Chinese Herbs: Tribulus Terrestris
Tribulus Terrestris is a weedy plant, which can be found in the moderate and tropical climate regions of Europe, America, Africa, Australia, and the southern Asia. The Latin word “tribulus” is translated as “caltrop” (a peaked weapon). Tribulus Terrestris has a number of other names: Puncture Vine, Caltrop, Yellow Vine, Goathead. The plant is regarded to be invasive species. The weed may be found on the sides of the roads, pastures, wild and uninhabited places.
Tribulus Terrestris multiple stems spring out from one crown. They usually trail on the ground forming flat patches, but they may also rise upwards in shade or among taller trees. Tribulus Terrestris has pinnate leaves made of two rows of little leaflets (less than a quarter-inch long), which are arranged opposite each other along a stem.
Puncture vine blooms with yellow flowers that are 4-10 mm in diameter and have 5 petals. The fruit appears a week after blooming. It is easily broken into four or five small nuts with a seed inside. The seeds are firm and stiff and have two sharp spines 10 mm long. The seeds look like goat’s or bull’s heads and are very dangerous.
The sharp spines may puncture not only the bare foot, but even a bicycle tyre. Tribulus Terrestris was used as a murderous weapon by indigenous tribes of southern Africa. They tainted the seeds with poison and then put them for the victim to step and press down with the foot.
Tribulus Terrestris was considered in Indian ayurveda practice as a health tonic and aphrodisiac. It was believed to boost immune system and improve sexual function. In European folk medicine it has been used to treat headache, constipation, sexual problems, and nervous disorders. Chinese and Indian people praised the plant for its effectiveness in the treatment of liver, kidney, and cardiovascular conditions. In Turkey, the plant was commonly used to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Puncture Vine consists of different phytochemicals. They include saponins (protodioscin, furostanol), glycosides, flavonoids, alkaloids, resins, tannins, sugars, sterols, and essential oils. Recently, the scientists have isolated two new saponins from Tribulus Terrestris: Terrestrinins A and B. All these compounds are responsible for the most plant’s actions.
In fact, we have not much scientific evidence that proves the wide folk use of Puncture Vine. Nevertheless, Tribulus terrestris demonstrates anti-microbial and anti-tumor properties. The plant’s active substances are able to lower cholesterol as well as act as antioxidants. The plant also shows positive results in hypertension and diabetes treatment. Nowadays Tribulus Terrestris becomes more and more popular among bodybuilders and athletes for its abilities to increase testosterone level.
Chinese Herbs: Yohimbe
Chinese Herbs: Yohimbe
Yohimbe comes from the inner bark of West African evergreen trees called pausinystalia yohimbe and Corynanthe yohimbe found primarily in Cameroon, Gabon, and Zaire. The active ingredient is an alkaloid called yohimbine, which is found in higher concentrations in the pausinystalia yohimbe. Pausinystalia yohimbe is verging on extinction due to over harvesting by pharmaceutical companies. Yohimbine has been isolated and is available in prescription form for impotence. Yohimbe the herb, while containing yohimbine, also contains other compounds and can have additional effects.
Traditionally yohimbe bark has been used in Africa to treat fevers, coughs, and leprosy. Often yohimbe tea was taken by warriors in preparation for battle. Yohimbe was also taken during fertility celebrations, mating and marriage rituals. It has been used as a topical anesthetic slightly milder than cocaine, and a hallucinogen when smoked. Yohimbe’s most common, modern use is as a sexual enhancer.
Little clinical research has been done to prove the effects of yohimbe or yohimbine, but in practical application it has proven to be effective in treating impotence and frigidity. It’s efficacy for women is often overlooked, however it works the same way in both women and men with similar results. Increased blood flow to the genitals and increased brain activity make it a double whammy as an aphrodisiac.
The benefits of yohimbe are a subject of much controversy. Yohimbe is used to help build muscle, improve sexual function, reduce anxiety, elevate mood, and prevent heart attacks. Because it stimulates the central nervous system, it has been used to treat narcolepsy and for weight loss. Yohimbe increases fatty acid mobilization, decreasing fat synthesis, which means it not only aids in weight loss, but actual fat reduction. Yohimbe is popular with bodybuilders. By stimulating the production of testosterone, it can help build muscle mass.
Yohimbe is a vasodilator increasing blood flow to the extremities, a nootrpoic substance increasing brain activity, and an anti-oxidant. While it has been used to prevent heart problems, it can be unsafe for people who have heart problems. Yohimbe can raise or lower blood pressure and therefore has been used to treat both high and low blood pressure, but can be dangerous for people with either condition.
