Ku
Shen
Versatile
Chinese Legume
Ku
Shen is a Chinese herb with a lot of promise. Although it
has been used by traditional practitioners for thousands of
years, it is now the subject of some very exciting clinical
and pharmacological research, revealing its powerful therapeutic
value for a surprisingly wide range of conditions - from dysentery
and asthma to cancer and hepatitis.
Ku
Shen is the Chinese term for the root of Sophora flavescens,
a member of the Bean and Pea family, Leguminosae. Found growing
wild throughout China in sunny meadows and roadsides, it is
also cultivated, mostly in the Shanxi and Hubei provinces. While
the plant contains a rich cornucopia of useful chemical constituents,
as most herbs do, current research is focused primarily on 2
of its quinolizodine alkaloid constituents, matrine and oxymatrine.
S. flavescens naturally contains about 2% of these compounds
in its root stock.
Other
species of Sophora also contain these valuable constituents.
S. japonica and S. angustifolia are also called
Ku Shen in the Chinese Pharmacopeia, because in Traditional
Chinese Medicine, they were found to have properties and applications
nearly equivalent to those of S. flavescens. S. subprostrata
is also quite similar but is distinguished as Shan Dou Gen.
Both types of TCM herb are bitter, cold "heat clearing"
herbs, but Ku Shen is thought to "dry dampness" whereas
Shan Dou Gen is thought to "clean toxins." S. alopecuroides
is also used in traditional medicine. Of all the alkaloid rich
Sophoras, though, S. flavescens is most common and most
commonly used. It is much like the usage prevalence of Echinacea
purpurea over its cousins in the United States.
Ku
Shen is remarkable in the diversity of conditions for which
it has shown positive benefit. It has been used safely with
significant results to treat asthma, bronchitis, cardiac arrhythmia,
ulcer, bacterial and candida infections, eczema, neurodermatitis,
psoriasis, vaginitis, hepatitis B and C, dysentery, conjunctivitis,
parasites, fever, inflammation, insomnia, and cancer. Wow! With
so many positive therapeutic applications, it is no wonder that
clinical and pharmacological researchers are excited about investigating
this herb and its alkaloids. Following is a very brief description
of their findings:
Asthma
and Bronchitis
In animal studies, the alkaloid matrine was found to be as effective
as methylxanthine bronchodilator aminophylline without its stimulatory
side effects. Oxymatrine was also found to inhibit histamine
release in mice. Sophocarpine, another alkaloid in Ku Shen,
was found be antitussive, inhibiting the urge to cough, while
its flavone compounds demonstrated expectorant effects. 517
cases of asthmatic bronchitis were treated with Ku Shen with
an 86.5% effectiveness and 38.8% marked effectiveness rate.
Cardiac
Arrhythmias
Ku Shen has been shown to counteract several types of arrhythmia,
particularly premature sytole; regulate heart contractility;
dilate the coronary artery, increase blood flow and improve
cardiac oxygen levels; and counteract the myocarditis-causing
coxsackie virus. In one study of 32 patients, arrhythmias were
improved with 84% effectiveness and 56% marked effectiveness.
Infections
and Skin Conditions
Ku Shen was shown in a clinical test to be 79% effective in
treating acute and subacute eczema. Extracts are administered
in China orally, topically and by injection to successfully
treat perineal eczema, pudendal eczema, urticaria, pruritis,
scabies, seborrhea and other types of dermatitis. (Note: Injectable
forms are specially prepared and not available in the US).
Matrine
significantly inhibits Shigella, E. coli, Proteus vulgaris,
B-Strep, and Staph bacterias in vitro. Ku Shen is
used to treat bacillary dysentery. Matrine mixed with tannins
to make matrine tannate is particularly effective against dysentery.
Studies indicate that Ku Shen could also be effective in treating
giardia infection.
Ku
Shen has been very effective in treating infections of the female
reproductive system, including salpingitis, endometriosis, cervical
erosion, chronic cervicitis, vaginitis, and chronic pelvic inflammatory
disease. In one study, 126 of 176 patients were cured of vaginal
trichomonas after treatment with Ku Shen.
Hepatitis
B & C
Recently researchers have focused on using Ku Shen and its alkaloids
to treat hepatitis B & C. Amazingly, injections of Oxymatrine
were shown not only to be liver protective but also to reduce
viral replication, and inhibit liver fibrosis. When used in
an herbal formula, the effects were comparable to interferon
therapy, but without adverse side effects.
Cancer
Ku Shen, matrine, and oxymatrine have been used extensively
in China as an adjunct therapy for cancer with good results.
Injections have been found effective in countering radiation
induced leukopenia, improving white blood cell counts, and stimulating
the anticancer immune mechanism. Positive results have been
reported in cases of cervical, lung, and throat cancer, and
leukemia.
Ulcer
Oxymatrine is effective in inhibiting the formation of ulcers.
It works by reducing the secretion of stomach acid while also
inhibiting gastric motility, two processes that also cause acid
reflux disorders such as GERD.
There
are several additional uses for Ku Shen that are being actively
investigated. It has mild sedative effects on the central nervous
system and has been found to be helpful in treating insomnia.
In animal studies, it has also been shown to reduce (yeast induced)
fever. Matrine was shown to have anti-inflammatory properties
in mice. Ongoing research will no doubt reveal new applications
for this valuable herb.
Safety
Generally Ku Shen is a very safe herb with low toxicity. Side
effects such as dizziness or gastric upset are evident only
at unusually high dosage levels. Also at very high dosage levels,
there is some evidence of immunosuppression from animal and
in vitro studies.
Ku
Shen is effective alone or in the context of a formula. In Traditional
Chinese Medicine, it is often used in a formula with other herbs
that accentuate its effectiveness for a specific function. Draco's
Ku Shen is a Full Spectrum 5:1 extract of Sophora flavescens.
Please contact us for additional details!
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Copyright 2003, Draco Natural Products, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.