 yohimbine
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Yohimbine  The
Libido Enhancing Tree Bark Extract
By
Robert Mason, Ph.D.
Yohimbine has been used for decades to help with
erectile dysfunction and enhance libido, in-fact it is the only FDA approved aphrodisiac!
(8)
Essentially,
yohimbine is an extract from the bark of an African tree known as cortnanthe yohimbe,
or sometimes referred to as pausinystalia yohimbe. One can find the bark extract
yohimbe in most health food stores in many countries, but the pharmaceutical pure
extract yohimbine (as denoted by the difference in the ending of the name), is
actually an indole alkaloid that makes up less than 1% of the volume of yohimbe
bark, (Betz et al, 1995, Budavari 1996, Leo and Foster, 1996).
Erectile
Dysfunction:
As stated at the very beginning of the article, long before
Viagra® was available, yohimbine was the drug of choice to help treat erectile
dysfunction (ED). Why was this? Well,
specifically, yohimbine's primary path of action is to act upon alpha-2 adrenergic
nerve cells. These receptors are also found in the abdominal and pelvic area.
So yohimbine effectively helps to block this part of the adrenergic system and
as such, increases the amount of adrenergic activity by increasing the availability
of the neurotransmitters, noradrenaline and acetylcholine (US PDR, 1994, Adaikan
1988). It is believed that this blockade increases the flow of blood through the
penis, whilst at the same time decreasing the flow of blood out from the penis.
The overall effect results in improved erection frequency, strength and stamina. The
flaccid penis has adrenaline almost permanently locked onto alpha-2 adrenergic
receptors. Therefore, in order to achieve an erection, the nerve impulses have
to initiate a process by which adrenaline is removed from these receptor sites.
Yohimbine helps to prevent adrenaline from docking to these receptors in the first
place. Unfortunately,
yohimbine tends to work best with a cumulative effect when it comes to ED, this
means that the dosages (to be most effective), usually have to be taken over a
period of 14-days, and in some men have been known to take as long as up to 6-weeks.
Thus, when Viagra® came to the market, it rapidly overtook yohimbine as the
drug of choice for ED, as clearly its affects are known to be far faster acting.
(Ed.- of course a billion Dollars worth of advertising also helped!) However,
this article about yohimbine's actions are more focused on its abilities to improve
libido, (or sexual arousal), and we can state that Viagra® has little effect
in this regard.
Libido Enhancement:
The most likely explanation
of the reported affects of yohimbine's sexual arousal effects, which include increased
ejaculate, more intense orgasms and enhanced desire for intercourse, probably
lie in yohimbine's ability to increase noradrenaline levels by as much as 66%
(Grossman, 1993). Noradrenaline
has been described as the body's sex hormone and it appears to stimulate the brain's
sex center in the hypothalamus. As yohimbine blocks the uptake of noradrenaline,
it forces more of it into "general circulation," thus the heart rate
increases, alertness is enhanced, more mental agitation occurs and there is also
a general proneness to improved arousal, whether it be sexual or otherwise. In
an animal experiment, (4) that involved the intake of both yohimbine and the recent
ED drug apomorphine, (Ed.- there is more about apomorphine in this bulletin in
the other articles), it was noted that the two substances were synergistic. Specifically,
when combined they helped to reduce sexual exhaustion, and there was a tendency
to immediately resume copulation even after ejaculation. The
results of this study suggested that; "the dopaminergic system might be the
final pathway for the yohimbine-induced sexual behaviour expression." This
is of interest, because the other known dopamine enhancing substances such as;
deprenyl, bromocriptine and L-dopa have long been documented as enhancing sexual
drive, particularly for men, and thus it is believed that there is a strong relationship
between dopamine and libido. Therefore, to suggest that yohimbine also acts upon
dopamine and dopamine receptors as part of its ability to enhance libido, just
adds to its credibility as a scientifically proven aphrodisiac.
Side Effects
and Contraindications: As
stated earlier, yohimbine is known to increase heart rate and sometimes blood
pressure, therefore persons suffering with heart conditions should avoid yohimbine
use. This caution should also be extended to any individuals who are suffering
from anxiety and panic attacks.
It is also known that yohimbine is contraindicated
with MAO inhibitors, which are often to be found in the action of many anti-depressants.
Thus, a physician's advice should be sought before starting on yohimbine, if you
are taking any form of anti-depression therapy. Yohimbine
remains a drug studied primarily for men. There is very little data about the
use of yohimbine in women, probably because the primary medical use of yohimbine
has been focused on erectile dysfunction and male impotence. So, we must therefore
suggest some caution for women, however one British reference we came across,
recommended that women interrupt their yohimbine treatment for at least one week
every two months, but it didn't elaborate any further! We
may also want to extend caution to any individuals utilizing treatments that can
enhance dopamine and/ or adrenaline activity. This could include drugs such as
deprenyl, bromocriptine, hydergine, modafinil, adrafinil and L-dopa etc. In such
circumstances, caution is advised as the effects of any two combined are likely
to be synergistic, therefore there is a need to adjust both the dosages downward.