Yohimbe should not be taken in conjunction with tyramine which is found in cheese, liver, red wine, chocolate, beer, nuts, aged or smoked meats, sauerkraut, and yeast. Tyramine affects blood pressure. Yohimbe affects how the body processes tyramine, and the combination can be very dangerous.
Yohimbe blocks monoamine oxidase (MAO), dopamine and serotonin. Blocking MAO can help with depression. Blocking dopamine and serotonin can make depression worse.
Recent studies have shown that Yohimbe can be helpful when taken in conjunction with some antidepressant drugs, both by increasing the efficacy of the drugs and by reducing impotence often caused by antidepressant medications. Other studies have shown that yohimbe can be dangerous when taken in conjunction with antidepressants.
Yohimbe can have great physical and mental benefits when taken with caution and under professional supervision. While much more research is needed, yohimbe has great potential as both a complementary and a stand alone herb.
Yohimbe should not be taken by people with heart problems, high blood pressure, anxiety, kidney disease, those who are pregnant, or taking antidepressants.
Yohimbe comes from the inner bark of West African evergreen trees called pausinystalia yohimbe and Corynanthe yohimbe found primarily in Cameroon, Gabon, and Zaire. The active ingredient is an alkaloid called yohimbine, which is found in higher concentrations in the pausinystalia yohimbe. Pausinystalia yohimbe is verging on extinction due to over harvesting by pharmaceutical companies. Yohimbine has been isolated and is available in prescription form for impotence. Yohimbe the herb, while containing yohimbine, also contains other compounds and can have additional effects.
Traditionally yohimbe bark has been used in Africa to treat fevers, coughs, and leprosy. Often yohimbe tea was taken by warriors in preparation for battle. Yohimbe was also taken during fertility celebrations, mating and marriage rituals. It has been used as a topical anesthetic slightly milder than cocaine, and a hallucinogen when smoked. Yohimbe’s most common, modern use is as a sexual enhancer.
Little clinical research has been done to prove the effects of yohimbe or yohimbine, but in practical application it has proven to be effective in treating impotence and frigidity. It’s efficacy for women is often overlooked, however it works the same way in both women and men with similar results. Increased blood flow to the genitals and increased brain activity make it a double whammy as an aphrodisiac.
The benefits of yohimbe are a subject of much controversy. Yohimbe is used to help build muscle, improve sexual function, reduce anxiety, elevate mood, and prevent heart attacks. Because it stimulates the central nervous system, it has been used to treat narcolepsy and for weight loss. Yohimbe increases fatty acid mobilization, decreasing fat synthesis, which means it not only aids in weight loss, but actual fat reduction. Yohimbe is popular with bodybuilders. By stimulating the production of testosterone, it can help build muscle mass.
Yohimbe is a vasodilator increasing blood flow to the extremities, a nootrpoic substance increasing brain activity, and an anti-oxidant. While it has been used to prevent heart problems, it can be unsafe for people who have heart problems. Yohimbe can raise or lower blood pressure and therefore has been used to treat both high and low blood pressure, but can be dangerous for people with either condition.
Yohimbe should not be taken in conjunction with tyramine which is found in cheese, liver, red wine, chocolate, beer, nuts, aged or smoked meats, sauerkraut, and yeast. Tyramine affects blood pressure. Yohimbe affects how the body processes tyramine, and the combination can be very dangerous.
Yohimbe blocks monoamine oxidase (MAO), dopamine and serotonin. Blocking MAO can help with depression. Blocking dopamine and serotonin can make depression worse.
Recent studies have shown that Yohimbe can be helpful when taken in conjunction with some antidepressant drugs, both by increasing the efficacy of the drugs and by reducing impotence often caused by antidepressant medications. Other studies have shown that yohimbe can be dangerous when taken in conjunction with antidepressants.
Yohimbe can have great physical and mental benefits when taken with caution and under professional supervision. While much more research is needed, yohimbe has great potential as both a complementary and a stand alone herb.
Yohimbe should not be taken by people with heart problems, high blood pressure, anxiety, kidney disease, those who are pregnant, or taking antidepressants.
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Chinese Herbal Medicine
What is Chinese herbal medicine?
Chinese herbal medicine is part of an integrated system of primary health care, known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that has an uninterrupted history of development dating back thousands of years in China and other parts of East Asia.
