Herb Profile
Yohimbe
Yohimbe is represented here as a bark derived monograph anchored to yohimbine, an alpha 2 adrenergic antagonist with sympathomimetic effects.
Last reviewed: •3 human studies cited
C PreliminaryUse extra caution — High risk stimulant herb. Details
- Evidence
- Limited Human Evidence
- Typical onset
- Varies by prep
- Safety rating
- High caution
- Best for
- Sleep, Stress, Cognitive function
- Avoid / review if
- Hypertension, Arrhythmia, Heart Disease
Monograph visual
Yohimbe
Generated profile category visual
Where to go next — guides & comparisons
Continue reading
- If you want help sleeping → Sleep guides
- If you want to browse more herbs → All herbs
Safety & Cautions
High risk stimulant herb. Reported adverse events include anxiety, agitation, hypertension, tachycardia, GI distress, and rare serious cardiovascular/neurologic events.
28%
High caution — review carefully
Detailed safety fields
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and contraindications
- - Hypertension
- - Arrhythmia
- - Heart Disease
- - Anxiety/Panic Disorder
- - Bipolar Disorder/Mania
- - Kidney Or Liver Disease
- - Pregnancy/Breastfeeding.
- - Avoid With Stimulants
- - Decongestants
- - MAOIs
Safety classifications
- - Liver-Sensitive: Liver-related caution language appears in the profile.
- - Stimulant-Like Profile: Stimulant-like or activating caution language is present.
- - Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Caution: Pregnancy or breastfeeding caution language is present.
Full safety note
- - High risk stimulant herb. Reported adverse events include anxiety, agitation, hypertension, tachycardia, GI distress, and rare serious cardiovascular/neurologic events.
Safety labels
- - Liver-Sensitive
- - Stimulant-Like Profile
- - Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Caution
Evidence-based safety
Caution when combined
These pairings share a flagged risk mechanism. They are additive-effect cautions derived from contraindication data, not confirmed clinical interactions. Consult a clinician before combining.
High-Priority Caution
26 flagged pairingsSerotonergic activity
High-Priority Caution
26 flagged pairingsSerotonergic activity
Browse the grouped cautions below. The list scrolls inside this card when long.
Serotonergic activity
- 5-HTP
- Caffeine
- crocetin
- crocin
- Crocus Sativus
- Damiana
- DMT
- Ginkgo
- Panax Red Ginseng
- Panax White Ginseng
- Harmaline
- Harmine
- Kanna
- Mucuna
- Mucuna pruriens
- Passionflower
- Passionflower
- Passionflower Extract (Standardized)
- Phenylalanine
- Rhodiola
- Rhodiola Extract SHR-5
- Saffron
- Saffron Extract
- St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
- Tryptophan
- Yohimbine
Moderate Caution
81 flagged pairingsBlood-pressure effects
Moderate Caution
81 flagged pairingsBlood-pressure effects
Browse the grouped cautions below. The list scrolls inside this card when long.
Blood-pressure effects
- Agmatine sulfate
- ajoene
- Allicin
- American Ginseng Extract
- Andrographis
- Angelica Dahurica
- Astaxanthin
- Astragalus Membranaceus
- Beetroot extract
- Berberis
- Bicarbonate
- Black Seed
- Black Seed Oil
- Brassica Oleracea
- Buckwheat
- Caffeine
- Capsicum
- Caraway
- Chuanxiong
- Citicoline
- Citrus Bergamia
- Cnidium Monnieri
- Coenzyme Q10
- Coffee Cherry
- Coleus Forskohlii
- Hawthorn
- crocetin
- crocin
- Crocus Sativus
- Cymbopogon Citratus
- Dandelion
- Danshen
- Dendrobium
- Devils Claw Extract
- Electrolyte Mix
- Sodium electrolytes
- Eleuthero
- EGCG
- Epimedium
- Epimedium Brevicornum
- Eucommia
- ferulic acid
- forskolin
- Garlic Extract
- Gastrodia
- Panax Red Ginseng
- Panax White Ginseng
- Glycyrrhiza Glabra
- Guarana
- Guayusa
- Hibiscus
- Huperzia Serrata
- L-Tyrosine
- Lemongrass
- Licorice
- Ligusticum Chuanxiong
- Lobelia Inflata
- Luo Han Guo
- Moringa
- Mucuna
- Myristica Fragrans
- Nettle Root
- Nicotiana Glauca
- Nicotiana Tabacum
- Nigella Sativa
- Nicotinamide Mononucleotide
- Notoginseng
- Olive Leaf
- Olive Leaf Extract
- Panax Ginseng Extract
- Parsley
- Poria
- PT-141 (Bremelanotide)
- Punarnava
- Quercetin Phytosome
- Saffron Extract
- Sodium
- Soursop
- Ashwagandha
- Yerba Mate
- Yohimbine
Evidence Summary
Evidence lens
Early signal that needs stronger human replication before practical claims.
