Yohimbehe

This W African genus consists of 13 species of large trees, characterized by panicles of tubular flowers with conspicuous appendages. Pausinystalia johimbe and the related P. macroceras and P. tillesii contain indole alkaloids, the principal one being johimbine, which blocks the nerve-transmitting hormone, noradrenaline, and constricts the genital blood vesels, thus acting as a sexual stimulant. Johimbe has a long history of use as a stimulant among Bantu people. Medicinal use of johimbe bark appears to have reached Europe in the 1890s. In Africa, P. lane-poolei (pamprana, igbepo) is also used medicinally; dressings of ground bark are applied to yaws and itching skin.

Taken from the bark of a West African tree, yohimbe was traditionally used as an aphrodisiac and a hallucinogen. Today, it is most often taken for impotence, exhaustion, elevated blood pressure, and nerve damage related to diabetes. It's believed that yohimbe helps with impotence by improving blood flow to the penis and increasing excitement of the nerves in the genital area.

Evergreen tree with red to yellow-ochre wood and glossy, oblanceolate, dark green leaves, to 35cm (14in) long. Umbel-like clusters of white or yellowish to pink, tubular flowers are produced in panicles, to 18cm (7in) long, from November to January, followed by capsules containing winged seeds, 6mm (¼in) long.


Common Name:
Yohimbehe
Other Names:
Endone, Johimbe, Johimbi, Yohimbe, Yohimbe Bark, Yohimbine
Botanical Name:
Pausinystalia johimbe syn. Corynanthe johimbe
Genus:
Pausinystalia
Family:
Rubiaceae
Native Location:
S Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, and Zaire
Cultivation:
Pausinystalia johimbe does not appear to be in cultivation, and no information has been found on its requirements.
Propagation:
Pausinystalia johimbe does not appear to be in cultivation, and no information has been found on its requirements.
Harvest:
Bark is collected from trunks and branches at any time of the year and dried in strips for pills, liquid extracts, and extraction of yohimbine.
Warning:
This herb is subject to legal restrictions in some countries.
Height:
27m (90ft)
Width:
12m (40ft)
Hardiness:
Min. 15-18°C (59-64°F)
Parts Used:
Bark
Properties:
A bitter, warming, anti-diuretic herb with reputedly aphrodisiac effects. It has a stimulant effect on the heart, increases heart rate and blood pressure, and is locally anesthetic.
Medicinal Uses:
Internally for impotence, frigidity, exhaustion, and debility. Excess causes nervousness, anxiety, sleeplessness, high blood pressure, tachycardia, nausea, and vomiting. Contraindicated in hypertension, renal and hepatic disease; interacts with certain anti-hypertension drugs such as clonidine.
Treatment of erectile dysfunction, low blood pressure, exhaustion, and angina; as an aphrodisiac.
Typical Dose:
A typical dose of yohimbe for male erectile dysfunction is approximately 5.4 mg in tablet form, taken three times daily.
Possible Side Effects:
Yohimbe's side effects include rapid heart rate, nause, increased blood pressure, and anxiety.
Drug Interactions:
Taking yohimbe with these drugs may increase stimulation of the central nervous system:
Albuterol, (Proventil, Ventolin)
Ephedrine, (Pretz-D)
Fenoterol, (Berotec)
Isoproterenol, (Isuprel)
Levalbuterol, (Xopenex)
Methylphenidate, (Concerta, Ritalin)
Modafanil, (Alertec, Provigil)
Naloxone, (Narcan)
Naltrexone, (ReVia)
Phenylephrine, (Mydfrin, Vicks Sinex Nasal Spray)
Terbutaline, (Brethine)
Valcyclovir, (Valtrex)
Venlafaxine, (Effexor)
Taking yohimbe with these drugs may cause or increase the risk of serotonin syndrome (symptoms of which include agitation, rapid heart rate, flushing, heavy sweating, and possibly even death):
Amitriptyline, (Elavil, Levate)
Amoxapine, (Asendin)
