Supplements
Yohimbe and yohimbine: bark products, labels and enhancement claims
On this page
Yohimbe is a tree whose bark contains yohimbine, a biologically active compound. Products are promoted for sexual function, weight loss and exercise. The plant name does not establish a consistent composition or benefit.[1]
Similar names do not identify the same intervention
| Name | What it describes |
|---|---|
| Yohimbe bark / bark extract | Plant material containing several biologically relevant alkaloids; the preparation needs characterization.[4] |
| Yohimbine / yohimbine hydrochloride | A named compound or its salt, studied in measured medicinal preparations; bark mass is different.[2] |
| Rauwolscine / alpha-yohimbine | Another alkaloid identified separately from yohimbine in the product analysis.[2] |
Read what the amount actually measures
Bark mass or total alkaloids does not disclose milligrams of yohimbine. The study distinguished these claims. Check the named compound, serving size and full ingredients; a percentage still requires manufacturing accuracy and verification.[2]
Review medicines and health context before purchase
NCCIH advises against yohimbe with monoamine oxidase inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants and warns of harmful medicine interactions. It may be unsafe during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Bring the actual product and medicine list to a clinician or pharmacist.[1]
A severe reaction needs medical assessment
The Tennessee Poison Center describes serious toxicity including overheating, tremor, seizures, psychosis and cardiovascular collapse. Severe symptoms after a suspected exposure need urgent medical help or local poison-center advice. Keep the package available; do not dismiss a reaction as proof that a stimulant is working.[7]
Evidence & uncertainty
NCCIH finds insufficient evidence for benefits of yohimbe supplements. Research on measured yohimbine hydrochloride must be distinguished from variable bark preparations and mixed supplements.[1]
Selected-source overview · Independent review pendingPublished questions
Are yohimbe and yohimbine interchangeable names?
Selected-source overview · Independent review pending. Read the evidence context.
Yohimbe names the tree or bark preparation; yohimbine is a compound it can contain. A supplement and a measured medicinal preparation need separate evidence.[1]
Evidence behind this answer
- Yohimbe: Usefulness and Safety
agency herb information · 2025
Original official source; relevant complete sections read, not search snippets. · Background; effectiveness; safety, medicine and pregnancy/breastfeeding warnings
This answer summarizes selected sources. An independent appraisal of the complete evidence has not been completed.
Does 500 milligrams of bark mean 500 milligrams of yohimbine?
Selected-source overview · Independent review pending. Read the evidence context.
No. Bark mass, total alkaloids and the quantity of one named alkaloid are different measurements. The label must specify what its number refers to.[2]
Evidence behind this answer
- Pharmaceutical quantities of yohimbine found in dietary supplements in the USA
original product assay · 2015
Full original research text read through publisher retrieval, including sampling dates, analytical approach, results and discussion. · Full original paper: sample selection in 2013/2014, analytical methods, labels, results and interpretation
This answer summarizes selected sources. An independent appraisal of the complete evidence has not been completed.
Is alpha-yohimbine simply another label for yohimbine?
Selected-source overview · Independent review pending. Read the evidence context.
Rauwolscine, also called alpha-yohimbine, was identified separately in the assay. Similar names do not establish equivalent evidence.[2]
Evidence behind this answer
- Pharmaceutical quantities of yohimbine found in dietary supplements in the USA
original product assay · 2015
Full original research text read through publisher retrieval, including sampling dates, analytical approach, results and discussion. · Full original paper: sample selection in 2013/2014, analytical methods, labels, results and interpretation
This answer summarizes selected sources. An independent appraisal of the complete evidence has not been completed.
Does the 49-brand study tell me which current bottle is reliable?
Selected-source overview · Independent review pending. Read the evidence context.
