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Yohimbe (Yohimbine; Pausinystalia johimbe)
A potent stimulant bark whose alkaloid yohimbine has evidence for erectile dysfunction, but carries real cardiovascular and anxiety risks and unpredictable supplement potency.
What the evidence says
Most Yohimbe studies are mechanism or observational rather than RCTs that measure a clinical effect — keep findings provisional.
Most evidence is from medium-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 1995–2025.
Based on 10 studies · 1 meta-analysis · 1 RCT
Confidence
ModerateBy outcome
Yohimbe has an evidence score of 5/10 — moderate evidence based on 10 indexed studies, including 1 meta-analysis. A potent stimulant bark whose alkaloid yohimbine has evidence for erectile dysfunction, but carries real cardiovascular and anxiety risks and unpredictable supplement potency. Representative study: PMID 9649257.
The commonly studied dose of Yohimbe is Standardized yohimbine ~5-10mg (or ~0.2mg/kg) up to 1-2x daily; start at the lowest dose. Raw yohimbe bark is discouraged due to unpredictable content.. Individual needs vary — start at the lower end of the range and adjust based on how you respond.
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Last reviewed June 2026 · evidence from 10 studies · how we score
This information is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any supplement or medication.
Yohimbe is the bark of the West African tree Pausinystalia johimbe; its active alkaloid, yohimbine, is an alpha-2 adrenergic antagonist that boosts noradrenaline and sympathetic activity. Prescription-grade yohimbine has moderate evidence for erectile dysfunction, and it is marketed in supplements for fat loss and 'energy' — though performance/fat-loss evidence is weak. The serious caveats: yohimbine raises heart rate and blood pressure, can trigger anxiety, panic, and insomnia, and interacts dangerously with several medications. Compounding the risk, the yohimbine content of yohimbe-bark supplements is notoriously variable and often mislabeled, making dosing unpredictable. This is a use-with-caution supplement, not a casual one.
Blocks pre-synaptic alpha-2 receptors, increasing noradrenaline release and sympathetic 'fight-or-flight' activity.
Sympathetic changes can increase blood flow relevant to erectile function.
Alpha-2 blockade in fat tissue may increase fat mobilization, more noticeable in a fasted state.
Standardized yohimbine ~5-10mg (or ~0.2mg/kg) up to 1-2x daily; start at the lowest dose. Raw yohimbe bark is discouraged due to unpredictable content.
Can be taken without food
| Form | Type |
|---|---|
| 💊Standardized yohimbine HCl (known dose) | Recommended |
| 💊Yohimbe bark extract (not recommended) | Alternative |
Prefer standardized yohimbine; raw bark has unpredictable, often mislabeled potency.
Minimum: 2 weeks
Optimal: 8 weeks
Cycling: Use intermittently rather than continuously; tolerance and cardiovascular load make ongoing daily use inadvisable.
Note: Earlier in the day only; never combine with other stimulants.
Dose-response data unavailable. The current published research for Yohimbe does not provide sufficient dose-specific outcome data to generate reliable dose-response curves.
Refer to the Dosage & Timing section above for recommended dose ranges based on available evidence.
Moderate benefit for erectile dysfunction, best shown with standardized yohimbine.
Sympathetic stimulation increases heart rate and blood pressure.
Can provoke anxiety, panic, restlessness, and insomnia, especially at higher doses.
Yohimbine content in bark supplements is highly variable and often mislabeled, making effects and risks unpredictable.
Avoid — yohimbine raises heart rate and blood pressure.
Avoid — can provoke anxiety and panic.
Avoid.
Avoid — dangerous interactions.
Risk of dangerous blood-pressure surge (hypertensive crisis) — do not combine.
Additive noradrenergic effects; raised blood pressure and anxiety.
Tip: Use lowest dose; avoid if any cardiovascular risk
Tip: Take early in the day; reduce dose or stop
Tip: Reduce dose
Tip: Discontinue and seek care; avoid in anxiety/cardiac conditions
The best time to take Yohimbe is in the morning. It can be taken on an empty stomach. Taken earlier in the day (often fasted) because of its stimulant, sleep-disrupting effects; never late in the day.
Yohimbe should be used with caution — talk to a healthcare provider before taking it. The most commonly reported side effects are increased heart rate and blood pressure, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, headache, nausea, sweating. Use caution if any of these apply to you: Hypertension or cardiovascular disease; Anxiety, panic, or other psychiatric disorders; Kidney or liver disease.
Ginsenosides combat fatigue, sharpen cognitive function, and enhance stress resilience — distinct from American and Siberian ginseng.
Additive cardiovascular stimulation — raised heart rate/blood pressure, arrhythmia risk.
Yohimbine can counteract antihypertensives and destabilize blood pressure.
May increase blood pressure and side effects.