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Jason:

 

A brief run through Google revealed these cites. Dr. Hong from Taiwan is doing remarkable research on the cardiovascular impact of Chinese herbs. I had the good fortune of meeting him there in 96. BTW Nitric oxide is also one of the big deals about Jiao Gu Lan and other tonics.

19. C.Y.Hong, L.J.Lai and Y.T.Huang: Endothelium-dependentvasorelaxant effect of trilinolein: mediated by nitric oxide and cyclic GMP.Life Sciences 1995;57:1309-1315.

 

20. Y.C.Shen and C.Y.Hong: Effect of trilinolein on cyclicnucleotide formation in human platelets: relationship with its antiplateleteffect and nitric oxide synthesis. British Journal ofPharmacology1995;116:1644-1648.

 

21. S.S.Huang, S.F.Yeh and C.Y.Hong: Effect of anthraquinonederivatives on lipid peroxidation in rat heart mitochondria: structure-activityrelationship. Journal of Natural Products 1995;58:1365-1371.

 

He Sho Wu as a squalene monooxygenase inhibitor? If it clearly functions as an antioxidant...then there may be possibilities for reducing atherosclerosis as well as degeneration of sensory organs as in cataracts.

 

 

A variety of chemical compounds found in edible andmedicinal plants have recently been shown to be potent and selective inhibitorsof squalene monooxygenase. Ikuro Abe'slaboratory has shown that green tea polyphenols are particularly potent of inhibitors of the recombinant rat enzyme.11 The presence of a galloyl group (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl) was necessary for inhibition; epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), the major green teapolyphenol, had a Ki of 0.74 µM. Themajor metabolites of EGCG were also inhibitory. Although a typical cup of green tea contains 100 mg of EGCG, the low bioavailability and 2-3 hr half-life suggests that significant tea consumption would be necessary to obtain therapeutic levels.12 EGCG is a noncompetitive inhibitor ofsqualene monooxygenase, and may act by scavenging the reactive oxygen speciesformed at the active site of the enzyme (the flavin 4a hydroperoxide). Other plant extracts that contain galloylesters, including rhubarb and the Chinese herb fo-ti (Polygonum multiflorum),have also been found to inhibit squalene monooxygenase and reduce serum cholesterol.11 Additional studies by Abe's group have identified several synthetic galloyl esters as potentinhibitors of squalene monooxygenase, including dodecyl gallate, with a Ki of33 nM.13 Dodecyl gallate, and othersynthetic alkylgalloyl esters, are widely used as antioxidant food additives. Abe I, Seki T, Umehara K, Miyase T, Noguchi H,Sakakibara J, Ono T. Green teapolyphenols: novel and potent inhibitors of squalene epoxidase. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2000 Feb24;268(3):767-71 [abstract]. Abe I,Seki T, Noguchi H, Kashiwada Y. Galloylesters from rhubarb are potent inhibitors of squalene epoxidase, a key enzymein cholesterol biosynthesis. Planta Med2000 Dec;66(8):753-6 [abstract]

 

 

Here is an herb company frmo China that considers the anthraquinone content to be the marker worth controlling for. Does this mean they intend it as a laxative?

 

http://www.txjherb.com/products04_en.htm

Polygonum multiflorum extract powder Anthraquinone=1.5% Will

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Does anyone have any insights in regard to P. Unshuld’s claim that he shou wu is an inert substance with NO active ingredients, and in reality probably has no healing properties.. He implies that it’s properties are taken from a political story that uses this ‘useless’ vine/ root.

??

-

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, " " <@o...> wrote:

> Does anyone have any insights in regard to P. Unshuld's claim that he

> shou wu is an inert substance with NO active ingredients, and in reality

> probably has no healing properties.. He implies that it's properties are

> taken from a political story that uses this 'useless' vine/ root.

> ??

