Yu Jin - Curcuma aromatica

Professional Data
 Pin Yin
Yu Jin
 
 Latin
Radix Curcumae
 Introduction Back to Top
Radix Curcumae is the dried root tuber of Curcuma aromatica Salisb, Curcuma vvenyujin Y. H. Chen et C. Ling, Curcuma longa L., Curcuma kwangsiensis S. G. Lee et C. F. Liang, or Curcuma phaeocaulis Val. (Fam. Zingiberaceae). The drugs derived from the former two are known as "Wen Yujin" and "Huang Si Yujin", respectively, and the drugs derived from the others are known as "Gui Yjuin" or "Lii Si Yujin", respectively, according to different appearance. The drug is collected in winter when stem and leaves wither, removed from soil and rootlets, steamed or boiled thoroughly, and dried.
 Western medical Back to Top
yu jin is indicated in the treatment of bile reflux gastritis, gall stone, primary liver cancer, arrhythmia, schizophrenia and hyperlipemia, etc..
 Eastern medical Back to Top
  • Pattern: Activates Blood, dissolves stagnant Blood, regulates qi and relieves depression.
  • Properties: Pungent, bitter and cold.
  • Channels entered: Heart, Liver and Gallbladder.
 Chemical constituents Back to Top
yu jin contains volatile oil, curcumin, demethoxycurcumin tumerone, fatty oil and starch, etc..
 Pharmacological actions Back to Top
Effects on the blood rheology

In rabbits, water decoction alcohol precipitation of yu jin could lower the whole blood viscosity under high shear, increase erythrocyte electrophoresis rate and lower platelet adhesiveness, etc..

Influence over fat metabolism

yu jin decoction could reduce the formtion of plaque and lipid deposition in the aorta and coronary artery.

Others

yu jin decoction had inhibitory effect on various dermatomyces. It also had mild analgesic effect. Curcumin could promote the bile secretions and discharge. Curcumin could antagonize free radicals.

 Clinical Studies Back to Top
Bile reflux gastritis

Shu Gan An Wei Yin: yi jin 15g, chai hu 12g, zhi ke 12g, bai shao 10g, dan pi 12g, huang qin 10g, xuan fu hua 12g, lai fu zi 15g, bai zhu 12g, wu zei gu 12g; pu gong ying 12g, gan cao 9g. Modify the formula according to accompanied symptoms. 1 dose daily, 4 weeks as a course of treatment. 57 cases of bile reflux gastritis were treated, all were effective except 2 cases, 38 were cured.

Gall stone

Hua Yu Li Dan Tang: yu jin, chi shao, jin qian cao, 30g each; tao ren, jiang xiang 15g each; long dan cao, chuan lian zi, 12g each; wine prepared da huang, chai gu, 6g each. Water decoction, 30 days as a course of treatment. 26 cases of gall stone were treated, 10 were markedly effective, 13 effective and 3 ineffective.

Primary liver cancer

Jin Jia Bai Long Tang: yu jin 45g, bie jia 30g, bai zhu 30g, long kui 30g, chai hu 18g, zao xiu 25g, ba yue zha 25g, dan shen 45g, nu zhen zi 25g, etc.. 2 months as a course of treatment. 50 cases of primary liver cancer were treated for average 9.84 months, and the 1-year surival rate was 48%.

Arrhythmia

chuan yu jin powder, 5~10g, tid, and dosage could be increased to 10~15g, tid, 3 months as a course of treatment. 56 cases of premature beat were treated, and the total effective rate was 65%.

Schizophrenia

Jin Pu Dan: yu jin 40g, shi chang pu 40g, dan shen 40g, xiang fu 20g, the dosage could be made into 50 tablets, each tablet was equal to 2.8g crude drug. 1~25 tablets, bid, small dosage of psychotolytic western drus were accompanied, 6 weeks as a course of treatment. 204 cases of schizophrenia were treated, 64 were cured, 70 markedly improved, 49 improved.

Hyperlipemia

Bai Jin Wan: yu jin:ming fan was 7:1, mixed with 50% honey water to make into pills, 6g, 2~3 times daily, after meals, 20 days as a course of treatment, 2~3 courses totally. 344 cases of hyperlipemia totally, 82.8% cases had cholesterol lowered, and 71.2% cases had triglyceride lowered.

 
 References Back to Top

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