Maca & Yohimbe Bark

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Maca is a hardy perennial plant cultivated high in the Andean Mountains. Legend has it that Inca warriors would consume Maca before entering into battle. This would make them extremely strong. But after conquering a city, the Incan soldiers were forbidden from using Maca to protect the conquered women from the warrior's powerful sexual impulses. Maca has been used successfully by native Peruvians as an aphrodisiac, and as an adaptogen to increase energy levels. Its fertility enhancing properties were supported clinically as early as 1961, when researchers discovered it increased the fertility of rats. Recently, scientists have rediscovered the wonders of the herb Maca in enhancing libido and energy levels and in attacking erectile dysfunction. A study published in the April 2000 issue of Urology, the prestigious medical journal that first published the Viagra studies, found Maca's sexual performance powers to be consistent with the legendary reports coming from Peru for hundreds of years. Hugo Malaspina, M.D., a cardiologist practicing complementary medicine in Lima, Peru, has been using Maca in his practice for ten years. Dr. Malaspina first found out about Maca through a group of sexually active older men who were taking the herb with good results. Dr. Malaspina reported: "One man in this group started taking Maca and found he was able to perform satisfactorily in a sexual relationship with a lady friend. Soon everyone in the group began drinking the powdered Maca as a beverage and enjoying the boost that the root was giving their hormonal functions." A chemical analysis conducted in 1981 showed the presence of biologically-active aromatic isothiocyanates, especially p-methoxybenzyl isothiocyanate, which have reputed aphrodisiac properties. Initial analysis of Maca indicates that the effects on fertility are a result of the glucosinolates. Today, dried Maca roots are ground to powder and sold in capsules as a medicine and food supplement to increase stamina and fertility.

Yohimbe is also known by the name Johimbe. This plant is native to tropical West Africa, and was frequently used by the Bantu people. The part of this plant used medicinally is the bark. Yohimbe Bark has a long folk history of helping increase libido or sexual energy and desire. Historically, Yohimbe Bark was used in western Africa for treatment of fevers, leprosy, and coughs. It has also been used to dilate pupils, for heart disease, and as a local anesthetic. It has a more recent history of use as an aphrodisiac, and as a hallucinogen. Currently, Yohimbe is the only natural drug with enough credible evidence to be listed as a sensual stimulant and sexual booster in The Physician's Desk Reference. The primary chemical constituents of Yohimbe Bark include indole alkaloid (yohimbine, yohimbiline, ajmaline, pseudoyohimbine), and tannins. Yohimbe Bark affects both the male and female reproductive, nervous, circulatory and respiratory systems. It contains an alkaloid yohimbine, which expands the blood vessels in the extremities of the body, including the genitals (similar to the prescription drug ViagraT, CialisT, and LevitraT), skin, and fat cells. This compound has now been isolated, and is synthesized by pharmaceutical companies for use in the treatment of impotence. Yohimbine acts as an alpha adreno-receptor blocker, reducing the effect of hormones that cause constriction of blood vessels, which typically increases as we age. Yohimbe Bark particularly aids blood flow to the corpus cavernosom to more readily engorge the penis. This herb concurrently increases the body's production of norepinephrine which is essential to the formation of erections, and steps up adrenaline to nerve endings which enhance sexual stimulation. Thousands of Urologists in the U.S. and abroad have been recommending the drug forms of Yohimbe for years. Many studies have shown that Yohimbe Bark can help impotence caused by poor blood circulation (i.e. age, diabetes, emotional problems, etc.). A recent clinical study in Rhode Island (published in the Journal of Urology) tested the active ingredient yohimbine on a group of men who had experienced chronic sexual dysfunction - for those who had been impotent for less than two years, the improvement rate was an astounding 81% as a direct result of consuming a moderate dosage over a period of one month. Yohimbe Bark has also been recommended as an herb for weight loss, though there are more effective herbs one can choose for this purpose. Topical applications of this herb include its use as a poultice for pain relief, and as an analgesic so that surgeries may be performed. The powdered bark has been smoked, used as snuff, and rubbed on the body as an aphrodisiac.