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Wednesday 30 October 2013

Chinese Herbs – Yi Zhi Ren (Fructus Alpiniae Oxyphyllae)

Yi Zhi Ren is also known as Sharpleaf Galangal Fruit. The spicy and warm herb has been sued in TCM to treat impotence, spermatorrhea,  enuresis, frequent urination at night, dripping after urination, pain in abdomen with cold feeling, etc. as it warms the Spleen, opens the Stomach, reduces the secretion of saliva, warms the Kidney, preserves the Essence, etc., by enhancing the functions of spleen and kidney channels.

Ingredients
1. Eucalyptol
2. Zingiberene
3. Zinginerol
4. 4’-hydroxy-3’-methoxyphenyl)-7-phenyl-3- heptanone, yakuchinone-B, trans-1-(4’-hydroxy-3’-methoxyphenyl)-7-phenylheqt-1- en-3one
5. Etc.

Health Benefits
1. Anti-angiogenic effects
In the study to investigate the  anti-angiogenic functions of the fruit of Alpinia oxyphylla, showed that the use of A. oxyphylla for cancer and inflammation diseases may be partly due to its effects against vessel formation(1).
2. Neuroprotective effect
In the study to understand the neuroprotective effect of the ethanolic extract of Fructus Alpinia oxyphylla (AOE) and to elucidate its underlying mechanism of action, indicated that the protective effect of AOE against 6-OHDA-induced neuronal injury involved anti-inflammatory action (down-regulation of gene expression of IL-1β and TNF-α) and anti-oxidative action (inhibition of NO production and iNOS expression in PC12 cells). Moreover, the PI3K-AKT pathway might be part of the mechanism of neuroprotection of AOE(2).
3. Non-specific anaphylactic reactions
In the study of the effect of the aqueous extract of Alpinia oxyphylla Miq. (Zingiberaceae) fruits (AOFE) on anaphylactic reaction, found that the level of cAMP in RPMC, when AOFE was added, transiently and significantly increased about 4-fold compared with that of basal cells. These results indicate that AOFE may be beneficial in the treatment of non-specific anaphylactic reactions(3).
4. Etc.

Side Effects
1. Do not use in case of Yin deficiency causes of  spermatorrhea, incontinence of urine, excessive bleeding
2. Do not use the herb in newborn, children or if you are pregnant or breast feeding without first consulting with the related field specialist.
3. Etc.


Sources
(1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20723592
(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21744117
(3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11527071

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