Dosages:
Normal daily dosages for yohimbine for the treatment
of ED or impotence are 5mg two or three times daily. For general sexual enhancement,
a dose of 5mg or 10mg taken 30-minutes before sexual intercourse can have a satisfactory
to profound affect.
Other Factors: Naturally,
there are a myriad of factors that can impede sexual performance and the "will"
to perform. To keep ourselves concerned to the more "physical" problems,
here are some other issues worth bearing in-mind, they include: 1.
Caffeine in coffee is a vasoconstrictor, (caffeine is also found in some soft
drinks and to a lesser extent tea and chocolate). Thus, caffeine acts to impede
the penis' ability to fill with blood. 2.
The Brassica vegetables are known for their rich content of indol-3-carbinol (I3C)
and di-indolylmethane (DIM), both of which have a powerful influence on estrogen
metabolism; as-such they can help to readdress the testosterone-estrogen balance
which changes with age. (Ed- Jonathan Wright, MD wrote about this in the Summer
2000 Anti-Aging Bulletin and Rick Cohen, MD also addressed estrogens in men in
the Fall 2001 Anti-Aging Bulletin). 3.
Nuts are high in several nutrients that have been credited with improving sexual
function, one of these is vitamin E which is a weak vasodilator, (meaning improved
blood flow). They also contain the amino acid arginine which can be used to produce
NO (nitric oxide). NO is the primary neurotransmitter used by the body to facilitate
erection. Furthermore, they contain zinc which is known to help production of
seminal fluids. (Note that shellfish, particularly oysters have long been touted
as sexual enhancers, probably because of their high content of zinc). 4.
Free testosterone enhancing substances can also have major libido benefit for
both men and women. (Ed.- some of these issues were discussed by Rick Cohen MD
in the Summer 2000 Anti-Aging Bulletin).
Conclusion:
Perhaps yohimbine's greatest attribute is to be able to enhance
sexuality in healthy subjects. Whilst Yohimbine's use in the treatment of impotence
has been limited, its general enhancing affects, arousal stimulatory properties
and improver of both the stamina and the rigidity of the male organ has an overall
tendency to improve sexual performance.
Accordingly,
yohimbine can give a new potential and meaning to the lives of "older"
men.
The fact that yohimbine is a mainstay supplement of those in the X-rated
adult video business probably speaks for itself.
References
1. Double-blind, placebo-controlled safety
and efficacy trial with yohimbine hydrochloride in the treatment of nonorganic
erectile dysfunction: Vogt HJ; Brandl P; Kockott G; Schmitz JR; Wiegand MH; Schadrack
J; Gierend M: Int J Impot. Res, 9(3):155-61 1997 Sep.
2. Therapeutic effects
of high dose yohimbine hydrochloride on organic erectile dysfunction. Teloken
C ; Rhoden EL ; Sogari P ; Dambros M ; Souto CA: J Urol, 159(1):122-4 1998 Jan.
3. Yohimbine, erectile capacity, and sexual response in men: Rowland DL ;
Kallan K ; Slob AK: Arch Sex Behav, 26(1):49-62 1997 Feb.
4. Yohimbine and
apomorphine increase sexual appetite. Yohimbine interacts with the dopaminergic
system to reverse sexual satiation: further evidence for a role of sexual motivation
in sexual exhaustion: Rodriguez-Manzo G: Eur J Pharmacol, 372(1):1-8 1999 May
7.
5. Effectiveness of yohimbine in the treatment of erectile disorder: four
meta-analytic integrations: Carey MP; Johnson BT: Arch Sex Behav, 25(4):341-60
1996 Aug.
6. Double-blind, placebo-controlled safety and efficacy trial with
yohimbine hydrochloride in the treatment of non-organic erectile dysfunction:
Vogt HJ; Brandl P; Kockott G; Schmitz JR; Wiegand MH; Schadrack J; Gierend M:
Int J Impot Res, 9(3):155-61 1997 Sep.
7. Dopamine and sexual behaviour:
Melis MR, Argiolas A: Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. 1995 Spring, 19:1, 19-38.
8. US PDR 1998 No. 52, Medical Economics Company. :
DISCLAIMER: ALL INFORMATION IS EDUCATIONAL AND PROVIDED UNDER IAS TERMS AND
CONDITIONS. IT DOES NOT, AND SHOULD NOT, REPLACE THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN.
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