No. It tested historical samples. It demonstrates a label-content problem in that sample, without certifying or condemning every current product or batch.[2]
Evidence behind this answer
- Pharmaceutical quantities of yohimbine found in dietary supplements in the USA
original product assay · 2015
Full original research text read through publisher retrieval, including sampling dates, analytical approach, results and discussion. · Full original paper: sample selection in 2013/2014, analytical methods, labels, results and interpretation
This answer summarizes selected sources. An independent appraisal of the complete evidence has not been completed.
Does an erection trial prove bark supplements work?
Selected-source overview · Independent review pending. Read the evidence context.
No. The inspected trial tested measured yohimbine hydrochloride in a selected population. Its response finding cannot establish equivalence for bark or a different mixture.[5]
Evidence behind this answer
- Double-blind, placebo-controlled safety and efficacy trial with yohimbine hydrochloride in the treatment of nonorganic erectile dysfunction
original placebo controlled trial · 1997
Complete original abstract read; full underlying paper/report not independently read. Claims restricted to abstract and explicit study-design inference. · Complete original publisher abstract: selected population, eight weeks, response and tolerability; full text behind subscription
This answer summarizes selected sources. An independent appraisal of the complete evidence has not been completed.
Is benefit established for fat loss or better workouts?
Selected-source overview · Independent review pending. Read the evidence context.
NCCIH finds insufficient research to establish benefit of yohimbe supplements for obesity or athletic performance. A marketing claim is not a demonstrated outcome.[1]
Evidence behind this answer
- Yohimbe: Usefulness and Safety
agency herb information · 2025
Original official source; relevant complete sections read, not search snippets. · Background; effectiveness; safety, medicine and pregnancy/breastfeeding warnings
This answer summarizes selected sources. An independent appraisal of the complete evidence has not been completed.
Do poison-center symptom percentages describe my chance of harm?
Selected-source overview · Independent review pending. Read the evidence context.
No. The study examined symptomatic reported exposures. Those percentages describe the selected cases, without a denominator of all people taking the products.[3]
Evidence behind this answer
- Adverse Drug Events Associated with Yohimbine-Containing Products: A Retrospective Review of the California Poison Control System Reported Cases
original retrospective poison center study · 2010
Complete original abstract read; full underlying paper/report not independently read. Claims restricted to abstract and explicit study-design inference. · Complete original English abstract: symptomatic adult inclusion, 2000–2006, reported events and comparator
This answer summarizes selected sources. An independent appraisal of the complete evidence has not been completed.
Why can a medicine matter even if the yohimbine amount is known?
Selected-source overview · Independent review pending. Read the evidence context.
The phase I study found that paroxetine altered yohimbine clearance in some metabolizer groups. A known swallowed amount does not guarantee the same exposure.[6]
Evidence behind this answer
- Oral Yohimbine as a New Probe Drug to Predict CYP2D6 Activity: Results of a Fixed-Sequence Phase I Trial
original phase 1 pharmacokinetic trial · 2020
Original open-access publisher abstract, methods, results and relevant discussion read; German National Library copy of the same paper also verified. · Abstract, methods, selected healthy population, results, paroxetine interaction and discussion
This answer summarizes selected sources. An independent appraisal of the complete evidence has not been completed.
Can the studies identify a safe starting supplement dose?
Selected-source overview · Independent review pending. Read the evidence context.
No universal dose follows from these data. EFSA could not establish a daily intake of bark preparations without health concerns; a study regimen is not personal guidance.[4]
Evidence behind this answer
- Scientific Opinion on the evaluation of the safety in use of Yohimbe
agency scientific risk assessment · 2013
Complete original abstract read; full underlying paper/report not independently read. Claims restricted to abstract and explicit study-design inference. · Complete original abstract: bark versus alkaloid characterization and inability to establish a daily intake without health concerns
This answer summarizes selected sources. An independent appraisal of the complete evidence has not been completed.
Can yohimbe be combined freely with antidepressants?
Selected-source overview · Independent review pending. Read the evidence context.
