What does yohimbe mean?
Yohimbe is a noun that may denote an African tree, its bark, or an extract or supplement prepared from that bark. The tree, Pausinystalia johimbe, grows in tropical West and Central Africa and has a history of use in regional traditional medicine. In modern English, yohimbe most often appears in commercial references to products promoted as aphrodisiacs or sexual-performance supplements. Although yohimbe bark contains the alkaloid yohimbine, the names are not interchangeable: yohimbe refers to the bark or preparations made from it, while yohimbine is one chemical constituent. Evidence for the advertised benefits of yohimbe products is limited, and concentrated forms can have significant adverse effects and potential interactions with medication. The word is therefore best understood as both a botanical name and the name of a category of bark-derived products.
nounThe bark of the African tree Pausinystalia johimbe, or an extract or preparation made from that bark, used in traditional medicine and marketed as an aphrodisiac or sexual-performance supplement.
- The dried or powdered bark of Pausinystalia johimbe, or an extract or preparation made from it, used medicinally and sold as an aphrodisiac or sexual-performance supplement.
- The African tree from which this bark is obtained.
"She checked the label for yohimbe before adding the supplement to her routine."
"Yohimbe has a long history of use in West African traditional medicine."
"The shop sells yohimbe in capsules, powders, and liquid extracts."
Usually a mass noun when referring to bark or a preparation; the plural is appropriate for individual trees or separately countable units.
"The nursery sold several young yohimbes."
Yohimbe is one word for three linked things: a West African tree, its bark, and the alkaloid-rich extract marketed from it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of yohimbe
Yohimbe entered English in the 19th century through botanical and commercial references to an African tree and its bark. The word reflects a Central African name for the plant carried through European usage. Its form is also reflected in the botanical epithet johimbe and in the related chemical term yohimbine.
How yohimbe is actually used
Yohimbe is especially common in commercial and wellness contexts. Claims about its effects on sexual performance are not well established, and concentrated preparations may cause adverse effects or interact with medicines. In botanical contexts, the word can refer more narrowly to the tree itself.
Easily confused with yohimbe
Yohimbine is a specific alkaloid found in yohimbe bark, whereas yohimbe usually denotes the bark, an extract, or a preparation made from it.