> -

 

where did you read that? there have actually been clinical studies

done on a standardized extract of he shou wu, showing it to be actually

useful in slowing or reversing hair loss. In addition, it has been

shown to have a distinct biochemical action shared by several other

herbs. It inhibits the conversion of testosterone to the metabolite,

dihydrotestosterone. High DHT is considerd the main cause of both hair

loss and prostate enlargement. Drugs that have this action are used

for both purposes. HSW, however, does not have some unwanted side

effects, such as loss of muscle tone and decreased libido. So it

hardly appears inert. Some people consider excess DHT conversion to

have other ill effects on health, so the use of he shou wu as a

longevity tonic may not be so far fetched.

 

For those who don't mind a little cross cultural speculation. Since

DHT is actually considered responsible for things like acne and

excessive sex drive, it makes sense that it peaks at adolescence, a

time of excess yang. However, as a person ages, it may continue to

flare as yin declines. So perhaps it makes sense in yinyang theory

that a yin essence tonic like HSW can bring the yang conversion of DHT

under control. Excess conversion of DHT is kind of like yang reaching

its max and instead of transforming to yin, it just produces more yang.

In youth, it would probably be more correct to clear excess heat-toxin.

I wonder if any of those jie du herbs affect DHT.

 

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At 5:29 PM -0800 1/21/02, Jason

wrote:

Does anyone

have any insights in regard to P. Unshuld's claim that he shou wu is

an inert substance with NO active ingredients, and in reality probably

has no healing properties.. He implies that it's properties are

taken from a political story that uses this 'useless' vine/

root.

--

 

Where/when did he say that?

 

Rory

--

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<<Does anyone have any insights in regard to P. Unshuld's claim that

he shou wu is an inert substance with NO active ingredients>>

 

He shou wu contains between 1 and 2% known active ingredients, if you

accept that concept altogether, which I don't. It contains lecithin,

glycosides (including polygonimitin AB and C,)anthraquiones, emotin,

emodin, rhein, rhaphatin, chrysophanic acid and chrysophanic acid

anthrone. (I'm betting on polysaccharides too considering the way it

hugs the sides of the bottle in the presence of high alcohol.) Mrs

Grieves lists convallarin, asparagin, gum, sugar, stach and pectin.

 

The herb reduces the intestinal absorption of dietary cholesterol,

selectively inhibits thrombaxane 2 production, reduces heart rate,

increases coronary circulation and has an antibacterial effect. The

anthraquiones are demulcent, detoxifying and moisten the intestines.

Emodin esters increase peristasis. The lecithin prevents the

accumulation of cholesterol in the liver and the retention of lipids

in the bloodstream, as well as preventing lipids from penetrating

into the arterial endotheliun. This helps prevent arteriosclerosis.

Lecithin is good for the hair, nerve tissue, brain and spinal cord,

as well as red blood cell membranes.

 

The herb is good for kidney yin deficiency signs of adrenal depletion

like dizziness, blurred vision, premature gray hair, back ache and

insomnia. It has been used in the treatment of malaria and pertussis.

 

In western herbalism the herb has been made into a paste for black

eyes, a suppository for hemmerhoids, decocted in wine for broken

bones, distilled for cosmetic use (freshening the skin), macerated

and for food use. The berries and leaves are used as an emetic.

 

So if the attribution is correct, he is wrong.

 

Karen Vaughan

Creationsgarden

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Paul said this at the Pacific 2001

Symposium… and I think it is also in his History of

Pharmaceutics….

So obviously, as Todd and Karen have

stated, there are sources that state otherwise. Unschuld mentions how (now)

every Chinese and his brother (my

addition) swears by he shou wu for

anti-aging etc… (because of this political story)… I don’t

take him to say something, that seemingly seems so outrageous, without some

reasoning behind it… So I ask, does anyone have any insights into where

he is coming from…?

 

 

 

Do

you have the article that is “showing

it to be actually

useful in slowing or reversing hair loss.” Or know

where I can get it… and…

are you saying you have an

article that says that it “It inhibits the conversion of testosterone to

the metabolite,

dihydrotestosterone”

 

my medline search rendered nothing…

 

-Jason

 

 

 

Rory Kerr

[rorykerr]

Monday, January 21, 2002

5:48 PM

To:

 

Re:

he shou wu

 

 

At 5:29 PM -0800 1/21/02, wrote:

 

 

Does anyone have any insights in regard to P. Unshuld's

claim that he shou wu is an inert substance with NO active ingredients, and in

reality probably has no healing properties.. He implies that it's properties

are taken from a political story that uses this 'useless' vine/ root.

