Jiaogulan

[Guest guest]

Hi All, & Bob

 

> Hi folks!! Does anyone have any info on the TCM properties and/or drug

> interactions of Scientific Name: Gynostemma Other Names: Amachazuru,

> Gynostemma pentaphyllum, Miracle Grass, Southern Ginseng, Vitis

> pentaphyllum, Xianxao ?????? I found an article in the Mayway news

> letter by Michael Blumert that says this herb is not included in the

> standard pharmacoepia but that practitioner in China has described it

> as sweet, slightly bitter, neutral, slightly warm, enhancing yin and

> supporting Yang. It is, apparently, adaptogenic. He also says it is

> listed in the Dictionary of Chinese Materia Medica ( which I, of

> course, don't have). Some sources claim that it has twice the saponins

> (82 gypenosides) of ren shen. Among the many functions touted by

> various manufacturers is that of increased cardiac ejection fraction

> (+13%) in patients with low eject. frac. Any comments?? Bob??

 

See: http://www.birtandtang.co.uk/?section=herbfinder & herb=jiaogulan and

http://tinyurl.com/38p9s3 and http://alternativehealing.org/jiao_gu_lan.htm

 

Partial notes from WWW:

 

Jiaogulan; Xiaokuyao; Gongluoguodi; Biandishenggen ;Aka Qiyedan;

Nanfangrenshen Southern Ginseng bc of its tonic similarity w ginseng; in

Japan: Fuyincao; Ganchawan Sweet Tea Vine; Shenxiancao Deity /

Immortality Grass; Amachazuru, Vitis pentaphyllum, Xiancao (Miracle

Grass); " Like ginseng but better than it bc more supportive wo causing

overstimulation; " Women's Ginseng " bc it is kinder than Renshen to female

metabolism

 

Hb Gynostemmae pentaphyllae;

 

Immortality Herb; Longevity Herb;

 

sweet; bitter /bitter~slightly; neutral;

 

?Cold; non-toxic; used as tonic vegetable;

 

Channels: LU, SP, KI;

 

contains 82 saponins, some of which are related directly to Renshen

ginsenosides; 4/85 Jiaogulan saponins (called Gypenosides) are identical to

those of Ginseng

 

2.5-3g, tid, for 10d; Safe at standard dose rates as regards organ damage,

cancer growth, chromosome mutation, / teratogenicity

 

Actions: (1) Adaptogen (normalise body Fxs /help body to regulate itself; aid

reflexes; Antistress; resists depression of immune system & other stress-

related symptoms; boost immune system & support adrenal Fxs);

rectify/modulate CNS & Mental Fxs; biphasic effects on CNS Fxs; energize /

calm CNS depending upon body's need; Sedative; Calm Shen; Calm in

irritated nerves neurasthenia / overexcited CNS; Boost CNS; brighten &

clear mind; tone/stimulate depressed CNS; Stimulate tissues to revitalize

physiological activities; rectify/normalise male & female hormonal Fxs &

reproductive system; (2) Antioxidant; Antiageing; Antisenility; longevity tonic

herb; protect from free radical damage; also act as LV Protector from

damage dt certain drugs / chemicals / by chronic alcohol abuse; boost

endogenous SOD (Superoxide Dismutase, an Antioxidant enzyme that

scavenges free radicals) & lower amount of SO radical & H2O2 in white

blood cells; premature hair greying; senility~premature; (3) Tone & Nourish

Body (Qiangzhuang Shenti); Nourish & Tone Vigour (Zibu Qiangzhuang);

Boost Yin & Support Yang; rejuvenating elixir; Antifatigue; general health

tonic in fatigue syndromes; assist recovery from illness & fatigue; if body

needs rest, Jiaogulan promotes rest; if body needs tonic, Jiaogulan boosts

energy; Athlete's Hb; Enhance Athletic performance; boost Stamina,

endurance & strength; Boost resistance against effects of excessive

exercise, oxygen deprivation, electric stimulus & high temperature; (4) Aid

Sleep in insomnia; anxiolytic in anxiety; hypnotic in tension, insomnia, worry

& anxiety; (5) Aid HT, Rectify BP & Aid circulation & vascular Fx: strengthen/

boost HT Fx, causing HT to beat more powerfully; Boost HT stroke volume /

HT output; Boost / support Circulation & vascular Fx; lower BP by

decreasing vascular resistance & increasing HT blood flow; boost blood

supply & nourishment to body organs; boost oxygen utilization; speed

recovery from exercise; Rectify / normalise BP, lowering it when it is too high

& raising it when it is too low; vasodilator; hypotensor in hypertension; Better

than Renshen as Hypotensor but also acts as Hypertensor if needed; reduce

workload on HT; CHD; HT & vascular diseases; HT ailments; unstable BP;

HT palpitation; prevent and control HT & Vascular disease; inhibit platelet

aggregation which lessens chance of CVA / HT attack; key components of

HT disease; rectify/normalise BP; reduced platelet aggregation may help to

reduce build up of plaques in blood vessels; (6) Immunomodulator;

rectify/normalise immune system (boost deficient / sedate overactive

immune system); Immunostimulant; Boost/ support Immune system; boost

resistance to infectious diseases; Antiinflammation+Resolve Toxin (Xiaoyan

Jiedu): modulate lymphocyte formation & increases lymphocyte activity;

enhance NK (Natural Killer) cell activity in cancer patients; inflammation;