PreliminaryLimited Human Evidence
Human clinical evidence: Present in source signals
Mechanistic / preclinical: Mechanism mapped — Neurotransmitter Modulation · Stress Response Modulation
Research maturity: Preliminary or mixed — Long Term Human Evidence May Be Limited.
Safety boundary: Safety note available — High risk stimulant herb.
This profile cites 3 human studies.
How evidence grades work
Each grade reflects the strength and consistency of published human evidence — not marketing claims. Grades are based on study count, design quality, effect size, consistency, and recency.
A
Strong
Multiple RCTs, consistent direction, adequate effect size
B
Moderate
Some RCTs or consistent observational data in humans
C
Preliminary / Mixed
Animal or in-vitro only, or conflicting human data
D
Traditional / Theoretical
Traditional use only; no controlled human trials
Dosing & Timing
Dose guidance
Preparation specific; use standardized product label for Do not equate crude bark products with pharmaceutical yohimbine and require source backed dosage review before therapeutic claims.
How Yohimbe Works
Simplified mechanism pathway based on preclinical and pharmacological evidence. Does not confirm clinical efficacy.
Mechanism Pathway — How Yohimbe Works
CompoundTarget / ReceptorMechanismEffect / Outcome
Mechanisms & Biological Pathways
Preclinical pathways
Proposed mechanisms from in vitro and animal research; these do not confirm clinical outcomes in humans.
Neurotransmitter ModulationStress Response Modulation
Condition guides
Compare & Sourcing
Compare side-by-side tradeoffs or verify active marker guidelines.
Review available sources for Yohimbe
Independent database mapping — evaluated separately from safety and efficacy scores.
Affiliate Disclosure: Shopping links may earn this site a commission at no cost to you. Links are chosen on quality and availability, never commission tiers; safety warnings and evidence ratings stay independent.
Safety first · Harm reduction
This information is educational and not medical advice. Start low, avoid risky combinations, and consult a licensed clinician before making health decisions—especially if you use medications, have diagnosed conditions, or are pregnant/breastfeeding.
Learn how we evaluate confidence, safety, and intensity on the methodology page.
Editorial Review
Checked against primary sources, cited evidence, and contraindication language before publication. Evidence claims, safety language, and affiliate modules are reviewed independently. Not personal medical advice.
Free safety checklist
Get the Yohimbe research notes
Evidence summaries, dosing context, and safety updates for this herb — straight to your inbox.
We use your email to send the checklist and occasional evidence-first supplement updates. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy.
Botanical profile context
How to interpret Yohimbe
Yohimbe dosage ranges, effects, drug interactions, and harm-reduction safety guide for sleep. Limited Human Evidence research evidence. Use this herb profile as a starting point for evidence review, not as a recommendation to start a new supplement. Botanical products can vary by plant part, extract ratio, standardization, dose, and contaminant testing, so two labels with the same common name may not behave the same way.
When reviewing Yohimbe, compare the traditional-use context against the human evidence, mechanism notes, and safety cautions. Pay special attention to pregnancy, breastfeeding, liver or kidney disease, blood-pressure effects, sedation, stimulation, anticoagulant use, antidepressants, and any prescription medication overlap.
For product decisions, prefer transparent labels, named extracts, clear serving sizes, and third-party quality testing. Avoid treating a long list of possible mechanisms as proof that an herb will solve a specific condition.