As people are increasingly turning to plants and nature to aid their body and mood, herbal and natural remedies will continue to increase in popularity. Corydalis root is one of those herbal remedies and has been shown to be useful in the gentle relief of pain.
The corydalis plant is beautiful and its root is commonly used in herbal medicines and it has the potential to treat pain, and specifically, fibromyalgia pain.
The root of the Corydalis plant is known as YAN HU SUO. It is also known as Engosaku in Japan and Yonhosaek in Korean. YAN HU SUO is classified as a Blood Vitalizer in Traditional Chinese Medicine, according to Shen Clinic. Many practitioners of Traditional Chinese herbal medicine consider YAN HU SUO (Corydalis root) to be the second most effective pain reliever, after opium. And while you likely won’t get the same pain relief from Corydalis root as you would from opium, it will be able to gently aid the body and support at least some pain relief in a more natural and less chemically processed manner. Plus, opioids tend to be highly addictive, while corydalis root herbal tinctures are not.
Pharmaceutical companies have even recently taken an interest in one of the chemical constituents of the herb, dehydrocorybulbine (DHCB). The drug makers say this is potentially useful in creating new, non-opioid drugs for pain relief. Other active alkaloids this herb including corydaline, dl-tetrahydropalmatine, protopine, corybulbine, β-homochelidonine, and others. The combined alkaloids are considered about 40% as effective as morphine, an opioid.
If you are looking for an easy way to reap the benefits of medicinal plants, take a look at herbal tinctures, and look no further than Ready Nutrition’s™ Corydalis Organic Herbal Tincture. This herbal medicine will help with gentle and temporary pain relief as it stimulates the immune system function and activates the body’s own natural defenses to reduce inflammation and temporarily relieve pain.
Research has shown that the herb has a light hypnotic and sedative effect in many animals and reduces menstrual flow and pain in humans. In another experiment, ingestion by humans produced no gastric side effects. As with most herbal supplements and tinctures, the research into natural medicines are not widely available, however, tinctures are still gaining in popularity as people drift from Big Pharma’s drugs.
Tinctures are typically made by soaking herbs in alcohol for several weeks to extract the active components (phytochemicals) of the plants. After a few weeks, the herbal mixture is strained and the herb parts are removed, leaving behind the concentrated liquid. Alcohol is used because it is an excellent food-grade solvent and can extract herbal constituents (such as resins and alkaloids) that are poorly soluble in water. Another benefit of using alcohol as a solvent is that it is an excellent preservative that retains the freshness and potency of medicinal plants and greatly increases the shelf life of the tincture. Don’t worry – you won’t get intoxicated from the alcohol in tinctures.
Fresh or dried leaves, roots, bark, flowers, and berries may be used to make tinctures. They can be made from a single plant or a combination of plants. –Ready Nutrition
Because herbal tinctures bypass the need to digest entire herbs in the gut they are rapidly and easily absorbed by the body. Due to the fact that they are also highly concentrated, dosages can be rather small and even be diluted in your favorite beverage, such as a brewed herbal tea or a glass of water.
Herbal tinctures, including those with Corydalis root, have a milder and more subtle effect than pharmaceutical drugs, so it is important to have realistic expectations if you are using them for a chronic condition. While some tinctures DO provide rapid relief of symptoms, but most do not offer a quick fix.
Remember that with natural remedies, more isn’t always better! Please follow the suggested dosage guidelines on your bottle’s label. If you have questions about which dosage is right for you, seek guidance from a trained professional.
*NOTE: Contact a doctor prior to trying corydalis root and please take precautions when using all herbal medicines! Corydalis root should not be used by pregnant and nursing women. Most Blood Vitalizers are used for pain relief, and most, including corydalis, should be completely avoided during pregnancy and nursing, as their strong blood moving characteristics could influence or detach a young fetus.
**This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to treat, cure, or diagnose any ailment, sickness, or disease. Please contact a medical professional before using any supplements if you have any questions or concerns.