Boost WBC production in deficient patients, like those who have undergone

recent chemotherapy / radiotherapy; boost Lymphocyte production; boost

Phagocyte production; boost serum IgG, but not to an excess; modulate

lymphocyte transformation, enhance lymphocyte activity & inhibit tumor

growth; support chemotherapy / radiotherapy; White blood cells: boost WBC

production in white cell deficient patients, like those who have recently

undergone chemotherapy / radiotherapy; (7) Tone LV Fx; LV Protector:

Clear Toxin; protect LV from toxic chemicals, like CCl4; Delay LV fibrosis;

Hepatitis B; Relax Spasms; prevent and treat LV Hepatitis B, LV cirrhosis;

reduce aminotransferases; lower cholesterol by improving LV's ability to

send sugar & CHO to muscles for conversion to energy instead of turning

sugar into triglycerides which body stores as fat; it lowers LDLs (bad

cholesterol) while raising HDLs (good cholesterol); it improves fat

metabolism, reduces blood fat levels & depresses lipid peroxide & fat

sediment in blood vessels; rectify high cholesterol & obesity problems;

Normalise cholesterol, triglyceride & other lipoprotein levels; Hypolipaemic;

lower triglyceride levels; Hypocholesterolaemic in hypercholesterolaemia;

Lower total Cholesterol; lower LDL cholesterol, & raise HDL cholesterol; (8)

Antidiabetes; Hypoglycaemic; Diabetes w hyperglycaemia; (9) Aid LU; Ease

Cough; expectorant; Dispel Phlegm: Bronchitis chronic; tracheo-bronchitis

chronic; common colds & other infectious diseases; cough; phlegm; (10)

Rectify/normalise Digestive System / Digestion, allowing underweight person

to increase nutrient absorption & gain weight in form of lean muscle mass;

This regulatory effect on bodily Fxs is hallmark of an adaptogen; Antiobesity;

Appetiser; help prevent constipation through its adaptogenic properties;

prevent & treat ST and duodenal ulcer; (11) Clear Toxin; Anticancer; cancer

(LV, LU, uterus, skin) & tumours; prevent cancer (LU, ST, LV, oesophageal

carcinoma, GB, Rectum, pancreas, mammary, uterus, etc); Antiradiation

damage; also stubborn illness; migraine~chronic; Haematuria; oedema &

pharynx pain; heat & edema of neck; tumors & trauma;

 

AVOID w Azathioprine (Imuran), CellCept, cyclosporine (Neoral,

Sandimmune), Prograf, Rapamune, Zenapak; avoid in pregnancy &

lactation; Side effects include nausea, poor appetite; abdominal distention;

increase in number of bowel movements; dizziness; weight loss/weight gain;

Caution: A minority may develop symptoms (Zhengzhuang) of nausea &

emesis (E'xin Outu), abdomen~distension & diarrhoea (Fuzhang Fuxie) /

constipation (Bianmi), dizziness / vertigo (Touyun), Vision~blurred (?eye

floaters), tinnitus (Erming);

 

Best regards,

 

[Guest guest]

Hey all,

 

According to my notes, there are two parts used, from the same plant:

 

Jiao Gu Lan: the twigs and some leaves, slightly bitter/bitter

 

Qi Ye Dan: the leaves, slightly sweet/sweet

 

 

 

For details see abstract by Eric Brand:

 

>>>The format may be messed up, tone marks may display poorly, sorry

about that.

 

Boosts q¨¬ and fortifies the spleen: Spleen vacuity patterns.

Ji¨£o g¨³ l¨¢n is used to treat spleen-stomach q¨¬ vacuity with signs

such as fatigue, lack of strength, and reduced eating. It also

engenders liquid and allays thirst, so it is suitable when damage to

spleen-stomach q¨¬ and y¨©n causes dry throat and heart vexation. Here,

it may be combined with medicinals such as sh¨¡ sh¨¥n (Adenophorae seu

Glehniae Radix) and sh¨¡n y¨¤o (Dioscoreae Rhizoma).

 

Transforms phlegm and suppresses cough: Lung vacuity cough.

In addition to transforming phlegm and suppressing cough, ji¨£o g¨³ l¨¢n

boosts lung q¨¬ and clears lung heat. It is often used for dual

vacuity of q¨¬ and y¨©n with dryness-heat in the lung, accompanied by

cough and sticky phlegm. For this purpose, combine with chu¨¡n b¨¨i m¨³

(Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus) and b¨£i h¨¦ (Lilii Bulbus).

 

Lung q¨¬ vacuity with exuberant phlegm-damp, manifesting in cough with

profuse phlegm: Com-bine with b¨¤n xi¨¤ (Pinelliae Rhizoma) and ch¨¦n p¨ª

(Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) .

 

Clears heat and resolves toxin: Heat toxin.

Ji¨£o g¨³ l¨¢n may be used for a variety of conditions that are caused

by heat toxin, including sores, armpit odor, and tumors.

 

Dosage and Method of Use

10¨C30 g in decoctions. It may also be infused as a tea or swallowed

as a powder. If taken as a powder, each dose should be 3¨C6 g. Ji¨£o g¨³

l¨¢n was traditionally used rela-tively infrequently in Chinese

medicine, and was seldom ascribed supplementing properties. However,

the discovery of ginsenosides (the active constituents in ginseng)

within the plant has given rise to a new range of use and popularity.

It remains relatively uncommon in clinical Chinese medicine, but it

is presented in this text because it is an increasingly common

supplement in both Eastern and Western nations.

 

WARNING: A small number of patients experience side effects after

taking ji¨£o g¨³ l¨¢n. Reactions include nausea, vomiting, abdominal

distention, diarrhea or constipation, dizziness, flowery vision, and

tinnitus.

 

Eric Brand<<<