Yohimbine and other herbal therapy

Yohimbine is an herbal drug prepared from the bark of the yohimbine tree of South Africa. It increases blood pressure and heart rate, and may cause insomnia, irritability and nervousness. Although approved by the FDA for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, it was approved in 1976 under less strict standard of evidence than would be required today.

Some people believe that yohimbine is worth trying if other treatments do not work. However, a review of published studies by the American Urological Association (AUA) found very little proof that yohimbine works. The same review found very little evidence supporting other, nonapproved forms of herbal therapy, like Korean red ginseng. For this reason, the AUA does not recommend their use.