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DISCLAIMER: These pages are presented solely as a source of INFORMATION and ENTERTAINMENT and to provide stern warnings against use where appropriate. No claims are made for the efficacy of any herb nor for any historical herbal treatment. In no way can the information provided here take the place of the standard, legal, medical practice of any country. Additionally, some of these plants are extremely toxic and should be used only by licensed professionals who have the means to process them properly into appropriate pharmaceuticals. One final note: many plants were used for a wide range of illnesses in the past, but be aware that many of the historical uses have proven to be ineffective for the problems to which they were applied.




BARBATE CYCLEA
(Cyclea barbata)
[yín bù huàn]
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CONTAINS: 1-curine which was isolated from the root by Chinese scientists searching for a local source for a muscle relaxant. From this finding, dimethyl 1-curine dimethiodide was later prepared and found to be more potent than other non-depolarizing muscle relaxants. Clinical trials were conducted on more than 1,000 patients which confirmed it to be more potent than d-tubocurarine. 1-curine and isolated isochondrodendrine have both exhibited antitumor activity in relation to KB tumor systems. Also contains homoaromoline, isotarandrine, and tetrandine.

MEDICINAL USES:
In Chinese medicine the root has been used for abdominal and stomach pain.
In Indochina, small pieces of the root have been used in decoction form for fever and dyspepsia. The leaves have been crushed in water and left to stand. A jelly forms which has been used for dyspepsia and bowel problems.





©2000 by Ernestina Parziale, CH

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