Guest guest Posted January 24, 2005 Report Share Posted January 24, 2005 I do not believe this is truly a risky herb, however the entry in the new Bensky is going to set off alarms in many circles. We should be prepared to respond. With all due respect to Subhuti, my first teacher, the source he quotes would not be considered reputable by american regulators. It is a collection of articles in book form, not peer reviewed, nor verified or reproduced in any fashion. We will need a supplier of shi chang pu that can show with laboratory documentation that each sample has less than whatever amount of beta asarone is determined harmful. since substitution is common, it is very possible that we are receiving high beta asarone species some or all of the time. Only a supplier like golden flower can provide protection and documentation. This herb will be a likely target in the next round of FDA attacks on chinese herbs and we should be prepared in advance this time, unlike with ban xia and ma huang last year. On Jan 24, 2005, at 5:35 AM, Warren Sheir wrote: > > This is from the ITM website (Subhuti Dharmananda) > > http://www.itmonline.org/arts/asarum.htm > > Asarone, which is a main ingredient in the Western herb Acorus calamus > (known as calamus root), is blamed for the carcinogenic effects of its > extract in laboratory animals. The FDA was able to ban the use of > calamus root in the U.S. based on a single laboratory study. The > Chinese herb Acorus gramineus has not been the subject of regulatory > action. According to Pharmacology and Applications of Chinese Materia > Medica, Acorus calamus (shuichangpu) contains 3% volatile oil with > about 50% asarone. By contrast, Acorus gramineus (shichangpu) has > only about 1/10 the amount of essential oil; it contains 0.1–0.4% > essential oil, of which more than 2/3 is asarone. According to the > reports on side effects, no side effects were seen in 60 patients > taking 10 grams of Acorus gramineus decoction daily for three months > to three years; for Acorus calamus, stomach irritation was sometimes a > problem. > > Warren > > Chinese Herbs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 25, 2005 Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 Todd (and all), Calamus (Acorus calamus L.) is listed in the addendum of the zhong yao xue (Chinese Medicinal Study) text known colloquially as the " 5th Edition Teacher's Book, " under the entry of shi2 chang1 pu2. It is described as having the same properties as shi2 chang1 pu2. It is described in more detail in the zhong yao da ci dian. Acorus calamus is often called shui3 chang1 pu2, but it is listed under the name bai2 chang1. It is described as bitter, acrid, and warm. Its actions are to transform phlegm, open the orifices, fortify the spleen, and disinhibit dampness. It treats epilepsy, fright palpitations, forgetfulness, unclear spirit-mind, damp stagnation with glomus and distention, diarrhea and dysentery, wind-damp pain, welling abscess swelling, and scab sores (or scabies, depending on whether they are using a TCM term or a WM term in this particular phrase). The dose in decoctions is 1–2 qian2 (which equals 3.7– 7.4g in Taiwan and the US, or 3–6g in the PRC); it is also used externally. It is contraindicated in yin vacuity with yang hyperactivity, profuse sweating, and seminal efflux. Interestingly, while only asarone (not â-asarone) is listed as a constituent of the primary herb, the oils in the Japanese subspecies Acorus calamus L. var. angustatus primarily contain â-asarone. This could explain the suggestion that North American specimens should be substituted. Whether there is any cause for actual concern with true shi2 chang1 pu2, I do not know. I am just reporting on what it says in the books. Eric Brand , wrote: > I do not believe this is truly a risky herb, however the entry in the > new Bensky is going to set off alarms in many circles. We should be > prepared to respond. With all due respect to Subhuti, my first > teacher, the source he quotes would not be considered reputable by > american regulators. It is a collection of articles in book form, not > peer reviewed, nor verified or reproduced in any fashion. We will need > a supplier of shi chang pu that can show with laboratory documentation > that each sample has less than whatever amount of beta asarone is > determined harmful. since substitution is common, it is very possible > that we are receiving high beta asarone species some or all of the > time. Only a supplier like golden flower can provide protection and > documentation. This herb will be a likely target in the next round of > FDA attacks on chinese herbs and we should be prepared in advance this > time, unlike with ban xia and ma huang last year. > > On Jan 24, 2005, at 5:35 AM, Warren Sheir wrote: > > > > > This is from the ITM website (Subhuti Dharmananda) > > > > http://www.itmonline.org/arts/asarum.htm > > > > Asarone, which is a main ingredient in the Western herb Acorus calamus > > (known as calamus root), is blamed for the carcinogenic effects of its > > extract in laboratory animals. The FDA was able to ban the use of > > calamus root in the U.S. based on a single laboratory study. The > > Chinese herb