Yohimbe is a herbal drug made of the bark of an African tree (Corynanthe yohimbe). One of the components of yohimbe, named yohimbine, was the only medication approved by the FDA for the treatment of impotence before Viagra hit the market.

Impotence (erectile dysfunction in new technical language) is a condition much more complicated than most diseases. Many diseases are single-cause conditions.

A specific virus causes the flu or AIDS, and a specific bacteria causes tuberculosis. A large number of other conditions are by and large single-symptom diseases. A broken bone, a cataract of the eye, or the shingles are easy to diagnose. There are clear symptoms that usually apply to just that health problem.

While "erectile dysfunction" has become the term of choice among doctors and educated patients, it's probably less accurate a description of what's wrong than the old word "impotence". "Erectile dysfunction" is a technical term, and it sounds much less embarrassing than "impotence".

But the general idea of lost maleness carried by the word "impotence" actually describes more precisely the implication of the condition discussed here.

Impotence is more than just erectile dysfunction... it may or may not be a blood-vessel insufficiency. But it may also be a loss of desire regulated by a certain neurotransmitter balance. It may have hormonal or psychological causes, or it may be a problem of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve impulses.

Erectile dysfunction, a lack of erection, is just a part of the condition impotence. The problem is not solved by assuring an appropriate blood pressure in the male sexual organ. That's why erection injections, pumps, and Viagra, are not satisfactory by themselves. An erection without desire is a waste of effort (and money), and desire without the capability of a definite orgasm results in frustration rather than satisfaction.

Impotence is so complicated a health problem that no single medication will straighten it. Yohimbe, too, has it's clear limitation as pharmaceutical agent for the treatment of impotence and/or erectile dysfunction.

However, the real promise of yohimbe is not its value as medication for impotence but its power to enhance sexuality. Because of its potential as recreational drug, it will probably sooner or later be prohibited by some eager governments.

How does yohimbe feel? The first effect one will notice is that it will cause an accelerated heartbeat effected by mental stimulation. There will not necessarily be an increased heartbeat from physical exercise.

Rather, the capacity for physical exercise will probably be enhanced for many people, with a pulse frequence ordinary for the chosen exercise. Some users have mentioned that they sweat less when on yohimbe.

A sexual effect may or may not set in. Yohimbe will not make you desire a sexual partner whom you would not desire when not on yohimbe. Rather the opposite.

In many, but not all users, it will increase erectile rigidity, and maybe erectile capacity. Yohimbe will most probably make orgasms more powerful. It will cause this by postponing the point of ejaculation, and by making the orgiastic release more strongly felt. On the route to the orgiastic release, there will be a greatly accelerated heartbeat, caused by mental stimulation rather than physical effort.

For most people, sleep will be impossible for many hours (10 or more) after having ingested yohimbe the bark, or yohimbine the pharmaceutical product. We, the editors of this site, are pretty sure that most people who sell or prescribe yohimbe or yohimbine have actually never tested it themselves, especially not at the dosages usually recommended. Yohimbe is a powerful drug, nothing like supplements such as ginkgo biloba, vitamin C, or royal jelly. One can clearly overdose on yohimbe, and actually, the recommendations printed on many packages are too high for many users. We definitely recommend to test one's tolerance for yohimbe before ingesting so-called recommended dosages. If a package prescribes two capsules before sex, try it with the content of half a capsule first. And for some, even that's too much. They'll be more worried about how to get off the yohimbe, rather than be concerned with sexual pleasure.

Yohimbe may also strongly interact with mild drugs such as coffee, tea, chocolate, and ginseng. A lot more research will be needed before yohimbe will be fully understood. We hope to make this website a forum for the exchange of scientific as well as anecdotal information on yohimbe.

Ginseng and Yohimbe

Ginseng (root in quantities of 1 to 3 gram) seems to have a positive effect on yohimbe. Through combining yohimbe with ginseng, one may reduce the yohimbe dosage into one half or one fourth, or even less, while still enjoying the stimulating effect of yohimbe. Replacing part of the yohimbe dosage with ginseng may reduce yohimbe side effects while maintaining wished-for effects.

Chocolate and Yohimbe

Chocolate (in quantities of around 100 gram) seems to have a bad effect on yohimbe. There may be an increase in negative side effects such as nervousness and sleeplessness, while chocolate as a hormonal disrupter also seems to cancel out wished-for effects of yohimbe.