 

 

--

 

 

 

 

 

Where/when did he say that?

 

 

 

 

 

Rory

 

--

 

The

Chinese Herbal Medicine, a voluntary organization of licensed healthcare

practitioners, matriculated students and postgraduate academics specializing in

Chinese Herbal Medicine, provides a variety of professional services, including

board approved online continuing education.

 

 

 

 

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, WMorris116@A... wrote:

 

> Here is an herb company frmo China that considers the anthraquinone content

> to be the marker worth controlling for. Does this mean they intend it as a

> laxative?

 

 

No, I think that means anthraquinones are easy to quantify. And this

merely means that if a certain level of one biochemical marker is there

in a certain amount that there will be proportional amounts of all the

other naturally occuring constituents. Contrary to belief in some

circles, standardized extracts are NOT typically (if ever) made by

manipulating the content of single biochemicals, but by concentrating

the entire crude solution till a predetermined level of the marker can

be measured. Everything is in its natural proportions, you just need

less capsules to get the same dose, which merely reduces the number of

capsules one has to take and guarantees consistency from capsule to

capsule. Independant analysis has revealed wide variations in potency

in nonstandardized products. Insurance companies and NIH have already

lined up on the side of products with some degree of standardization

and will not cover claims or award research grants for anything else.

So we must insure that the process is as I have described it. In which

case, there is no reason to be concerned.

 

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> So if the attribution is correct, he is wrong.

 

It is important to know the limitations of a person's expertise as

well as their inherent biases. As a Buddhist, I have found

some of his translations and assertions regarding Buddhism (in

: A History of Ideas) to be laughably wrong and

uninformed. But, hey, no one can be an expert in everything, and we

all get into trouble when we cross outside the bounds of our personal

expertise. The bigger problem is that Unschuld is no friend of the

contemporary practice of Chinese medicine.

 

Bob

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- "Opposition is true friendship."

>>>>>I totaly agree and would say not nessueraly opposition but critical viewing. It is excetly these type of cheer leading that I am reacting too in this list. If we do not grow up and start looking at TCM more cretically we will never progress

Alon

 

>>>>dragon90405

Tuesday, January 22, 2002 11:24 AM

Re: he shou wu

Bob,> The bigger problem is that Unschuld is no friend of the > contemporary practice of Chinese medicine.> "Opposition is true friendship."Wm. BlakeChinese Herbal Medicine, a voluntary organization of licensed healthcare practitioners, matriculated students and postgraduate academics specializing in Chinese Herbal Medicine, provides a variety of professional services, including board approved online continuing education.

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At 12:50 PM -0600 1/22/02, Alon Marcus wrote:

It is excetly

these type of cheer leading that I am reacting too in this list. If we

do not grow up and start looking at TCM more cretically we will never

progress

--

 

What cheer leading? Do you honestly think you are the only one

who looks at the medicine, or their own practice, critically?

 

Rory

--

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What cheer leading? Do you honestly think you are the only one who looks at the medicine, or their own practice, critically?

>>>>No except probably one of the few that is willing to discuss this openly. I have not heard one word so far

Alon

 

-

Rory Kerr

Tuesday, January 22, 2002 1:38 PM

Re: Re: he shou wu

 

At 12:50 PM -0600 1/22/02, Alon Marcus wrote:

It is excetly these type of cheer leading that I am reacting too in this list. If we do not grow up and start looking at TCM more cretically we will never progress

--

 

What cheer leading? Do you honestly think you are the only one who looks at the medicine, or their own practice, critically?

 

Rory-- Chinese Herbal Medicine, a voluntary organization of licensed healthcare practitioners, matriculated students and postgraduate academics specializing in Chinese Herbal Medicine, provides a variety of professional services, including board approved online continuing education.

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