Epimedium Herb
|
TMPW No.：6912 |
| Synonym | |
| Latin name | Epimedii Herba |
| Botanical source: Family name | Berberidaceae |
| Botanical source: Plant name | - Epimedium koreanum Nakai (IPNI:107288-1) - Epimedium grandiflorum var. thunbergianum Nakai - Epimedium pubescens Maximowicz (IPNI:107306-1) - Epimedium brevicornu Maximowicz (IPNI:107262-1) - Epimedium wushanense T.S.Ying (IPNI:107328-1) - Epimedium sagittatum Maximowicz (IPNI:107314-1) - Epimedium sempervirens Nakai ex F.Maekawa (IPNI:107316-1) |
| Part used | Aerial part |
| Empirical criteria for quality selection | The fresh and bluish leaves are good in quality. (NI) The leave with petiole and rhizome is second class. (TN) |
| Constituents | Lignans & Neolignans: (-)-Olivil, Icariresinol [leaf] Flavones & Flavonols: Icariin [leaf & stem]; Des-O-methylicariin [root]; Epimedine A,C [leaf & stem] Alkaloids: Magnoflorine [root] |
| Pharmacological effects | Unknown |
| Indications | As an aphrodisiac and tonic, it is applied to treat impotence, weakness of the waist and the knees, hemiplegia and rheumatism. Generally it is soaked in alcohol overnight and taken as medicinal wine. |
| Diseases | Impotence, Infertility, Partial paralysis, Rheumatism, Motor paralysis, Muscle spasm, Pain |
| Formulas | It is used in folk medicine and contained in home remedy. |
| Meridian tropism | Liver, Kidney |
| Property | Warm |
| Flavor | Acrid/pungent, Sweet |
| Classification in "Shen-non Ben-cao Jing" | Middle |
| TCM: Classification | Yang tonics |
| TCM: Medicinal effects | To reinforce the kidney yang, strengthen the tendons and bones, and relieve rheumatic conditions; it is used for impotence, seminal emission, weakness of the limbs, rheumatic or rheumatoid arthralgia with numbness, muscle contracture and climacteric hypertension. |
| Remarks | Listed in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia 18th ed. The Chinese Pharmacopoeia defines the aerial part of E. brevicornum Maxim., E. sagittatum Maxim., E. pubescense Maxim., E. wushanense T. S. Ying and E. koreanum Nakai as Yinyanghuo. The mainstream products in Sichuan Prov. are E. pubescens., E. acuminatum Franch., E. wushanense, E. sutchuenense Franch. and E. davidii Franch. In northeast China and northern Korean Peninsula, Yinyanghuo seems to be E. koreanum Nakai, and E. cremeum Nakai (Jap. name: Kibanakarinso). In Japan, Yinyanghuo is the dried aerial part of E. grandiflorum Morr. var. thunbergianum Nakai （Jap. name: Ikariso, produced in Nagano Prefecture) and E. sempervirens Nakai var. hypoglaucum Ohwi (Jap. name: Urajiroikariso, produced in Nigata Prefecture). The root is sold on the market as Ikarisokon in Japan. |
| References | NI: N. Isshiki, Methods of Quality Evaluation and Preparation of Wakan-yaku, Tohodo Shoten, Tokyo, 1987. TN: T. Namba & Y. Tsuda ed., Outline of Pharmacognosy, a Textbook, 3rd ed., Nankodo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, 1998. |
