Common Name:

General Information

Pausinystalia macroceras is an evergreen tree; it can grow up to 40 metres tall, though is usually rather smaller. The clean, straight, cylindrical bole can be up to 50cm in diameter[, ].
Less well known than yohimbe (Pausinystalia johimbe), this tree has very similar properties and uses and is commonly harvested from the wild as a medicine and source of materials. It is used interchangeably with yohimbe.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

West tropical Africa - southern Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo, DR Congo, northern Angola.

Habitat

An understorey tree in forests[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	18.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The bark is very widely used as an aphrodisiac and anti-hypnotic[].

The bark sap is applied topically to treat cutaneous and subcutaneous parasitic infections[].


This species is closely related to Pausinystalia johimbe, and is said to have the same medicinal properties and uses[]. These are:-

The bark contains up to 6% of a mixture of indole alkaloids, the principle one being yohimbine (which is also known as aphrodine), plus pigments and tannins[, ]. The alkaloids have a cerebral stimulant action at low doses, but are highly toxic in large doses[]. Yohimbine has been shown to block the release of adrenalin and, in the correct dose, act as a sexual stimulant[]. It is the source of the only clinically-proven cure for impotence and has long been used as a traditional stimulant in Africa[].

Yohimbe is a bitter, warming, anti-diuretic, hypotensive and vasodilating herb with reputedly aphrodisiac effects[]. It has a stimulant effect upon the heart, increasing heart rate and blood pressure; has a locally anaesthetic action similar to that of cocaine but without being mydriatic; is a mild stimulant that can help to prevent drowsiness; and is hallucinogenic. The vasodilating action of yohimbe is particularly strong on the sex organs, hence its aphrodisiac action[, ].
The bark is taken internally, either as a powder or as a decoction. It is used particularly in the treatment of impotence, frigidity and angina[, ]. It is also used as a performance enhancer for athletes, and as a remedy to increase the clarity of the voices of singers during long festivals[, ].
The bark can be harvested at any time of the year[].
The use of this herb is subject to legal restrictions in some countries[, ].

Other Uses

This species is closely related to Pausinystalia johimbe, and is said to have the same uses[]. These are:-

The bark is a source of tannins[].

The inner bark is utilized as straps for panniers[].

The tree produces very little sap-wood, the major fraction being an ocreous-yellow heart-wood[]. The wood is flexible so iswidely used as a snare-trap mechanism, whilst the young poles are used for construction purposes in traditional buildings[].
The wood is used as fuel[, ].

Propagation

Seed -

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