Acorus gramineus has not been the subject of regulatory > > action. According to Pharmacology and Applications of Chinese Materia > > Medica, Acorus calamus (shuichangpu) contains 3% volatile oil with > > about 50% asarone. By contrast, Acorus gramineus (shichangpu) has > > only about 1/10 the amount of essential oil; it contains 0.1– 0.4% > > essential oil, of which more than 2/3 is asarone. According to the > > reports on side effects, no side effects were seen in 60 patients > > taking 10 grams of Acorus gramineus decoction daily for three months > > to three years; for Acorus calamus, stomach irritation was sometimes a > > problem. > > > > Warren > > > > > > Chinese Herbs > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 25, 2005 Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 I just noticed that the symbol for " beta " doesn't display correctly on the list. The paragraph below is talking about beta-asarone vs. asarone. The Japanese variety is high in beta-asarone. Eric > Interestingly, while only asarone (not â-asarone) is listed as a > constituent of the primary herb, the oils in the Japanese subspecies > Acorus calamus L. var. angustatus primarily contain â-asarone. , " smilinglotus " <smilinglotus> wrote: > (and all), > > Calamus (Acorus calamus L.) is listed in the addendum of the zhong > yao xue (Chinese Medicinal Study) text known colloquially as > the " 5th Edition Teacher's Book, " under the entry of shi2 chang1 > pu2. It is described as having the same properties as shi2 chang1 > pu2. > > It is described in more detail in the zhong yao da ci dian. Acorus > calamus is often called shui3 chang1 pu2, but it is listed under the > name bai2 chang1. It is described as bitter, acrid, and warm. Its > actions are to transform phlegm, open the orifices, fortify the > spleen, and disinhibit dampness. It treats epilepsy, fright > palpitations, forgetfulness, unclear spirit-mind, damp stagnation > with glomus and distention, diarrhea and dysentery, wind-damp pain, > welling abscess swelling, and scab sores (or scabies, depending on > whether they are using a TCM term or a WM term in this particular > phrase). The dose in decoctions is 1–2 qian2 (which equals 3.7– > 7.4g in Taiwan and the US, or 3–6g in the PRC); it is also used > externally. It is contraindicated in yin vacuity with yang > hyperactivity, profuse sweating, and seminal efflux. > > Interestingly, while only asarone (not â-asarone) is listed as a > constituent of the primary herb, the oils in the Japanese subspecies > Acorus calamus L. var. angustatus primarily contain â-asarone. This > could explain the suggestion that North American specimens should be > substituted. Whether there is any cause for actual concern with > true shi2 chang1 pu2, I do not know. I am just reporting on what it > says in the books. > > Eric Brand > > > > > > , > wrote: > > I do not believe this is truly a risky herb, however the entry in > the > > new Bensky is going to set off alarms in many circles. We should > be > > prepared to respond. With all due respect to Subhuti, my first > > teacher, the source he quotes would not be considered reputable by > > american regulators. It is a collection of articles in book form, > not > > peer reviewed, nor verified or reproduced in any fashion. We will > need > > a supplier of shi chang pu that can show with laboratory > documentation > > that each sample has less than whatever amount of beta asarone is > > determined harmful. since substitution is common, it is very > possible > > that we are receiving high beta asarone species some or all of the > > time. Only a supplier like golden flower can provide protection > and > > documentation. This herb will be a likely target in the next > round of > > FDA attacks on chinese herbs and we should be prepared in advance > this > > time, unlike with ban xia and ma huang last year. > > > > On Jan 24, 2005, at 5:35 AM, Warren Sheir wrote: > > > > > > > > This is from the ITM website (Subhuti Dharmananda) > > > > > > http://www.itmonline.org/arts/asarum.htm > > > > > > Asarone, which is a main ingredient in the Western herb Acorus > calamus > > > (known as calamus root), is blamed for the carcinogenic effects > of its > > > extract in laboratory animals. The FDA was able to ban the use > of > > > calamus root in the U.S. based on a single laboratory study. > The > > > Chinese herb Acorus gramineus has not been the subject of > regulatory > > > action. According to Pharmacology and Applications of Chinese > Materia > > > Medica, Acorus calamus (shuichangpu) contains 3% volatile oil > with > > > about 50% asarone. By contrast, Acorus gramineus (shichangpu) > has > > > only about 1/10 the amount of essential oil; it contains 0.1– > 0.4% > > > essential oil, of which more than 2/3 is asarone. According to > the > > > reports on side effects, no side effects were seen in 60 > patients > > > taking 10 grams of Acorus gramineus decoction daily for three > months > > > to three years; for Acorus calamus, stomach irritation was > sometimes a > > > problem. > > > > > > Warren > > > > > > > > > > Chinese Herbs > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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