Yinyanghuo (also known as Epimedium) is a commonly used herb in traditional Chinese medicine. It has good therapeutic effects on impotence, wind-cold, and cough. So, what are the specific functions and effects of Yinyanghuo?
Tonifying the Kidneys and Strengthening Yang
Yinyanghuo has a warm and pungent taste and is good at tonifying the kidneys and strengthening yang. It is suitable for people with a cold constitution. It has a significant effect on common symptoms in middle-aged and elderly people, such as cold limbs, aversion to cold with spontaneous sweating, soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, and frequent urination. In addition, Yinyanghuo can tonify kidney yang, improve impotence, nocturnal emission, frequent urination, weakness of the lower extremities, and cold and painful waist and knees. It can be used in combination with Duzhong, Bajitian, and Gouji.
Treating Wind-Cold-Damp Bi Syndrome
Yinyanghuo has a warm and pungent taste, and it also helps to dispel cold, warm the meridians, and has a certain therapeutic effect on joint pain or cold pain caused by wind-cold-damp bi syndrome. It is also effective for symptoms such as numbness of the limbs and muscle spasms. It can be used in combination with Huangqi, Danggui, Qianghuo, and Qinjiao.
Strengthening the Tendons and Bones
Based on promoting blood circulation, Yinyanghuo can effectively strengthen the tendons and bones and improve various discomforts caused by rheumatic diseases. Therefore, Yinyanghuo is commonly used to treat joint stiffness, soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis.
Lowering Blood Pressure
Yinyanghuo contains Epimedium glycosides, which have a certain hypotensive effect. It can inhibit and block the pressor reflex caused by bilateral carotid arteries, thereby inhibiting the vasomotor response induced by the preganglionic fibers of the sympathetic nervous system. It is suitable for menopausal hypertension caused by kidney yang deficiency and can be used in combination with Xianmao, Bajitian, Huangbai, and Zhimu, which tonify yang and nourish yin.
Enhancing Sexual Desire
Yinyanghuo can increase the levels of adrenaline, noradrenaline, blood ammonia, and dopamine in the body, while reducing the level of cortisol. It promotes testosterone secretion and enhances sexual desire.
Nutritional Value
The main components of Yinyanghuo are flavonoids, lignans, alkaloids, epimedium glycosides, and polysaccharides. It also contains volatile oils, chlorogenic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, and linolenic acid.
1. Yinyanghuo mainly contains epimedium glycosides, and its extract has a testosterone-like effect, promoting seminal secretion, lowering blood sugar, improving the function of the pituitary-adrenal cortex system, and promoting antibody formation.
2. Flavonoids in Yinyanghuo have the ability to inhibit cell activity and promote immune function. They can protect the glands, inhibit bone resorption, and promote bone formation. This helps maintain a positive balance between bone formation and resorption, promoting bone growth, preventing calcium loss, and preventing osteoporosis.
3. Polysaccharides in Yinyanghuo can promote the body's immune function, increase the number of white blood cells and lymphocytes, and enhance humoral and cellular immune function.
