Do you believe in traditional herbs?

[stabilo]

Cordyceps sinensis (DONG CHONG XIA CAO) ; the longevity mushroom used by Chinese nobility for more than 3,000 years 








Where can you find it?

• Native in Himalayas
  Most of world supply comes from Tibet
  Smaller harvests from Nepal & India
  High valued traditional medicine

What is it?
Created when a type of fungus parasites the head of a buried caterpillar; the Chongcao Bat Moth (Hepialus armoricanus).The caterpillar lives in underground tunnels, emerging at night to feed on roots.
The mycelium (vegetative growth of organism) grows in soil in high & cold mountains. In their life cycle, the mycelium finds the buried caterprillar & colonizes it mycelium mummified the host, eventually consuming it & replacing the caterpillar body with fungal tissue.
Although still look like a caterpillar, when studied under microscope, it is almost entirely mycelium. The mycelium then forms into a mushroom, which sprouts off the back of caterpillars’ head in the spring time.
Mushroom pokes thru soil & grows up through grass, looks much like blades of grass. It is named DONG CHONG XIA CAO which means “summer grass, winter worm”
Local people find the caterpillar by watching the wild yaks. Where the yaks graze, the mushroom is found

In traditional medicine, it was and usually still is prepared by cooking the whole caterpillar/fruitbody combination in chicken or duck soup

Possible health benefits: 

• Effective in treatment of chronic Nephropathy & chronic Nephritis
  Strengthen immune system
  Lowering lipid level in body
  Helps to stimulate immune system
  Asthma, allergic rhinitis
  Regulating blood pressure
  Antiviral & antibacterial properties
  Anticancer
  Protects heart, liver & NS
  Able to improve sexual performance

Reference:
Sharma S, Trade of Cordyceps sinensis from high altitudes of the Indian Himalay: Conservation and biotechnological priorities, Current Science, Vol 86, No. 12, 25 June 2004
http://www.nwbotanicals.org/nwb/lexicon/flyer.htm
www.himalayanherbs.net/Cordyceps_Sinensis.htm

What is your comment on this post?
Do you believe in the medicinal effects of cordyceps sinensis?
Are there any evidences to support the functions?
Feel free to share your knowledge here
 

[hex0002]

hey...nice posting...any other good info about traditional herbs??? i shall learn more about...

[2xh]

Semen Cassiae (Jue Ming Zi)




DESCRIPTION
     

Semen Cassiae Obtusioliae Slightly rhomboidal-cuboid or shortly cylindrical, both ends pararell and oblique, 3~7 mm long, 2~4 mm wide. Externally greenish-brown or dark brown, smooth and lustrous. One end relatively even, the other end oblique and acuminate, dorsal and ventral surfaces exhibiting a raised rib respectively, with an obliquely symmetrical and paler-coloured dented line on each side of a rib. Texture hard and uneasily broken. Testa thin, cotyledons 2, yellow, S-shaped. Odour, slight; taste, slightly bitter.

Semen Cassiae Tarae Shortly cylindrical, relatively small, 3~5 mm long, 2~3 mm wide, with broad yellowish-brown bands on both sides of the rib.


ACTION
     
To remove heat, to improve eyesight, and to relax bowels.


INDICATIONS
     

Inflammation of the eye with pain, photophobia and lacrimination; headache, dizziness, blurred vision and constipation.


REFERENTIAL ADVICE
     

1. Reducing liver-heat to brighten the eyes

It is indicated in bloodshot eyes with aversion of light and an overflow of light and an overflow of tears due to liver-heat or attack on the liver channel by wind-heat. For the treatment of syndrome of liver-heat, it may be combined with Spica Prunellae, Fructus Gardeniae; for syndrome of wind-heat, with Folium Mori, Flos Chrysanthemi. It is also used to treat advanced optic atrophy, internal oculopathy, blurred vision, eyes without luster; in these cases, it is often combined with Radix Rehmanniae, Fructus Lycii, Radix Scrophulariae, Rhizoma Dioscoreae, etc.

2. Lubrication the intestines and relieving constipation

For the treatment of constipation due to the dryness of intestines, it can be used as a single medicine, or combined with Fructus Cannabis, Semen Pruni, etc. Besides, it is also often used to treat headache, as one of the symptoms of hypertension due to hyperactivity of liver-Yang, and it has got effects.

