What are the general effects of the Chinese herbal medicine Alisma?

Chinese herbal medicine should not be unfamiliar to us Chinese people, because our traditional medicine must involve a lot of Chinese herbal medicine. Indeed, in our daily lives, there are still many Chinese herbal medicines that we often come into contact with, such as Alisma orientalis. However, most people still don’t know much about Alisma orientalis, let alone its efficacy. So, what are the general effects of the Chinese herbal medicine Alisma?

According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, it is cold in nature and has the effect of promoting diuresis and eliminating dampness. Modern medical research shows that Alisma can lower serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels and slow down the formation of atherosclerosis. Alisma and its preparations are also used to treat inner ear vertigo, dyslipidemia, spermatorrhea, fatty liver and diabetes. However, Alisma is hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic. If taken improperly, it can cause swelling of the liver and kidneys and other symptoms of poisoning.

Key Ingredients:

1. Volatile oil, containing furfural;

2. Its ethanol extract contains alkaloids, phytosterols and asparagine;

3. Its water and benzene extracts contain anti-fatty liver ingredients.

Effects and functions:

1. Diuretic. It has a significant effect and can increase urine volume, urea and chloride excretion.

2. Lower cholesterol. Animal experiments have found that Alisma has a mild inhibitory effect on the cholesterol content in the blood of rabbits and can reduce the development of atherosclerosis, but it has not yet been used clinically to treat arteriosclerosis.

It is used for edema caused by nephritis or beriberi for its diuretic and swelling-reducing effects. It is often combined with Poria cocos and Atractylodes macrocephala, in prescriptions such as Si Ling San. This prescription can be used as a basis and added or subtracted according to symptoms. It is used to treat symptoms such as spermatorrhea, spermatorrhea, dizziness, etc. caused by insufficient kidney yin (kidney yin deficiency) and hyperactivity of kidney fire. It has the effect of purging kidney fire (possibly related to diuresis and clearing heat), but it must be used in combination with other medicines that nourish kidney yin, such as cooked rehmannia, cornus officinalis, etc., such as Liuwei Dihuang Pills. Liuwei Dihuang Pills have the tonic effects of cooked rehmannia, cornus fruit, and yam, as well as the purgative effect of Alisma orientalis, which can purge kidney fire and make the tonic more effective. This way, one purgative and one tonic, one opening and one closing, are opposite but complementary, and together they achieve the effect of tonifying kidney yin. However, it should be noted that Alisma should not be used for those who suffer from spermatorrhea caused by kidney yang deficiency or those without dampness and heat.

The efficacy of the Chinese herbal medicine Alisma is still very powerful. For example, friends who have problems with nocturnal emission can use Alisma to regulate and improve the condition. Not only that, for those with fatty liver and diabetes, the use of Alisma can also have a certain therapeutic effect. Finally, taking Alisma can also have a very good diuretic and cholesterol-lowering effect.