Traditional health care & a modern profession
The origins of Chinese herbal medicine in China can be traced back at least 5000 years, making it one of the oldest and most long-standing health care systems in the world.
In the intervening millennia, the practice of Chinese herbal medicine and TCM has developed and matured to become what it is today - a natural and holistic system of primary health care that is being used by people from a wide range of cultural and social backgrounds to effectively treat a wide range of chronic and acute health problems.
Holistic health care
Chinese herbal medicine takes an holistic approach to understanding normal function and disease processes and focuses as much on the prevention of illness as on the treatment.
Most diseases or illnesses present with a core set of recognisable signs and symptoms, but the actual presentation of a particular disease or illness will vary from person to person. For this reason, people with similar health conditions may be provided with quite different Chinese herbal medicine prescriptions.
A qualified practitioner is able to prescribe a Chinese herbal formula that specifically matches and treats your individual health problem. As your condition changes and improves with treatment, the Chinese herbal treatment is also adjusted and modified until the desired health outcome is achieved.
What substances are used in Chinese herbal medicine?
Today, there are more than 450 substances commonly used in Chinese herbal medicine - most are of plant origin though some animal and mineral substances may also be used. You may find some in your kitchen, such as ginger, garlic and cinnamon, while others such as chrysanthemum and peony flowers, are more likely to be found in your garden! Many of the substances used will be unfamiliar to you and have names like chai hu (bupleurum), di huang (rehmannia), and huang qi (astragalus). Some substances that were used traditionally are no longer part of modern professional Chinese herbal medicine practice. For example, traditional remedies that are derived from endangered species have been replaced by other substances with similar actions.
How is Chinese herbal medicine prescribed?
Chinese herbal medicines are prescribed either singly or made into formulae which take into account the individual therapeutic action of each herb and well as the effects when combined together. A well constructed formula maximises the effectiveness for treating a particular condition, while counteracting and minimising the unwanted effects of an individual herb.
What conditions does Chinese herbal medicine treat?
In addition to providing effective treatment for a wide range of health disorders, Chinese herbal medicine may also be used to assist with general health maintenance and disease prevention. By strengthening and enhancing normal body functions, the immune system is boosted and a general sense of well-being promoted.
A snapshot of conditions typically treated with Chinese herbal medicine includes:
What is Chinese herbal medicine?
Chinese herbal medicine is part of an integrated system of primary health care, known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that has an uninterrupted history of development dating back thousands of years in China and other parts of East Asia.
Traditional health care & a modern profession
The origins of Chinese herbal medicine in China can be traced back at least 5000 years, making it one of the oldest and most long-standing health care systems in the world.
In the intervening millennia, the practice of Chinese herbal medicine and TCM has developed and matured to become what it is today - a natural and holistic system of primary health care that is being used by people from a wide range of cultural and social backgrounds to effectively treat a wide range of chronic and acute health problems.
Holistic health care
Chinese herbal medicine takes an holistic approach to understanding normal function and disease processes and focuses as much on the prevention of illness as on the treatment.
Most diseases or illnesses present with a core set of recognisable signs and symptoms, but the actual presentation of a particular disease or illness will vary from person to person. For this reason, people with similar health conditions may be provided with quite different Chinese herbal medicine prescriptions.
A qualified practitioner is able to prescribe a Chinese herbal formula that specifically matches and treats your individual health problem. As your condition changes and improves with treatment, the Chinese herbal treatment is also adjusted and modified until the desired health outcome is achieved.
What substances are used in Chinese herbal medicine?
Today, there are more than 450 substances commonly used in Chinese herbal medicine - most are of plant origin though some animal and mineral substances may also be used. You may find some in your kitchen, such as ginger, garlic and cinnamon, while others such as chrysanthemum and peony flowers, are more likely to be found in your garden! Many of the substances used will be unfamiliar to you and have names like chai hu (bupleurum), di huang (rehmannia), and huang qi (astragalus). Some substances that were used traditionally are no longer part of modern professional Chinese herbal medicine practice. For example, traditional remedies that are derived from endangered species have been replaced by other substances with similar actions.
How is Chinese herbal medicine prescribed?
Chinese herbal medicines are prescribed either singly or made into formulae which take into account the individual therapeutic action of each herb and well as the effects when combined together. A well constructed formula maximises the effectiveness for treating a particular condition, while counteracting and minimising the unwanted effects of an individual herb.
What conditions does Chinese herbal medicine treat?
In addition to providing effective treatment for a wide range of health disorders, Chinese herbal medicine may also be used to assist with general health maintenance and disease prevention. By strengthening and enhancing normal body functions, the immune system is boosted and a general sense of well-being promoted.
