Yohimbe.

Newsgroups: alt.folklore.herbs
Subject: Re: Yohimbie
From: Leslie Taylor <raintree.bga.com>
Date: 1 Apr 1996 04:17:25 GMT

>> Does anyone know where I can get a hold of yohimbie bark in the Seattle area? And BTW-doesn't anyone have any testimonials as to the effects of its use?
>This herb increases blood flow to the plevic area in general. This can help increase production of testosterone which will increase sex drive as well as muscular development. It can also increase chances of irritation of the prostate and associated problems. A friend of mine had problems with his prostate and noticed a dramatic decrease in the problems once he stopped using this herb.

Excuse me but, yohimbe and its active constituent yohimbine (an alkaloid) increases blood flow to erectile tissue but has absolutely NO effect on testosterone levels (nor does the action of increasing blood flow have any efect on testosterone levels). It also has absolutely nothing to do with muscular development, this is myth and marketing misinformation hyping this product as an alternative to anabolic steroids (which it is NOT). You are right about one thing - it has LONG been documented to be contraindicated, in the US, Germany and England when inflammation of the prostrate or related organs is present.

Yohimbe is a MAO inhibitor and as such is also contraindicated with tyramine-containing foods, antidepressants, and other mood changing drugs. Risks associated with use of the yohimbe in crude form (quoted from the Encylopedia of Common Natural Ingredients) are sleeplessness, aniety, elevated heart rate and blood pressure, tremors, tachycardia, nausea, and vomiting.

Sorry but those are the facts.