Corydalis Rhizome (Yan Hu Suo)
Corydalis Rhizome (Yan Hu Suo)
Corydalis refers to approximately 450 species of plants related to the poppy family throughout the world, most of which are found in China.
Historically, corydalis has been used both as an internal and externally applied remedy. Traditionally, it is used to alleviate various symptoms including spastic, abdominal and menstrual pain for hundreds of years [1].
One compound responsible for the analgesic and nerve pain[2] mediating effect is THP (tetrahydropalmatine). It has shown to have anti-inflammatory effects in clinical application[3]. There is also another compound recently discovered in corydalis, called DHCB (dehydrocorybulbine). DHCB has been found "to diminish both inflammatory pain, which is associated with tissue damage and the infiltration of immune cells, and injury-induced neuropathic pain, which is caused by damage to the nervous system[6]". Instead of targeting morphine receptors, DHCB uses dopamine D2 receptors to reduce pain signals to the brain. With significant pain relieving properties, corydalis does not have the addictive qualities of the opiates used to provide similar pain relief.
Interestingly, corydalis has shown anti-tumor activity in the laboratory[4] and has shown anti-proliferative effects against breast cancer cell[5].
Battle Balm® uses High Quality Cultivated Corydalis Rhizome as one of its 20 key ingredients. Yan hu suo is just one of the many proven herbal compounds used to reduce pain and lessen inflammation so you can bounce back from injury and get into the gym again quickly!
References:
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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15496650 (Effects of Corydalis yanhusuo and Angelicae dahuricae on cold pressor-induced pain in humans: A controlled trial)
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21889526 (Antinociceptive effects of intragastric DL-tetrahydropalmatine on visceral and somatic persistent nociception and pain hypersensitivity in rats)
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22799079 (Phytochemical and biological activity studies of the Bhutanese medicinal plant Corydalis crispa)
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19787224 (A traditional Chinese medicine formulation consisting of Rhizoma Corydalis and Rhizoma Curcumae exerts synergistic anti-tumor activity.)
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12553004 (Antiproliferative activity of Chinese medicinal herbs on breast cancer cells in vitro)
- https://news.uci.edu/press-releases/chinese-herbal-compound-relieves-inflammatory-and-neuropathic-pain/ (Chinese herbal compound relieves inflammatory and neuropathic pain)