A snapshot of conditions typically treated with Chinese herbal medicine includes:
- Insomnia and fatigue
- Loss of appetite and common digestive disorders
- Constipation and diarrhoea
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Common cold and influenza
- Chronic headaches
- Skin disorders
- Fluid retention
- Anxiety, depression and stress
- Allergies
- Rheumatoid and osteoarthritis
- Premenstrual syndrome and painful menstruation
- Excessive menstruation
- Infertility
- Impotence and prostate disorders
- Disorders associated with menopause
Chinese Herbs : Damiana
Chinese Herbs : Damiana
Damiana (Turnera diffusa or Turnera aphrodisiaca) is a woody plant with several stems that grows in hot and humid parts of Mexico, Central and South America. It can also be found under such names as “herba de la pastora,” “Mexican damiana,” and “old woman’s broom”.
The plant has approximately 1-2 m in height. Its leaves are 10-25 cm long and they are toothed on the edge. The upper side of the leaves is smooth and pale green, while the lower one is hairy on the ribs. The leaves have a pleasant scent of chamomile. Damiana blooms during the whole summer with yellow flowers that rise from the leaves’ axils. The plant has small fruits that resemble a capsule divided into three parts. They are sweet and smell like fig.
Ancient people thought that Damiana was effective in calming nerves and relieving depression and anxiety. They smoked plant’s leaves to relax. Smoking Damiana is practiced even nowadays. Some researchers say that the effect from smoking the herb’s leaves on human brains is similar to the influence of cannabis.
It is interesting to note that boosting sexual desire is not the only property of Damiana. Native tribes also use it to treat constipation and digestive problems, as well as gastric ulcers, menstrual irregularities, and bed-wetting.
Chemical structure of Damiana is rather complicated. The herb is rich in many active components that account for its main medicinal uses and applications. One of the main constituents is volatile oil that is found in the leaves of Damiana. This oil consists of at least 20 elements, including 1.8-cineole, p-cymene, alpha- and beta-pinene, thymol, alpha-copaene, and calamene. The leaves are also a source of flavonoids, tannins, damianin, beta-sitosterol, arbutin.
People learned to process Damiana long time ago and now the herb is available in various forms: capsules, tablets, tea blends, tinctures, and extracts. It is often combined with other herbs to achieve higher efficiency. Undoubtedly, Damiana is a precious medicinal plant, but we need more research to study and verify all the herb’s actions.
Damiana (Turnera diffusa or Turnera aphrodisiaca) is a woody plant with several stems that grows in hot and humid parts of Mexico, Central and South America. It can also be found under such names as “herba de la pastora,” “Mexican damiana,” and “old woman’s broom”.
The plant has approximately 1-2 m in height. Its leaves are 10-25 cm long and they are toothed on the edge. The upper side of the leaves is smooth and pale green, while the lower one is hairy on the ribs. The leaves have a pleasant scent of chamomile. Damiana blooms during the whole summer with yellow flowers that rise from the leaves’ axils. The plant has small fruits that resemble a capsule divided into three parts. They are sweet and smell like fig.
Ancient people thought that Damiana was effective in calming nerves and relieving depression and anxiety. They smoked plant’s leaves to relax. Smoking Damiana is practiced even nowadays. Some researchers say that the effect from smoking the herb’s leaves on human brains is similar to the influence of cannabis.
It is interesting to note that boosting sexual desire is not the only property of Damiana. Native tribes also use it to treat constipation and digestive problems, as well as gastric ulcers, menstrual irregularities, and bed-wetting.
Chemical structure of Damiana is rather complicated. The herb is rich in many active components that account for its main medicinal uses and applications. One of the main constituents is volatile oil that is found in the leaves of Damiana. This oil consists of at least 20 elements, including 1.8-cineole, p-cymene, alpha- and beta-pinene, thymol, alpha-copaene, and calamene. The leaves are also a source of flavonoids, tannins, damianin, beta-sitosterol, arbutin.
People learned to process Damiana long time ago and now the herb is available in various forms: capsules, tablets, tea blends, tinctures, and extracts. It is often combined with other herbs to achieve higher efficiency. Undoubtedly, Damiana is a precious medicinal plant, but we need more research to study and verify all the herb’s actions.
