Is Yohimbine Legal to Buy in the UK or is it Banned?

What is the legal status of Yohimbine in the UK and can you buy it to use as a dietary supplement. In the UK, Yohimbine is popular as a weight loss aid and sexual performance enhancer.

Yohimbine is an herbal extract, derived from the Yohimbe tree that has grown in Africa for hundreds of years. Missionaries brought yohimbe bark back to Europe in the 19th century, and it quickly became popular for its aphrodisiac effects.

Today, interest in this herbal supplement has returned, although potential yohimbine UK buyers must be aware of the herb’s legal status to ensure they comply with the law.

While it is widely used in the United States, it has a different regulatory status in the UK and is not available as a dietary supplement. There is also concern about the risk of side effects associated with the use of Yohimbine HCL products.

Yohimbine

Herbal Supplement

Weight Loss

Energy

Libido

How It Works:

• Helps promote fat loss
• Increases energy & suppresses appetite
• Promotes sex drive & performance

Dosage:

Between 5-50 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Possibly Unsafe

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What Is Yohimbine?

Yohimbine comes from the bark of the Pausinystalia yohimbe tree. This is a type of evergreen tree that grows natively in Cameroon, Congo, and Nigeria.

The tree may be up to 30 meters high with long leaves. The name of the alkaloid extract derived from the yohimbe tree is sometimes spelled “yohimbine” and sometimes “yohimbe.”

This compound may also be referred to as Yohimbine Hydrochloride (HCL). This is a synthetic version of the chemical used in prescription drugs.

The active ingredients in yohimbe are indole alkaloids, including yohimbine, ajmaline, yohimbiline, and pseudoyohimbine. Of these, the chemical known as yohimbine is thought to be the primary active ingredient.

How to Buy Yohimbine in the UK

For prospective buyers of yohimbe and yohimbine supplements in the UK, the legal status of this product is important.

Much of the UK law about yohimbe and other supplements derives from European Union regulations. However, the United Kingdom maintains its own regulations that affect whether you can find yohimbine for sale in your local area.

In particular, England has an independent regulatory system, while Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales may maintain separate national legislation to determine which supplements are available for use.

This makes it confusing for some people who wonder whether yohimbine HCL is banned in the UK.

Currently, it is illegal to buy yohimbine in the UK on an over-the-counter basis. This means that health food stores cannot carry yohimbine extract.

Technically, UK laws state that the supplement can only be sold in a registered pharmacy by someone who is a pharmacist or supervised by a pharmacist.

However, yohimbine is not an illegal substance to possess. Thus, to buy yohimbine in the UK it may be possible to make an online purchase and have the supplement shipped to your home.

Common Uses of Yohimbine

Yohimbine has long been used as an aphrodisiac in African countries. These claims have held up to more rigorous scientific investigation.

The active ingredients in yohimbe appear to increase blood flow to the penis, leading to improved ability to maintain an erection. Yohimbe appears to help men with organic or psychogenic vascular erectile dysfunction.

It is unclear whether yohimbe may also help women experiencing sexual dysfunction. Additionally, some evidence suggests that yohimbe bark may be more effective than the laboratory isolated yohimbine, but more research is needed in this area.

Anecdotal evidence indicates that yohimbe or yohimbine extract may be useful for other conditions. However, there is limited scientific evidence to evaluate its effectiveness for these conditions:

• Anxiety. Small studies suggest that yohimbe HCL may improve treatment of phobias.
• Depression. Yohimbe is a mild monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Other MAOIs have been successfully used to treat depression, but evidence supporting the use of yohimbine for this purpose is limited.
• Dry mouth.
• Exercise performance. Bodybuilding enthusiasts sometimes take yohimbine to build muscle mass and cut excess body fat. These claims have not been fully investigated in clinical research.
• Orthostatic hypotension. Orthostatic hypotension is a condition that causes dizziness or fainting upon sudden changes in posture. Some evidence suggests that yohimbine may be effective in treating orthostatic hypotension.

Effective Dosage of Yohimbine

Yohimbe or yohimbine extract is taken orally, either in pill capsule form, as a liquid tincture or as an herbal tea.

The supplement is available in natural bark form or an isolated yohimbine extract. There are also pharmaceutical grade Yohimbine HCL tablets sold in some countries, but these require a prescription in the United Kingdom.

Adults using the bark form of yohimbe should simmer 5 to 10 teaspoons of shaved bark with one pint of water to create a tea. Adding vitamin C to the tea makes the active ingredients easier to absorb.

Recommended dosages of yohimbine HCL, or yohimbine extract, vary. Taking 10 to 20 mg of seems to be an effective dose. Children should not take yohimbine.

Side Effects of Yohimbine

The full profile of side effects of yohimbine has not been thoroughly studied. Side effects tend to occur when high dosages are used. The following have been reported:

• Upset stomach
• Feelings of excitation
• Sleep problems
• Tremor
• Anxiety
• Agitation
• High blood pressure
• Dizziness
• Racing heartbeat
• Sinus pain
• Irritability
• Headache
• Bloating
• Frequent need to urinate
• Rash

At higher doses, severe side effects may result. These may include paralysis, dangerously low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, heart problems and even death.

The exact effects of taking yohimbine during pregnancy are unknown. However, it is recommended to avoid yohimbe if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Also be cautious about using yohimbine if you have a bleeding disorder, prostate problems, kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease, high or low blood pressure, schizophrenia, or posttraumatic stress disorder.

Interactions with Other Drugs

Yohimbine extract may interact with other drugs or foods you consume. Thus, it is essential to be careful when taking the supplement.

In particular, yohimbe bark may inhibit the action of anticoagulants, which may increase bleeding risk. It may also interact with caffeine-containing products such as coffee, tea, cola, and chocolate.

Taking yohimbine extract with these foods could trigger a hypertensive crisis. Finally, using yohimbine concurrently with ephedrine may also lead to hypertensive crisis.

If you live in the UK and are interested in using Yohimbine or Yohimbe, speak to your doctor. You will need a prescription from your doctor to legally buy Yohimbine HCL in the UK.

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