No. NCCIH specifically advises against combining it with monoamine oxidase inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants. Arrange a medicine review rather than changing prescriptions yourself.[1]
Evidence behind this answer
- Yohimbe: Usefulness and Safety
agency herb information · 2025
Original official source; relevant complete sections read, not search snippets. · Background; effectiveness; safety, medicine and pregnancy/breastfeeding warnings
This answer summarizes selected sources. An independent appraisal of the complete evidence has not been completed.
Is traditional use reassurance during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
Selected-source overview · Independent review pending. Read the evidence context.
NCCIH warns that oral use may be unsafe during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Historical use does not establish safety.[1]
Evidence behind this answer
- Yohimbe: Usefulness and Safety
agency herb information · 2025
Original official source; relevant complete sections read, not search snippets. · Background; effectiveness; safety, medicine and pregnancy/breastfeeding warnings
This answer summarizes selected sources. An independent appraisal of the complete evidence has not been completed.
Is severe shaking, overheating or a seizure an expected workout effect?
Selected-source overview · Independent review pending. Read the evidence context.
These can be signs of serious toxicity described by the poison center. Seek urgent medical help for severe symptoms and identify the product taken.[7]
Evidence behind this answer
- Yohimbine or NO-himbine? A Potentially Fatal Over-the-Counter Supplement
poison center toxicology guidance · 2022
Original official source; relevant complete sections read, not search snippets. · Mechanism and serious toxicity section; historical regulatory statements and assay recap not used
This answer summarizes selected sources. An independent appraisal of the complete evidence has not been completed.
A historical assay found wide differences
Researchers tested 49 brands identified at major US retailers and purchased in 2014. Yohimbine ranged from undetectable to 12.1 milligrams per serving. Eleven labels specified a quantity, and most were inaccurate. These historical samples cannot establish the contents of every current product or later batch.[2]
A medicinal trial does not validate a bark product
A 1997 placebo-controlled trial enrolled 86 people with erection difficulty without clearly detectable organic or psychological causes. Over eight weeks, measured yohimbine hydrochloride produced a higher reported response rate than placebo. The complete abstract was inspected; this selected study does not establish benefits of an unmeasured bark supplement, a combination product or treatment for every cause of erection difficulty.[5]
Poison-center reports show a safety signal
A retrospective review identified 238 symptomatic adult reports to California poison control during 2000–2006, almost all involving herbal products. Reported problems included stomach symptoms, rapid heartbeat, anxiety or agitation, and high blood pressure. The analysis selected reported symptomatic exposures and compared them with other poison-center exposures; it cannot estimate the percentage of all users who experience harm.[3]
The same swallowed amount can produce different exposure
In a 2020 phase I study of 16 healthy volunteers, yohimbine clearance varied substantially with the drug-metabolizing enzyme CYP2D6. Paroxetine, which inhibits that enzyme, reduced clearance in extensive metabolizers. Clearance describes removal from the body: slower removal can increase exposure. The experiment explains a possible interaction, not a consumer dosing rule or a reason to change an antidepressant.[6]
The evidence does not supply a universally safe supplement dose
EFSA’s 2013 assessment could not adequately characterize bark preparations or establish a daily intake without health concerns. Uncertain composition and incomplete toxicology are reasons for uncertainty, not evidence that an unspecified small amount is harmless. Medicinal-study amounts should not be converted into a home supplement regimen.[4]
References
- Yohimbe: Usefulness and Safety
Agency herb information
NCCIH, National Institutes of Health · Content/publication date: 2025
Accessed: 2026-10-20 UTC · Original official source; relevant complete sections read, not search snippets.
Cited sections: Background; effectiveness; safety, medicine and pregnancy/breastfeeding warnings - Pharmaceutical quantities of yohimbine found in dietary supplements in the USA
Original product assay
Cohen PA, Wang YH, Maller G, DeSouza R, Khan IA · Content/publication date: 2015
Accessed: 2026-10-20 UTC · Full original research text read through publisher retrieval, including sampling dates, analytical approach, results and discussion.