Chinese Herbs : Cordyceps
Chinese Herbs : Cordyceps
Information about Cordyceps is very controversial for the time being: this mushroom is believed to be one of the most potent and health improving herbs in the world; on the other hand, modern science has very little knowledge about it, the majority of facts and results being taken from the studies done by the Chinese scientists.
Cordyceps belongs to the family of numerous mushrooms, which are, actually, parasitic organisms, growing wildly on the caterpillars in the high plateaus of China, Nepal, and Tibet. The fruiting body of Cordyceps looks like grass. That is why it is called Winter Worm - Summer Grass besides Deer Fungus, Caterpillar Fungus, and Aweto.
Among the numerous species Cordyceps sinensis is the most famous due to its curing properties. The Chinese discovered its power many centuries ago, having noticed that sheep, grazed on Cordyceps, were stronger and healthier. Traditional herbalists began using the fungus for curing many diseases in humans. Cordyceps was believed to be a cure-all herb, able to fortify all the body systems, providing anti-aging, immune boosting, and strength increasing effects. This mushroom was especially popular for its ability to improve male sexual function, working as an aphrodisiac. Its influence on the human organism was often compared to that of ginseng.
The Western world got acquainted with Cordyceps not so long time ago, mainly due to the works and research of Dr. Georges Halpern, a physician and professor emeritus with the University of Hong Kong, and the author of several books about this fungus. He and other scientists and herbalists confirm that the mushroom can:
- stimulate the immune system;
- cure sexual dysfunction in men;
- maximize body oxygen uptake;
- build muscles;
- improve kidney, liver, and lung functioning;
- provide anti-aging effect...
chinese-herbs-damiana.
Astragalus and Astragalus Root
Astragalus and Astragalus Root
One of the most precious herbs, discovered, studied, and used by herbalists of China, is Astragalus. It belongs to the Fabaceae family (it is a bean family), a genus of multiple species, some of which are poisonous (the cases of poisoning pigs with some members of this family are known). However, Astragalus membranaceus is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and has proved its positive influence on human health. It is also known as Milk vetch, Huang qi, Milk vetch root, Goat’s horn, Green dragon, Yellow emperor, etc.
Astragalus membranaceus is a sprawling perennial legume, about 16 inches high. It has a hairy stem, leaves made up of 12-18 leaflets, and aromatic flowers, which are produced in late May or June. In late June beaked legumes (“pea pods”), covered with small hairs, are formed. The seeds are said to be viable for six years and they tend to geminate better if lightly scratched (scarified) with fine sandpaper. However, it is a root that is used in medicine. For this purpose it is usually harvested on the fourth year of the life of a plant.
Astragalus is indigenous to the northern and eastern parts of China and some areas of Mongolia. It prefers sunny places and sandy, well-drained soils. Although regular garden soil will also suit, in that case a good drainage is needed to prevent the crown rot.
The Chinese use the dried sliced or powdered root of the plant to boost the immune system, to increase the body resistance to the infections, to heal the allergies, and to raise and renew the vitality. Usually, teas and tinctures are made combining Astragalus with Echinacea, Ginseng, and Codonopsis. The preparations are believed to work best for preventing the diseases, not for curing them.
One of the most precious herbs, discovered, studied, and used by herbalists of China, is Astragalus. It belongs to the Fabaceae family (it is a bean family), a genus of multiple species, some of which are poisonous (the cases of poisoning pigs with some members of this family are known). However, Astragalus membranaceus is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and has proved its positive influence on human health. It is also known as Milk vetch, Huang qi, Milk vetch root, Goat’s horn, Green dragon, Yellow emperor, etc.
Astragalus membranaceus is a sprawling perennial legume, about 16 inches high. It has a hairy stem, leaves made up of 12-18 leaflets, and aromatic flowers, which are produced in late May or June. In late June beaked legumes (“pea pods”), covered with small hairs, are formed. The seeds are said to be viable for six years and they tend to geminate better if lightly scratched (scarified) with fine sandpaper. However, it is a root that is used in medicine. For this purpose it is usually harvested on the fourth year of the life of a plant.
Astragalus is indigenous to the northern and eastern parts of China and some areas of Mongolia. It prefers sunny places and sandy, well-drained soils. Although regular garden soil will also suit, in that case a good drainage is needed to prevent the crown rot.
The Chinese use the dried sliced or powdered root of the plant to boost the immune system, to increase the body resistance to the infections, to heal the allergies, and to raise and renew the vitality. Usually, teas and tinctures are made combining Astragalus with Echinacea, Ginseng, and Codonopsis. The preparations are believed to work best for preventing the diseases, not for curing them.
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