AKA: Alpha Yohimbine, Isoyohimbine, Corynanthidine
The Mythology: Yohimbine‘s shiny new cousin. All the fat burning magic of Yohimbine without the jitters.
The Truth: Woefully under-researched. No human obesity trials to date. Big industry spin from in vitro research and animal studies. Go for it if self-experimentation is your thing.
Research: In the late 80′s and 90′s with obesity and lifestyle research really taking off, scientists were interested in new treatment strategies for taking off pounds. Drugs acting on adrenoceptors were a natural and easy target. They were well studied and with a relatively good side effect profile. The lipid mobilising effects of alpha-receptor antagonists have been known for some time now 1 Drugs like Yohimbine, Alpha-Yohimbine and Idoxazan appeared to show promising results with rats and dogs.
Alpha Yohimbine is a stereoisomer of Yohimbine – an alpha receptor blocking drug.The rationale for Alpha Yohimbine use over Yohimbine is that it is far more specific for blocking Alpha 2 receptors than Alpha 1 receptors. 50 times more specific to be exact. (Bradley 2007) Alpha 2 receptor blockade is what results in lipid (read fat) mobilisation, as they block the reuptake of adrenalin and therefore increase ‘sympathetic’ tone ie: crudely put, more adrenaline or flight/fight chemical in your blood. Alpha 1 blockade also comes with side effects such as reduced blood pressure, jitters etc.
That’s all well and good, but the problem is that Rauwolscine has been even less studied than Yohimbine for its effects on obesity. Yohimbine itself is no darling and has yet to prove itself in the research. Reasons are unknown but stimulation of insulin secretion which works to reduce fat mobilisation may operate in a ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’ fashion and limit the fat burning properties of alpha 2 blockade. While there’s reason to believe it may have a better side-effect profile than Yohimbine, there’s no evidence that it works as good, worse or better than Yohimbine.
My suspicion is that this has been an attempt by the industry to resurrect a supplement that was falling out of favour, by putting a new spin on some very old research. Its impossible to predict what the actual fat burning properties of Alpha Yohimbine will amount to in clinical trials. The body is a hugely complex eco-system and frequently promising compounds that have a good basis for working in theory, fail miserably in real life trials even with the best intentions.
Sax L, Int J Obes. 1991 Sep;15(9):561-5. Yohimbine does not affect fat distribution in men.
Adverse effects: It is predicted that Rauwolscine will have a better side effect profile than Yohimbine given its more specific alpha 2 blocking actions. Effects of yohimbine such as rapid heart rate, high blood pressure should be lessened. Although other side effects such as overstimulation, insomnia and/or sleeplessness arising from sympathetic stimulation are likely to remain.
How it works: Specific alpha 2 receptor blockade which prevents noradrenalin and other monamines from being mopped up. This causes an increase in ‘sympathetic tone’ which is proposed to improve thermogenesis, increase fat mobilisation and curb appetite.
