Shi Chang Pu - Acorus gramineus

Professional Data
 Pin Yin
Shi Chang Pu
 
 Latin
Rhizoma Acori graminei
 Introduction Back to Top
Rhizoma Acori graminei is the dried rhizome of Acorus gramineus soland. (Fam. Araceae). The drug is collected in autumn and winter, removed from fibrous root and soil, and dried in the sun.

 Western medical Back to Top
The herb is indicated in the treatment of epilepsy, pulmonary encephalopathy, coronary heart disease and atrophic gastritis.

 Eastern medical Back to Top
  • Pattern: Transforms Phlegm and Damp, opens orifices, promotes resuscitation, harmonizes the center and stimulates the appetite.
  • Properties: Acrid, warm.
  • Channels entered: Heart and Stomach.
 Chemical constituents Back to Top
The herb contains volatile oil which mainly includes ¦Â-asarone, ¦Á-asarone, asarone and caryophyllene. The other constituents include organic acid and amino acids.

 Pharmacological actions Back to Top
Sedative effect

The volatile oil contained in shi chang pu had sedative effect. It could enhance the hypnogenesis effect of butaylone and antagonize the central central exciting effect of ephedrine.

Influence over digestive system

Oral administration of shi chang pu could promote the secretions of digestive juice, inhibit abnormal ferment in the gastrointestinal tract and relieve the spasm of gastrointestinal smooth muscle.

Effects on respiratory system

Water or ethanol extract of shi chang pu could diate bronchi, relax the spasm of smooth muscle, improve the pulmonary ventilatory capacity and increase tidal volume. It also had anti-tussive and asthma-relieving effect.

Influence over cardiovascular system

Water extract of shi chang pu could dilate peripheral blood vessles, lower blood pressure, increase cardiac perfusion flow and improve anti-anoxia effect.

Others

shi chang pu could kill cells of ascites carcinoma. It had inhibitory effect on commonly seen dermal pathogenic fungi.

 Clinical Studies Back to Top
Epilepsy

shi chang pu extract was used to treat 90 cases of grand mal epilepsy and epileptiform discharge in EEG. Dosage for adult: 50mg, tid, 30 days as a course of treatment. In the clinical observation for 3 months ~ 2 years, the effective rate was 83.3%.

Pulmonary encephalopathy

shi chang pu was made into injection. Mild pulmonaryencephalopathy was treated with intravenous injection of 10ml this injection mixed with 20ml 5% glucose, bid. For severe cases, the dosage was increased. 5~7 days as a course of treatment. 279 cases were treated, and the total effective rate was 74.89%.

Coronary heart disease, pectoris angina

shi chang pu, xuan shen, chuan lian zi, long yan rou, sheng shan zha, chao mai ya, dang gui, long gu, mu li, chao zao ren, shu di, water decoction. 82 cases of pectoris angina due to coronary heart disease were treated, after days, 92.68% was relieved, and the EKG improving rate was 65.85%.

Atrophic gastritis

dang shen, shi chang pu, e zhu, dang gui, pu gong ying, gan cao were used to treat 61 cases of atrophic gastritis, 27 cases were markedly effective, 14 effective.

 
 References Back to Top

Except those noted, all references come from Weng Weiliang, et al., Clinical Chinese materia medica, Henan Science & Technology Press, 1998