Yohimbin. A crystalline alkaloid obtained from the bark of the Yohimbeha, or Yumbehoa tree, of the Cameroons. *N. O. Rubiaceae (?). C23H32N2O4, or C22H30N2O4. Trituration.
Clinical
Diuresis. Heart, palpitation of. Impotence. Priapism.
Characteristics
The natives of West Africa discovered a potent aphrodisiac in the bark of the Yohimbeha tree, and from this an active principle, *Yohimbin, has been isolated and tested in Europe (*Therapist, December 15, 1900). It is a powerful stimulant of the genital function in males. In animals it causes increased liveliness and cheerfulness, hyperaemia of the conjunctiva, heat and redness of the ears, and of the nose also in dogs. Lambreghts (*J. Belge d’H., viii. 188) relates the case of a young man, 28, “thin, anaemic, nervous, and partially impotent,” who took a 5-mgr. tablet one morning, another in the evening, and a third the following morning. The symptoms of the Schema are his, and they were so severe that he discontinued the drug in spite of a certain amelioration of the sexual neurasthenia. *Yohim. set up symptoms of fever, disordered the digestion, caused agitation and tremors, and increased the action of the heart. Eulenburg (*Deut. Medorrhinum Woch., April 25, 1901, quoted *B. M. J.) used *Yohim. in 10-drop doses of a 1 per cent. solution, and in 5-mgr. tables, “in cases of neurasthenic impotence with excellent result.” *Yohim. should be a homoeopathic remedy in priapism and congestive states of the sexual organs.
Relations
*Compare: Erections, Pic. ac., Pho., Graphites, Cantharis, Hdfb.
SYMPTOMS.
Mind
Intense agitation, with trembling.
Face
Flying sensations of heat, heightening the colour.
Mouth
Tongue covered with a yellow coat.- Disagreeable metallic taste.
Stomach
Appetite almost completely disappeared.
Abdomen
Flying heats in abdomen.
Stool & Anus
Stools frequent, liquid, black, and bilious.
Urinary Organs
Urine clean abundant, foamy, no trace of albumen, had to rise three times in the night.
Male Sexual Organs
In the morning strong and lasting erections without increase of desire. Sexual neurasthenia, with impotence, is relieved. Enlargement of testicles and epididymis (animals).
Heart
Flying sensation of heat in heart. Heart-beats more intense and more frequent, pulse, normally 80, became 108.
Back and neck
Flying heat in back.
Upper Limbs
Hands trembled, he could scarcely write, and his writing was illegible.
Sleep
No sleep all night.
Fever
Three hours after the dose (5 mg.), flying sensations of heat, true vapors (*vapeurs) which heightened the complexion, afterwards the same phenomena in the back, heart region, and lower abdomen, so that in spite of the cold weather the prover was inconvenienced by the intense heat and tendency to sweat.