Cited sections: Full original paper: sample selection in 2013/2014, analytical methods, labels, results and interpretation - Adverse Drug Events Associated with Yohimbine-Containing Products: A Retrospective Review of the California Poison Control System Reported Cases
Original retrospective poison center study
Kearney T, Tu N, Haller C · Content/publication date: 2010
Accessed: 2026-10-20 UTC · Complete original abstract read; full underlying paper/report not independently read. Claims restricted to abstract and explicit study-design inference.
Cited sections: Complete original English abstract: symptomatic adult inclusion, 2000–2006, reported events and comparator - Scientific Opinion on the evaluation of the safety in use of Yohimbe
Agency scientific risk assessment
EFSA ANS Panel · Content/publication date: 2013
Accessed: 2026-10-20 UTC · Complete original abstract read; full underlying paper/report not independently read. Claims restricted to abstract and explicit study-design inference.
Cited sections: Complete original abstract: bark versus alkaloid characterization and inability to establish a daily intake without health concerns - Double-blind, placebo-controlled safety and efficacy trial with yohimbine hydrochloride in the treatment of nonorganic erectile dysfunction
Original placebo controlled trial
Vogt HJ and colleagues · Content/publication date: 1997
Accessed: 2026-10-20 UTC · Complete original abstract read; full underlying paper/report not independently read. Claims restricted to abstract and explicit study-design inference.
Cited sections: Complete original publisher abstract: selected population, eight weeks, response and tolerability; full text behind subscription - Oral Yohimbine as a New Probe Drug to Predict CYP2D6 Activity: Results of a Fixed-Sequence Phase I Trial
Original phase 1 pharmacokinetic trial
Vay M and colleagues · Content/publication date: 2020
Accessed: 2026-10-20 UTC · Original open-access publisher abstract, methods, results and relevant discussion read; German National Library copy of the same paper also verified.
Cited sections: Abstract, methods, selected healthy population, results, paroxetine interaction and discussion - Yohimbine or NO-himbine? A Potentially Fatal Over-the-Counter Supplement
Poison center toxicology guidance
Tennessee Poison Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center · Content/publication date: 2022
Accessed: 2026-10-20 UTC · Original official source; relevant complete sections read, not search snippets.
Cited sections: Mechanism and serious toxicity section; historical regulatory statements and assay recap not used
Scope & review
- Population
- Adults comparing botanical enhancement products; pregnancy/breastfeeding and medicine boundaries
- Exposure or intervention
- Yohimbe bark, yohimbine and formulation/label interpretation; distinction from rauwolscine
- Comparison
- Plant preparation versus quantified compound; historical sampled products versus a current lot; benefit trials versus reported toxicity
- Outcomes
- Interpretation of labels, erection evidence and safety signals; no personal regimen or current brand ranking
- Timeframe
- Historical studies with current NCCIH safety guidance inspected in October 2026
- Jurisdiction
- US consumer context; EFSA assessment is scientific context, not a claim about current legal status everywhere
Bounded source-based educational explanation with explicit original-study access limits. Current agency safety guidance, original research and selected synthesis inspected. No exhaustive review, formal evidence grade or qualified medical/pharmacology review completed.
Sources checked on their individual access dates. Selected sources were checked; ongoing surveillance and qualified review have separate statuses on the coverage page.
Revision history
- 2026-10-20 UTC: Prepared definition-first, claim-linked supplement draft for the authorized sixth consumer batch; exact roadmap and adjacent full bodies audited.
- 2026-10-20 UTC: Tightened formulation, label, study-outcome and medicine-interaction wording; publication-level attribution checked.
What this article still leaves open
- What exactly is present in a current lot, and has that preparation been independently tested?
- How do risks differ in people with relevant illness or multiple medicines?
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