The efficacy and function of Epimedium

If we want to truly understand the efficacy and functions of epimedium, our first task is to have a comprehensive understanding of epimedium. In fact, for most people, the word epimedium is very unfamiliar, and many people may not have heard of it. This is mainly due to the decline of traditional Chinese medicine, because epimedium is strictly speaking a type of Chinese medicinal material, and few people know about Chinese medicinal materials anymore.

Nowadays, few young people who study medicine choose to study Chinese medicine. Instead, they all go to study Western medicine. This is mainly related to market demand. In fact, the most important thing is that it is related to their own future. In fact, Chinese medicine is much more powerful than Western medicine. So, let’s introduce in detail the effects and functions of Epimedium as a traditional Chinese medicine.

Epimedium, also known as three-branched nine-leaf grass, fairy spleen, ox horn flower, triangular wind, sheep horn wind, triangle lotus, belongs to the genus with about 50 species. It is mainly distributed in Japan, North Africa, northern Italy to the Black Sea, North Korea and mainland China. It grows in areas with an altitude of 200 to 1,750 meters. It likes shady and humid areas. It generally grows in grass on hillsides, beside ditches, under forests, in bushes and in cracks in rocks. It has not yet been artificially introduced for cultivation. Epimedium is a commonly used Chinese medicine with high medicinal value. It nourishes yin and yang, and strengthens the body. It tastes bitter and is suitable for people with insomnia. Perennial herb, plant height 20-60 cm, rhizome thick and short, woody, dark brown, stem erect, ribbed, glabrous, usually without basal leaves.

Epimedium tastes spicy and sweet, is warm in nature, and enters the liver and kidney meridians. It is light in weight and has a strong energy, and can both ascend and descend. It has the effects of nourishing the kidney and strengthening yang, dispelling wind and dampness, and strengthening muscles and bones. It is mainly used to treat impotence due to kidney deficiency, spermatorrhea and premature ejaculation, infertility due to cold sperm, frequent urination and incontinence, asthma and cough due to kidney deficiency, soreness of waist and knees, spasms of muscles and bones, rheumatic pain, numbness and spasm, hemiplegia, numbness of limbs, menopausal hypertension, minor stranguria, asthma and cough, etc.

It is used for impotence due to kidney deficiency, spermatorrhea, premature ejaculation, weakness of waist and knees, cold limbs and chills. For treating impotence and nocturnal emission, it can be combined with Curculigo, Cornus officinalis, Cistanche deserticola and other herbs; for treating weakness of waist and knees, it can be combined with Eucommia ulmoides, Morinda officinalis, Cibotium barometz and other herbs.

Used for pain caused by cold and dampness or cramps and numbness in the limbs. For the treatment of rheumatic pain that is mainly caused by cold and dampness, as well as numbness of the limbs or cramps of the muscles and bones, it can be used in combination with Clematis chinensis, Morinda officinalis, cinnamon bark, Chinese angelica, Ligusticum chuanxiong, etc.

Dispel wind and dampness: used for rheumatism and rheumatoid arthritis, and can be used together with astragalus, angelica, notopterygium, and gentiana.

Lowering blood pressure: It is used for hypertension caused by deficiency of both yin and yang. It can be used together with other yang-tonifying and yin-nourishing medicines such as Curculigo, Morinda officinalis, Phellodendron chinense, Anemarrhena asphodeloides, such as Erxian Decoction.

Effects of Epimedium

Effects on endocrine

Epimedium can promote sexual function due to the hypersecretion of semen. When the seminal vesicle is full, it stimulates the sensory nerves and indirectly stimulates sexual desire. The main ingredient of Epimedium, Epimedium, can significantly promote the development of epididymis and seminal vesicles in young mice. Epimedium has androgen-like effects.

Effects on immune system function

The number of T cells, lymphocyte transformation rate, antibodies, antigens and phagocytic function of the reticuloendothelial system in patients with kidney deficiency are low, but they can be improved through treatment with kidney-tonifying drugs such as epimedium.

Effects on the cardiovascular system

Epimedium decoction and extract have a certain protective effect on myocardial ischemia in rats induced by posterior pituitary hormone. Antihypertensive effect: Epimedium decoction and ethanol extract were injected intravenously into rabbits (2.5ml/kg), cats (2ml/kg) and rats (4ml/kg), all of which showed antihypertensive effect. Among them, the effect on rabbits is the most obvious.

Effects on the blood system

Comparison of the effects of epimedium decoction, polysaccharides and total flavonoids on platelet aggregation showed that after oral administration of epimedium decoction in healthy people, hematocrit was significantly reduced, red blood cell electrophoresis time was shortened, erythrocyte sedimentation rate was accelerated, thereby significantly reducing the relative viscosity of whole blood.

Effects on metabolism

Epimedium has the function of promoting DNA synthesis.

Anti-osteoporosis effect

Experiments have shown that epimedium can promote the synthesis of DNA in bone marrow cells, indicating that epimedium has a good effect in preventing and treating osteoporosis.

Therefore, now everyone should have a certain understanding of the effects and functions of epimedium. Through studying the effects and functions of epimedium, I believe many people's views on traditional Chinese medicine have changed to a certain extent. Because essentially, the main reason for the decline of traditional Chinese medicine is the development of the market economy. But in essence, Chinese medicine is much better than Western medicine.