The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point

Archive for the 'Yohimbine' Category

Safety of energy drinks

Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012

Energy drinks are consumed by 30% to 50% of adolescents and young adults. The manufacturers claim they are safe.

Researchers at the University of Miami, in Florida reviewed the evidence and came to a different conclusion. (more…)

Limited value of herbals to lower blood pressure

Tuesday, September 6th, 2011

Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center, in New York, reviewed non-drug treatments.

Let’s focus on herbals. (more…)

Increasing prevalence of side effects with yohimbine

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

Yohimbine (yo HIM bean) increases the amount of blood flowing into the penis and prevents blood from flowing out, resulting in an erection. It’s sold under many brand names.

Here’s a report on side effect reported to the California Poison Control System. (more…)

Risk of taking herbals in people with heart disease

Monday, April 5th, 2010

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and Arizona collaborated to review the risks of herbal:drug interactions.

The abstract is a bit skimpy on details, but the American Pharmaceutical Association has a nice summary, which will be summarized further here. (more…)

Herbals to treat psoriasis: A review of the evidence

Monday, March 15th, 2010

Dr. Sharon Jacob from the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center in Florida and colleagues reviewed the scientific support for herbals used by patients with psoriasis.

Here are the highlights.
(more…)

Popular weight loss supplements reviewed

Monday, May 19th, 2008

A couple of PharmDs from Ohio have published a review of 16 weight loss supplements (and 1 drug) used to help shed excess girth.

I’ll give just the bottom line on each supplement here. (more…)

Seizures associated with guarana in energy drinks

Thursday, December 13th, 2007

Recently, 4 patients experienced seizures multiple times following heavy consumption of energy drinks. The authors proposed that energy drinks rich in caffeine, taurine, and guarana seed extract could have provoked these seizures.

Here’s what we know about guarana thanks to researchers from the University of Florida at Gainesville and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) in Amazonas, Brazil. (more…)

Might yohimbine reduce the risk of heart disease?

Saturday, December 1st, 2007

Yohimbine (sold by the names Yocon, Yohimar, and others) is used to treat impotence (aka erectile dysfunction).

This study suggests yohimbine’s ability to change baroreflex control of the heart might yield additional benefits in certain circumstances. (more…)