Citalopram, (Celexa)
Desipramine, (Alti-Desipramine, Norpramin)
Doxepin, (Sinequan, Zonalon)
Imipramine, (Apo-Imipramine, Tofranil)
Nortriptyline, (Aventyl HCl, Pamelor)
Paroxetine, (Paxil)
Sertraline, (Apo-Sertraline, Zoloft)
Taking yohimbe with these drugs may cause or increase kidney damage:
Etodolac, (Lodine, Utradol)
Ibuprofen, (Advil, Motrin)
Indomethacin, (Indocin, Novo-Methacin)
Ketoprofen, (Orudis, Rhodis)
Ketorolac, (Acular, Toradol)
Meloxicam, (MOBIC, Mobicox)
Metformin, (Glucophage, Riomet)
Methotrexate, (Rheumatrex, Trexall)
Miglitol, (Glyset)
Morphine Hydrochloride, (Morphine Hydrochloride)
Morphine Sulfate, (Kadian, MS Contin)
Naproxen, (Aleve, Naprosyn)
Nitrofurantoin, (Furadantin, Macrobid)
Ofloxacin, (Floxin, Ocuflox)
Penicillin, (Pfizerpen, Wycillin)
Piroxicam, (Feldene, Nu-Pirox)
Propoxyphene, (Darvon, Darvon-N)
Rifampin, (Rifadin, Rimactane)
Stavudine, (Zerit)
Sucralfate, (Carafate, Sulcrate)
Tramadol, (Ultram)
Valacyclovir, (Valtrex)
Valgancyclovir, (Valcyte)
Vancomycin, (Vancocin)
Zivoduvine, (Novo-AZT, Retrovir)
Taking yohimbe with these drugs may increase the therapeutic and/or adverse effects of the drug:
Iproniazid, (Marsilid)
Moclobemide, (Alti-Moclobemide, Nu-Moclobemide)
Morphine Sulfate, (Kadian, MS Contin)
Phenelzine, (Nardil)
Selegiline, (Eldepryl)
Tranylcypromine, (Parnate)
Taking yohimbe with these drugs may interfere with blood pressure control:
Acebutolol, (Novo-Acebutolol, Sectral)
Acetazolamide, (Apo-Acetazolamide, Diamox Sequels)
Amiloride, (Midamor)
Amitriptyline, (Elavil, Levate)
Amitriptyline and Chlordiazepoxide, (Limbitrol)
Amitriptyline and Perphenazine, (Etrafon, Triavil)
Amlodipine, (Norvasc)
Amoxapine, (Asendin)
Atenolol, (Apo-Atenol, Tenormin)
Azosemide, (Diat)
Befunolol, (Bentos, Betaclar)
Benazepril, (Lotensin)
Bepridil, (Vascor)
Betaxolol, (Betoptic S, Kerlone)
Bisoprolol, (Monocor, Zebeta)
Bumetanide, (Bumex, Burinex)
Candesartan, (Atacand)
Captopril, (Capoten, Novo-Captopril)
Carteolol, (Cartrol, Ocupress)
Carvedilol, (Coreg)
Celiprolol, (Celiprolol)
Chlorthiazide, (Diuril)
Chlorthalidone, (Apo-Chlorthalidone, Thalitone)
Cilazapril, (Inhibace)
Clomipramine, (Anafranil, Novo-Clopramine)
Delapril, (Adecut, Delakete)
Desipramine, (Alti-Desipramine, Norpramin)
Diltiazem, (Cardizem, Tiazac)
Doxazosin, (Alti-Doxazosin, Cardura)
Doxepin, (Sinequan, Zonalon)
Enalapril, (Vasotec)
Ephedrine, (Pretz-D)
Eprosartan, (Teveten)
Esmolol, (Brevibloc)
Ethacrynic Acid, (Edecrine)
Etozolin, (Elkapin)
Felodipine, (Plendil, Renedil)
Fosfomycin, (Monurol)
Fosinopril, (Monopril)
Furosemide, (Apo-Furosemide, Lasix)
Guanabenz, (Wytensin)
Guanadrel, (Hylorel)
Guanfacine, (Tenex)
Hydralazine, (Apresoline, Novo-Hylazin)
Hydrochlorothiazide, (Apo-Hydro, Microzide)
Hydrochlorothiazide and Triamterene, (Dyazide, Maxzide)
Hydroflumethiazide, (Diucardin, Saluron)
Imidapril, (Novarok, Tanatril)
Imipramine, (Apo-Imipramine, Tofranil)
Indapamide, (Lozol, Nu-Indapamide)
Irbesartan, (Avapro)
Isradipine, (DynaCirc)
Labetalol, (Nomodyne, Trandate)
Lacidipine, (Aponil, Caldine)
Lercanidipine, (Cardiovasc, Carmen)
Levalbuterol, (Xopenex)
Levobetaxolol, (Betaxon)
Levobunolol, (Betagan, Novo-Levobunolol)
Levothyroxine, (Levothroid, Synthroid)
Lisinopril, (Prinivil, Zestril)
Lofepramine, (Feprapax, Gamanil)
Losartan, (Cozaar)
Manidipine, (Calslot, Iperten)
Mannitol, (Osmitrol, Resectisol)
Mefruside, (Baycaron)
Melitracen, (Dixeran)
Methazolamide, (Apo-Methazolamide, Neptazane)
Methyclothiazide, (Aquatensen, Enduron)
Methyldopa, (Apo-Methyldopa, Nu-Medopa)
Methylphenidate, (Concerta, Ritalin)
Metipranolol, (OptiPranolol)
Metolazone, (Mykrox, Zaroxolyn)
Metoprolol, (Betaloc, Lopressor)
Moclobemide, (Alti-Moclobemide, Nu-Moclobemide)
Modafinil, (Alertec, Provigil)
Moexipril, (Univasc)
