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Page 107
| Stagnation refers to poor blood and energy flow that usually involves dampness and/or cold. It may also be useful in treating premenstrual symptoms, such as emotional instability, abdominal bloating, dizziness, and/or other menstrual problems. It is cooling and is therefore useful in conditions of heat with manifestations that include bitter taste in the mouth, dry throat, dizziness, and a feeling of constriction and fullness in the chest and flanks. |
| Bupleurum is also used as a predominate herb in formulas for the liver, such as hepatitis. One such formula that I use is called Minor Bupleurum (Xiao Chai Hu Tang). This formula has been found extremely effective at inhibiting cancer by enhancing the immune system, inducing apoptosis, and inhibiting angiogenesis. It has also been shown to increase the effectiveness of the standard chemotherapeutic drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). It is most useful in breast and liver cancers, but can also be used to treat colon cancer. Bupleurum saponins exhibit anti-inflammatory activity similar to prednisone. 17,18 |
| Schizandra (Fructus schizandrae) |
| The dried berry of schizandra, like astragalus, bupleurum, ginseng, and ligusticum, is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine for its adaptogenic properties and as a restorative remedy for immune enhancement. Schizandra is referred to as the five-flavored seed because its taste includes the five tastes of sour, bitter, sweet, acrid, and salty. In Shen Nong's Herbal Classic (written about two thousand years ago) and in the Compendium of Materia Medica (written by L.I. Shizhen in 1596), schizandra was referred to as a valuable tonican adaptogen with a diversity of indications for its use. It has a stimulatory effect on the central nervous system without being excitatory and enhances both mental and physical capabilities. |
| Classically, schizandra is used for lung and kidney deficiency. It is considered astringent in nature, and is widely used for the treatment of stress-induced nervous system exhaustion and fatigue, insomnia, weakness, depression, forgetfulness, liver disease, diarrhea, and chemical toxicity. It is also used for regulating gastric secretions to balance pH levels and for a variety of liver ailments. Schizandra is especially effective at lowering serum transaminase levels. Recent studies from China have found schizandra and its active components to be effective against viral and chemically induced hepatitis. It was found to lower SGPT levels in patients with chronic |
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