TIPS
 
A very natural-acting laxative; safe and effective for chronic constipation; it also lowers blood pressure effectively.

[2xh]

TIPS
 
A very natural-acting laxative; safe and effective for chronic constipation; it also lowers blood pressure effectively.

[Admin]

Found few studies:

Siu KM, Mak DH, Chiu PY, Poon MK, Du Y, Ko KM. Pharmacological basis of 'Yin-nourishing' and 'Yang-invigorating' actions of Cordyceps, a Chinese tonifying herb. Life Sci. 2004 Dec 10;76(4):385-95.
Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. (Cordyceps), a popular Chinese tonifying herb, was revered for being both 'Yin-nourishing' and 'Yang-invigorating' in Chinese medicine. In order to establish the pharmacological basis for the 'Yin-nourishing' and 'Yang-invigorating' action of Cordyceps, the effects of wild and cultured Cordyceps on concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated splenocytes, an in vitro bioassay for 'Yin-nourishment', and myocardial ATP generation capacity, an ex vivo bioassay for 'Yang-invigoration', were investigated in mice. The results indicated that methanolic extracts of wild and cultured Cordyceps enhanced both the Con A-stimulated splenocyte proliferation in vitro and myocardial mitochondrial ATP generation ex vivo in mice, with no significant difference in potency of action between the two types of Cordyceps. While the immuno-potentiating effect was associated with the increase in interleukin II production, the stimulation of myocardial ATP generation was paralleled by an enhancement in mitochondrial electron transport. When compared with typical 'Yin' and 'Yang' tonifying Chinese herbs, Cordyceps was found to possess both 'Yin-nourishing' and 'Yang-invigorating' activities, with a lower potency in both modes of action. The pharmacological characterization of Cordyceps by means of contemporary bioassays is consistent with the time-honored clinical observation from Chinese herbalists.

Ko KM, Leung HY. Enhancement of ATP generation capacity, antioxidant activity and immunomodulatory activities by Chinese Yang and Yin tonifying herbs. Chin Med. 2007 Mar 27;2(1):3
ABSTRACT: Chinese tonifying herbs such as Herba Cistanche, Ganoderma and Cordyceps, which possess antioxidant and/or immunomodulatory activities, can be useful in the prevention and treatment of age-related diseases. Pharmacological studies on Yang and Yin tonifying herbs suggest that Yang tonifying herbs stimulate mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) generation, presumably through the intermediacy of reactive oxidant species, leading to the enhancement of cellular/mitochondrial antioxidant status. Yin tonifying herbs, however, apart from possessing antioxidant properties, exert mainly immunomodulatory functions that may boost a weak immune system and may also suppress overreactive immune responses. The abilities of Yang and Yin Chinese tonifying herbs to enhance ATP generation and to exhibit antioxidant and/or immunomodulatory actions are the pharmacological basis for their beneficial effects on the retardation of aging.

Leung HY, Chiu PY, Poon MK, Ko KM. A yang-invigorating Chinese herbal formula enhances mitochondrial functional ability and antioxidant capacity in various tissues of male and female rats. Rejuvenation Res. 2005 Winter;8(4):238-47.
The practice of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) always emphasizes the prevention of diseases and delaying the onset of senility. In this regard, the maintenance of a balance of Yin and Yang-two opposing components involved in life activities as exemplified by the antagonistic action of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems-is essential in achieving a healthy condition. Previous studies have shown that long-term treatment with a Yang-invigorating Chinese herbal formula (VI-28) could increase red cell CuZn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in male human subjects. In the present study, we examined the effects of chronic VI-28 treatment (80 and 240 mg/kg/day for 30 days) on red cell CuZn-SOD activity as well as mitochondrial functional ability and antioxidant components in various tissues of male and female rats. The results indicated that VI-28 treatment increased red cell CuZn-SOD activity as well as mitochondrial ATP generation capacity, reduced glutathione and alpha-tocopherol levels, and Mn-SOD activity in brain, heart, liver, and skeletal muscle tissues in both male and female rats to varying extents. The VI-28?induced increase in mitochondrial antioxidant capacity in various tissues was evidenced by the significant reduction in the extent of reactive oxygen species generation assessed by in vitro measurement. The red cell CuZn-SOD activities correlated positively with tissue mitochondrial antioxidant component levels/activity. The beneficial effect of VI-28 treatment on mitochondrial functional ability and antioxidant capacity may have clinical implications in the prevention of age-related diseases.

