Yohimbe and yohimbine in dietary supplement products
Other names
Quebracho blanco (extract)
Yohimbe (extract)
Yohimbe bark (extract)
Yohimbine hydrochloride (HCl)
Prohibited status
Not prohibited
What are yohimbe and yohimbine?
“Yohimbe” is the common name for the Pausinystalia yohimbe evergreen tree native to Africa. The bark or bark extract of the yohimbe tree contains many chemical substances, and yohimbine is just one of 55 alkaloids (substances that can have an effect in the body) that have been identified. Yohimbine also occurs in many other plants such as the quebracho blanco plant of South America. It can also be produced synthetically—that is, made in a laboratory—as yohimbine hydrochloride.
What are the marketing claims?
Dietary supplements containing yohimbe or yohimbine have been marketed to increase energy, improve body composition, support fat burning, and to enhance weight loss and sexual wellness.
What to keep in mind about yohimbe and yohimbine in dietary supplement products?
Yohimbe- and yohimbine-containing dietary supplement products may contain varying amounts of yohimbine.
A 2015 study of 49 yohimbine-containing products found that the amount of yohimbine in the products they tested ranged from zero to more than 12 mg, which is higher than the usual recommend dose.
Extracts of yohimbe tree bark may contain any of the other substances that naturally occur in the plant. For example, rauwolscine, a stimulant, is sometimes found in dietary supplements containing yohimbe bark extract.
Without laboratory testing, there is no way to know the actual ingredients (or their amounts) in a dietary supplement product.
Service Members should be cautious choosing yohimbe- or yohimbine-containing products. Check the label to see if the product has a third-party certification seal from NSF Certified Sport, Informed Sport, BSCG Certified Drug Free, or USP.
What does the science say?
There isn’t enough evidence for the use of yohimbe- and yohimbine-containing dietary supplements for athletic performance or weight loss.
Research studies on the effects of yohimbe and yohimbine on athletic performance are limited, involve a small number of participants, and provide inconsistent results.
Current scientific evidence does not support the use of yohimbe- and yohimbine-containing dietary supplements to boost sex drive or support weight loss.
Yohimbine hydrochloride was previously available as an FDA-approved prescription medication to treat certain types of erectile dysfunction with moderate results. Now it is rarely used for this purpose since more effective drugs with fewer side effects are available.
How could yohimbe and yohimbine in dietary supplements harm your health and career?
Yohimbine has stimulating effects on your brain and bodily functions. Severe adverse events have been reported. Individuals who experience anxiety, depression, hypertension, hypotension, or PTSD should avoid use of yohimbine.
Yohimbine, in combination with other stimulants such as caffeine, rauwolscine, ephedrine, and synephrine, can increase heart rate and pose cardiovascular risk.
Adverse events following consumption of yohimbine include tachycardia (high heart rate), hypertension (high blood pressure), flushing, sweating, nausea, headaches, anxiety, and restlessness.
Overdose or use of yohimbine with other medications can cause brain damage, panic attacks, or even death.
Supplements containing yohimbe bark and its preparations (such as bark extract or yohimbine as a substance) are banned in Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom because of the potential harmful health effects.
Bottom Line
There isn’t enough evidence for the use of yohimbe- and yohimbine-containing dietary supplements for athletic performance or weight loss.
Using yohimbe- and yohimbine-containing products could harm a Service Member’s overall health and readiness for duty. Service Members should consult with a qualified healthcare provider if they choose to take yohimbe- and yohimbine-containing products with or without other dietary supplement products or over-the-counter or prescription medications.
Yohimbe and yohimbine are currently not on the DoD Prohibited Dietary Supplements Ingredients List.
Updated 25 March 2025
