have inflammation in their sexual organs should not use Yohimbe.
Yohimbe should not be used by people who are taking drugs – especially tranquilizers, anti-depressants, sedatives, caffeine, amphetamines, antihistamines or narcotics – or significant amounts of alcohol.
Anyone with a heart condition, kidney disease, diabetes, glaucoma, abnormal blood pressure, irregular blood sugar, brain and mental health disorders, or history of gastric or duodenal ulcers should avoid this herb.

Conclusion

The bottom line is stay away from Yohimbe…. period!
There are still a few male enhancement products on the market that contain Yohimbe. They do so for one reason and one reason only: MONEY!
As we stated above, Yohimbe is a powerful herb and when taken it gives your body the impression that something is definitely “working”. However all that it is really doing is increasing your blood pressure and heart rate at an alarming rate. We can only assume that the manufacturers are hoping that as long as you are feeling something then maybe you think that the product works.
Manufacturers that can’t make products with formulations that work by using the expensive approved ingredients and methods, tend to use Yohimbe as a quick alternative regardless of the serious health risks and even the possibility of death.

Some products that contain Yohimbe that can be found marketed around the internet are: Extagen, Xytomax, Endowmax and Xanogen. Stay clear of these brands.

Consumers taking products which contain yohimbe should seek medical advice.

Source file: National Toxicology Program.

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