Nadolol, (Apo-Nadol, Corgard)
Nicardipine, (Cardene)
Nifedipine, (Adalat CC, Procardia)
Nilvadipine, (Nilvadipine)
Nimodipine, (Nimotop)
Nisoldipine, (Sular)
Nitrendipine, (Nitrendipine)
Nortriptyline, (Aventyl HCl, Pamelor)
Olmesartan, (Benicar)
Olmesartan and Hydrochlorothiazide, (Benicar HCT)
Oxprenolol, (Slow-Trasicor, Trasicor)
Perindopril Erbumine, (Aceon, Coversyl)
Pinaverium, (Dicetel)
Pindolol, (Apo-Pindol, Novo-Pindol)
Polythiazide, (Renese)
Prazosin, (Minipress, Nu-Prazo)
Propranolol, (Inderal, InnoPran XL)
Protriptyline, (Vivactil)
Pseudoephedrine, (Dimetapp Decongestant, Sudafed)
Quinapril, (Accupril)
Ramipril, (Altace)
Sotalol, (Betapace, Sorine)
Spirapril, (Spirapril)
Spironolactone, (Aldactone, Novo-Spiroton)
Telmisartan, (Micardis)
Terazosin, (Hytrin, Novo-Terazosin)
Timolol, (Betimol, Timoptic)
Torsemide, (Demadex)
Trandolapril, (Mavik)
Tranylcypromine, (Parnate)
Triamterene, (Dyrenium)
Trichlormethiazide, (Metatensin, Naqua)
Trimipramine, (Apo-Trimin, Surmontil)
Urea, (Amino-Cerv, UltraMide)
Valsartan, (Diovan)
Verapamil, (Calan, Isoptin SR)
Xipamide, (Diurexan, Lumitens)
Taking yohimbe with these drugs may interfere with the action of the drug:
Alprazolam, (Apo-Alpraz, Xanax)
Chlorpromazine, (Largactil, Thorazine)
Clonidine, (Catapres, Duraclon)
Fluphenazine, (Modecate, Prolixin)
Guanabenz, (Wytensin)
Mesoridazine, (Serentil)
Oxazepam, (Novoxapam, Serax)
Perphenazine, (Apo-Perphenazine, Trilafon)
Prochlorperazine, (Compazine, Compro)
Promethazine, (Phenergan)
Reserpine, (Reserpine)
Thiethylperazine, (Torecan)
Thioridazine, (Mellaril)
Thiothixene, (Navane)
Trifluoperazine, (Novo-Trifluzine, Stelazine)
Taking yohimbe with these drugs may worsen bipolar disorder:
Carbamazepine, (Carbatrol, Tegretol)
Lithium, (Carbolith, Eskalith)
Taking yohimbe with these drugs may be harmful:
Prochlorperazine, (Compazine, Compro)—may increase the risk of abnormally low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, and dizziness.
Sibutramine, (Meridia)—may increase the risk of adverse cardiovascular effects.
Valproic Acid, (Depacon, Depakote ER)—may increase the risk of manic episodes.
Disease Effects:
  • May worsen heart disease due to its constituent yohimbine.
  • May worsen anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), cause maniclike behavior in those with bipolar depression, trigger suicidal thoughts in those with endogenous depression, and cause an increase in psychoses in those with schizophrenia.
  • May push blood sugar too low in those with diabetes taking oral antidiabetes medicines or insulin.
  • May cause blood pressure to rise or fall.
Food Interactions:
  • May increase central nervous system stimulation when taken with caffeine-containing foods and drinks.
  • May cause increased blood pressure when taken with foods that have a high tyramine content (i.e. red wine, beer, aged cheese, liver, fermented meats).
  • Increased risk of hypertensive crisis when taken with large amounts of vasopressor-containing foods such as chocolate, coffee, cola, tea, and overripe fava beans.
Supplement Interactions:
  • Increased risk of hypertensive crisis when taken with large amounts of herbs and supplements containing caffeine, such as Cola Nut, Guarana, or Maté.
  • Increased risk of hypertensive crisis when taken with large amounts of Ma-Huang.
  • Additive therapeutic and adverse effects when taken with herbs that have monoamine oxidase inhibiting (MAOI) potential, such as Ginkgo Biloba, and St. John's Wort.
Bibliography:
Encyclopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown Copyright © 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited. Pg 304
The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide by Geo. T. Grossberg,MD and Barry Fox,PhD Copyright©2007 Barry Fox,PhD. Pp.506-510