Herbs to Combine With Yohimbe
Which Herbs To Use With Yohimbe
Yohimbe (Pausinystalia johimbe) is a West African herbal remedy popular among men for enhancing erections and boosting circulation, which also supports athletic performance. Many people choose to take herbs in combinations, and don’t always know where to start. Here, we take a look at herbal remedies and medicinal mushrooms with similar indications, but different mechanisms of action to yohimbe.
Using Yohimbe For Sexual Health
Studies show that yohimbe may be effective in relieving erectile dysfunction by blocking alpha-2 adrenergic receptors. That’s not all you need for a fun romantic life, however, as testosterone plays an essential role in libido and sexual health. Testosterone supports tissue maintenance and function in your reproductive organs, but levels decline with age and stress. So what can we do to restore its youthful levels?
Which Herbs Can Help With Increasing Testosterone In Men?
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a popular remedy for fatigue. In men aged 18 to 50, combining ashwagandha with resistance training for eight weeks led to dramatically higher testosterone levels. After eight weeks, the ashwagandha group’s average testosterone readings were 96.2ng/dL, over five times higher than the placebo group (18ng/dL).
Velvet Bean
Velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) may be another herbal remedy that enhances testosterone production in men, alongside focus and overall mental health. A study involving men with low sperm count found that it significantly increased sperm count, motility, and stress resistance. Through boosting dopamine, velvet bean extract indirectly increases testosterone by stimulating GnRH release in the brain.
Increasing Testosterone For Women
Yohimbe’s ability to enhance circulation is also important for a woman’s ability to achieve an orgasm. What’s more, you need that healthy blood flow to maintain your reproductive organ tissue integrity at any age.
Women need smaller amounts of testosterone for libido, strength, and endurance, as their muscles are more responsive. A study where women took relatively tiny amounts of the hormone found an 8% increase in endurance and 3% increase in strength over just 10 weeks compared to a placebo group performing the same exercise routine. This is despite an average strength and endurance gap between men and women of 10-15% and a low dosage amount, which created no masculinizing effects.
Solving The Aromatase Problem
Many herbs that boost testosterone in men increase estrogen in women. If strength is your goal (and you’ve struggled with estrogen dominance), the problem is aromatase, which converts testosterone to estrogen.
Fortunately, a mix of damiana (Turnera diffusa), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), and tribulus (Tribulus terrestris) could increase testosterone in women. In one study of postmenopausal women, the average testosterone levels increased from 0.41 to 0.5pg/mL. This is an impressive result, as postmenopausal women must rely solely on their adrenal glands to produce sex hormones. Damiana acts as an aromatase inhibitor, so it was necessary for maintaining the testosterone boosting effects of tribulus and fenugreek. As a result, the women enjoyed a higher libido, more sexual satisfaction, better orgasms, and improved lubrication. You can substitute yohimbe for ginkgo when recreating this formula, as ginkgo was included to dilate (widen) the blood vessels.
Yohimbe For Cardio And Endurance Performance
Yohimbe widens the blood vessels and increases circulation through boosting nitric oxide production. This may improve athletic performance when it comes to cardio and endurance exercise.
If boosting your performance in cardio, endurance, and strength is your goal, improving mitochondrial health is another key consideration. While their number and function declines with age, they are perhaps the most important consideration when it comes to physical fitness, as every cell depends on them.
Siberian Ginseng
One herbal remedy that supports mitochondrial health is Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus). Lab research shows that Siberian ginseng increases the growth of new mitochondria inside the muscle cells, which have high energy demands. Even better, its extract boosts glucose absorption into muscle cells and enhances energy production. These actions may also be how Siberian ginseng increases mitochondrial counts. In humans, Siberian ginseng extract has been found to boost physical endurance.
Reishi (And Lion’s Mane)
Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) may protect and increase the number of your mitochondria, at least in the brain. The medicinal mushroom extract was able to prevent defects in mitochondria and boost their numbers in a lab study on neurons. This was made possible through an increase in nerve growth factor (NGF), which is also the basis of many benefits of lion’s mane.
Reishi in particular can be a great choice if you are over 40 or 50, as the loss of strength and endurance in aging is partly because of neurodegeneration. This means your muscles cannot receive the same signal strength because the number and quality of neurons has degraded. Restoring mitochondrial health in your neurons may therefore provide your muscle with more youthful nerve signals.
Rhodiola
Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea) is another herb well-loved for its ability to boost energy and overall vitality. Over time, it may complement the short-term benefits of yohimbe thanks to its anti-aging effects. A lab study found that one active phytochemical in rhodiola, salidroside, could increase the counts of mitochondria inside older cells. Restoring more youthful levels of cellular energy production then allowed cells to keep their ability to divide and prevent the loss of cells from tissue.
Guarana
Guarana (Paullinia cupana) is a popular weight loss aid, but did you know it can improve your energy levels and fitness over time? It’s far more than a fad. A study on mice fed a high-fat diet found that guarana increases the production of mitochondria. As a result, oxygen use and energy generation rose, indicating improved cardio fitness and potentially endurance. The genes guarana works on include those coding for energy metabolism and antioxidant status, too. Energy production generates oxidative free radicals, so increased antioxidant capacity helps to ensure your cells are protected.
Shop For Yohimbe At Zhi Herbals
Yohimbe is a fantastic herbal remedy for enhancing sexual performance and physical fitness, mostly through boosting circulation. Other herbs and medicinal mushrooms we are proud to provide at Zhi Herbals can complement its effects by increasing testosterone or supporting mitochondrial health. With several different supporting herbs available for each key benefit, you will likely find a combination that works best for your unique needs.
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References
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2. Shukla, K. K., Mahdi, A. A., Ahmad, M. K., Jaiswar, S. P., Shankwar, S. N., & Tiwari, S. C. (2010). Mucuna pruriens Reduces Stress and Improves the Quality of Semen in Infertile Men. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 7(1), 137–144. https://doi.org/10.1093/ecam/nem171
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