The yohimbe extract that you may have seen in your health food store is a West African native evergreen tree originating in Nigeria, Zaire, the Congo and Cameroon. While it has been used for a long time in traditional West African medicine, it has only been in the past few decades that its powers have been noted by Western doctors and naturopaths.
In West Africa yohhimbe extract has been used to treat leprosy, fever, cough and to act as an anesthetic. In the 1980s the extract was approved by the America Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) for use in helping men with impotence. Since then it has been commonly prescribed and recommended with great amounts of success in erectile dysfunction.
While researchers are still not entirely sure why it works there are a couple of theories. The first is that the yohimbe extract increases circulation and boosts blood flow to the penis, which helps to give an erection as well as to maintain it. Another theory is that the extract allows the nerves delivering sexual signals to operate more effectively.
Yohimbe natural extract is a successful treatment for erectile dysfunction in around one third of users. It is generally not effective for men who suffer impotence as a result of nerve damage. The extract is also popular as an aphrodisiac and men who take the treatment often find that it can boost sexual stamina as well as giving more intense erections.
As well as being effective in sexual dysfunction in men, the yohimbe extract can also be helpful to women. In both men and women it has shown aphrodisiac powers that heighten libido and can relieve sexual problems that are sometimes caused by taking antidepressants. The extract itself also has some antidepressant qualities. It can be bought as a health supplement or as a prescription medication as well.
There are other uses for the African native as well such as dry mouth, cholesterol and nervous system problems. While it is well tolerated by most people, there is some evidence that it should not be used long term and could elevate blood pressure. Side effects of yohimbe have been noted at times to include: dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea and upset stomach. You should seek medical advice from your doctor if you think you are experiencing side effects.
The extract has also been included in some weight loss supplements because it is a stimulant. It increases the heart rate and can also help to burn off fat, prevent the body from storing dietary fat and increase the metabolism. Some athletes use yohimbe because of its stimulant qualities and because it can increase stamina. In some cases it is used in conjunction with other herbal ingredients in body building supplements to increase the intensity of training sessions.
Yohimbe extract has been approved by the FDA for some time and is commonly prescribed by medical doctors and naturopaths. However, if you would like to take the extract for any of the above listed reasons, you should get the all clear from your health practitioner first. When dealing with your health it is always best to be cautious.
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