Wu Y, Hu N, Pan Y, Zhou L, Zhou X. Isolation and characterization of a mannoglucan from edible Cordyceps sinensis mycelium. Carbohydr Res. 2007 May 7;342(6):870-875. Epub 2007 Jan 14.
Cordyceps sinensis is a well known tonic food or invigorant with broad-spectrum medicinal properties that is widely used in the People's Republic of China. A neutral mannoglucan 1 with a molar mass of approximately 7.7x10(3)Da was obtained from the 0.05M acetate buffer extract of C. sinensis mycelium. It had [alpha](D)(20)+126 (c 0.2, H(2)O) and consisted of Man and Glc units in the molar ratio of 1:9. A combination of chemical analysis and NMR and IR spectroscopy together with digestion with alpha-d-amylase showed 1 to have a alpha-d-glucan backbone with (1-->4)- and (1-->3)-linkages, and the side chains of alpha-d-(1-->6)-Manp were attached to the backbone via O-6 of alpha-(1-->3)-Glcp residues. Compound 1 showed weak cytotoxicity activity against SPC-I (IC(50)=63mug/mL) cancer line, and no obvious cytotoxicity activities against BCAP37 (IC(50)>100mug/mL) and SW480 (IC(50)>100mug/mL) cancer lines.

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The studies above do prove the few benefits mentioned by stabilo:
Strengthen immune system
Antiviral & antibacterial properties
Anticancer (due to its ant-oxidant and weak cytotoxic effect)
Protects heart, liver & NS (nervous sysem)
Able to improve sexual performance (possibly due to its ability to enhance ATP generation esp by heart muscles) ATP is the _energy packages" use by our body tissues and cells to function.

Nice post, stabilo!

[drvolcanoe]

the one main worrying issue related to use of traditional herbs remians its steroidal properties.
any comments or research findings on that?

[cecilia]

It'll be good if someone who knows can post a list of traditional herbs containing steroids. 

[2xh]

It'll be good if someone who knows can post a list of traditional herbs containing steroids. 
[/quote

ya, that's great

[jolly55]

personally I do not believe in traditional herbs. I have 100% confidence in western medicine.

[2xh]

personally I do not believe in traditional herbs. I have 100% confidence in western medicine.

why?

[mdmjane]

This is not my cup of coffee. Still prefer modern medicine.
Unless someone can show me VERY CONVINCING proof on this herb. aha...

[jane]

western medicine is pretty good and effective, but at times traditional medicine is effective too....as it helps since century ago. Traditional medicine will be convincing if have more research attached. Any Chinese medicine practitioner around with us in this forum?

[Marryly]

As you know,traditional chinese medicine is very popular than before,especially in china and Europe counctries.and The State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine will develop 500 standards for the basic theory, production of herbal medicine and administration of this field by the year 2010. This will help protect and promote traditional herbal medicine.

[hervie44]

Here is a little run down of the history of herbal medicines for the interest of all of you:-

Medicinal plants have been used for medicinal purposes long before recorded history. For example, ancient Chinese and Egyptian papyrus writings describe medicinal plant uses. Indigenous cultures (e.g., African and Native American) used herbs in their healing rituals, while others developed traditional medical systems (e.g., Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine) in which herbal therapies were used systematically. Scientists found that people is different parts of the globe tended to use the same or similar plants for the same purposes.

In the early 19th century, when methods of chemical analysis first became available, scientists began extracting and modifying the active ingredients from plants. Later, chemists began making their own version of plant compounds, beginning the transition from raw herbs to synthetic pharmaceuticals. Over time, the use of herbal medicines declined in favor of pharmaceuticals.

For most herbs, used in herbal medicine, the specific ingredient that causes a therapeutic effect is not known. Whole herbs contain many ingredients, and it is likely that they work synergistically to produce the therapeutic effects. Many factors affect how effective an herb will be. For example, the type of environment (climate, bugs, soil quality, altitude, etc.) in which a plant grew will affect its constituents. In addition, how and when it was harvested and processed will also influence the quality of the resulting herbal extract.

Best regards.

[amanda]

I've already read this one hervie. But the flow doesn't fit it. I know some believe that herbal medicine do ease and heal illness. And western medicine does the same. But the difference i guess was that Herbal medicine was proven over century ago. And still there are people who doubts. And I do actually believe traditional herbs.