From: cutrell@nic.cerf.net (Doug Cutrell)
Newsgroups: alt.drugs
Subject: Re: Yohimbe
Date: 19 Aug 92 06:56:06 GMT
Organization: CERFnet

Steve Dyer (dyer@ursa-major.spdcc.com aka) writes:
 
	>Yohimbine bark (or stuff claimed to be such) is what is sold.
	>I doubt that these preparations deliver any sigficant amount
	>of the drug.  Yohimbine itself is an Rx-only medication, sold
	>as a treatment for some forms of impotence.
 
In almost all health food stores, yohimbe bark is sold in little
capsules, or in tinctures.  These, by most accounts, are almost
completely worthless.  However, the pure bark can still be
obtained, and I can assure you this most definitely contains
significant quantities of yohimbine.  (Note spelling: yohimbe
is the tree, yohimbine is the alkaloid).  In fact, considerable
precaution is advisable, because the alkaloid content of
the bark can vary widely, and overdoses of yohimbine can be very
dangerous (I have heard several reports of heart attacks).  From
my limited experience and what I have heard from others, the
bark loses potency with time, particularly when stored in
ground form.  This topic is covered in the natural highs FAQ,
so I won't go on at length, but in my experience the subjective
experience has all the physical symptoms of several cups of
strong expresso, with somewhat less central stimulation, and
with some vertigo and disorientation.  I found the physical
stimulation fairly alarming and unpleasant, thus I chose not to
increase the level in an attempt to experience alleged "hallucinogenic"
activity.  (By physical stimulation I am referring to "shakes" and
rapid heartbeat. :)  )  There was one notable effect that
I find no mention of in the natural highs FAQ:  my eyes became
*very* red, much more so than I have ever seen in anyone in response
to THC... this was a very noticeable side effect.
 
To locate whole yohimbe bark, try dedicated herb shops.  You
may have to special order it.  Call ahead... some will tell you
that it i illegal, and that no one will sell it to you, while
others may still carry it on their shelves.  The FDA has been cracking
down on yohimbe bark... its official status is "not approved for
human consumption".  (People I have talked to say that while this
does not carry the weight of law of a DEA scheduling status, it
still carries the threat of harrasment for providing it -- so
be prepared to provide a reasonable excuse.  You could explain that
it is very commonly used in body-building formulations today, and
say that you are mixing your own...)  I personally wouldn't
recommend it for recreational use (it just wasn't that interesting),
and I would be concerned about side effects for any other use
(particularly chronic use).
 
Additionally, Dyer answers:
 
>>Question: Yohimbine (from the yohimbe bark) is supposedly a potent MAO
>>inhibitor.
>
>No, it's not.  It's a alpha-2 adrenergic antagonist.
 
Isn't it possible that it is both?  Yohimbe bark seems to be
described as an MAOI by many "underground" sources.  I had a personal
experience which would tend to support this... I tried yohimbe bark
tea maybe a handful of times, but with one of those times I took
a couple of dramamine tabs beforehand.  I had what seemed to be
a bad cross reaction, with strong disorientation and dizziness.  The
safest thing is to assume that it is an MAOI, but not to rely on the
fact... i.e. I wouldn't use it specifically for that property (try
something known to be used for this purpose, such as passionflower).

Doug Cutrell
cutrell@cerf.net

Newsgroups: alt.drugs