Acanthopanax, Wu Jia Pi 五加皮

Wu Jia Pi (TCM)
Picture Picture
Eleutherococcus senticosus
Komarov (Komorov), V.L., Flora of the U.S.S.R., vol. 16 (?)

Eleutherococcus henryi
Curtis’s botanical magazine, vol. 136 (1801)

Picture Acanthopanax leucorrhizus (called ‘Narrow-leaf Wu Jia‘ in China)
Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, 1915

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Botanical name:


Acanthopanax spp. (syn. Eleutherococcus spp.)
  1. A. gracilistylus
  2. A. sessilifforus

Parts used:


Root-bark

Temperature & Taste:


Warm, dry. Pungent, Bitter

Classification:


D. Clear Wind and Damp

Uses:


1. Clears Wind-Damp, Strengthens Bones and Joints:
-Joint pain; Spasms in the limbs or lower back
-Rheumatic or Rheumatoid Arthralgia (Chinese Pharmacopoeia)
-Lower Back pain from Kidney weakness or old age
-pain associated with with Kidney and Liver weakness

2. Clears Damp, Promotes Urine:
-Edema
-Urinary difficulty
-Cold swelling and pain in the legs

3. Benefit the Liver and Kidney:
-deficiency Kidney and Liver Yin in the Elderly, especially with Back pain, lower body weakness, frailty
-Slow Development, Retardation, or Failure to Thrive in Children

Dose:


Decoction: 4–12 grams
Powder: 1–4 grams

Comment:


Acanthopanax Wu Jia Pi is closely related to Siberian Ginseng (A. senticosus). Wu Jia Pi is more effective for chronic bone and joint disease with deficiency, while Siberian Ginseng has Qi tonic properties. Siberian Ginseng is listed as an equivalent plant in various Chinese texts (including Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine, JiaJu Zhou et al.)

Substitute:


 … available in PRO version
Picture

Main Combinations:


1. Arthritis, Joint Pain:
i. Chronic joint pain, Acanthopanax Wu Jia Pi  … available in PRO version
ii. Aches and pain of the lower back, hips and legs, Acanthopanax Wu Jia Pi with  … available in PRO version
iii. Cold-damp pain, cold pain in the lower back and legs, Acanthopanax Wu Jia Pi,  … available in PRO version
iv. Acanthopanax Wu Jia Pi with  … available in PRO version
v. Rheumatism, Paralysis, Acanthopanax Wu Jia Pi with  … available in PRO version
2. Lower Back  and Knee Pain and weakness:i. Acanthopanax Wu Jia Pi with  … available in PRO version
ii. Acanthopanax Wu Jia Pi with  … available in PRO version
iii. Lower Back and Knee pain and weakness, barely able to walk, Acanthopanax Wu Jia Pi with  … available in PRO version
3. Edema, Acanthopanax Wu Jia Pi with  … available in PRO version
4. Beriberi, swollen skin, and joint pain, Acanthopanax Wu Jia Pi with  … available in PRO version
5. Delayed Walking in a child of 4 or 5 years age, Acanthopanax Wu Jia Pi with  … available in PRO version

Cautions:


Generally safe

Main Preparations used:




GENERAL / REVIEW
Acanthopanax henryi: Review of Botany, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology.
Advances in the Extraction, Purification, Structural Characteristics and Biological Activities of Eleutherococcus senticosus Polysaccharides: A Promising Medicinal and Edible Resource With Development Value

ANTIOXIDANT
The Antioxidant Activity and Their Major Antioxidant Compounds from Acanthopanax senticosus and A. koreanum
In Vitro Anti-AChE, Anti-BuChE, and Antioxidant Activity of 12 Extracts of Eleutherococcus Species

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
A Herbal Composition of Scutellaria baicalensis and Eleutherococcus senticosus Shows Potent Anti-Inflammatory Effects in an Ex Vivo Human Mucosal Tissue Model

IMMUNOSTIMULANT
Immunostimulating Effects of Extract of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus

ANTI-HYPERTENSIVE
Antihypertensive Effect of Ethanolic Extract from Acanthopanax sessiliflorus Fruits and Quality Control of Active Compounds

ARTHRITIS
Prophylactic and Therapeutic Effects of Acanthopanax senticosus Harms Extract on Murine Collagen-induced Arthritis

OSTEOPOROSIS
Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus Inhibits Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor Kappa-B Ligand (RANKL)-Induced Osteoclast Differentiation and Prevents Ovariectomy (OVX)-Induced Bone Loss
Anti-Osteoporosis Effects of the Eleutherococcus senticosus, Achyranthes japonica, and Atractylodes japonica Mixed Extract Fermented with Nuruk
Preventive Effects of Eleutherococcus senticosus Bark Extract in OVX-Induced Osteoporosis in Rats

ADAPTOGENIC
Acanthopanax sessiliflorus stem confers increased resistance to environmental stresses and lifespan extension in Caenorhabditis elegans
Comparison between the Biological Active Compounds in Plants with Adaptogenic Properties (Rhaponticum carthamoides, Lepidium meyenii, Eleutherococcus senticosus and Panax ginseng)

ANTI-FATIGUE
Anti-Fatigue Activity of Extracts of Stem Bark from Acanthopanax senticosus

IMMUNOMODULATORY
A review on the immunomodulatory activity of Acanthopanax senticosus and its active components
Acanthopanax koreanum Nakai modulates the immune response by inhibiting TLR 4-dependent cytokine production in rat model of endotoxic shock
Immunomodulatory effect of Acanthopanax senticosus polysaccharide on immunosuppressed chickens

NEUROPROTECTIVE
Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Profiling Reveals the Protective Effect of Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Harms Combined With Gastrodia elata Blume on Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

ANXIETY
Anxiolytic Effects of Acanthopanax senticosus HARMS Occur via Regulation of Autonomic Function and Activate Hippocampal BDNF–TrkB Signaling

ENHANCES COGNITION
Combined Treatment with Two Water Extracts of Eleutherococcus senticosus Leaf and Rhizome of Drynaria fortunei Enhances Cognitive Function: A Placebo-Controlled, Randomized, Double-Blind Study in Healthy Adults

MEMORY
Memory Enhancement by Oral Administration of Extract of Eleutherococcus senticosus Leaves and Active Compounds Transferred in the Brain
In Vitro Anti-AChE, Anti-BuChE, and Antioxidant Activity of 12 Extracts of Eleutherococcus Species

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
Protective effects of Acanthopanax divaricatus extract in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease

DIABETES
Eleutheroside E, An Active Component of Eleutherococcus senticosus, Ameliorates Insulin Resistance in Type 2 Diabetic db/db Mice

CANCER
Chinese Medicinal Herb, Acanthopanax gracilistylus, Extract Induces Cell Cycle Arrest of Human Tumor Cells in vitro
Anti-tumour effects of polysaccharide extracted from Acanthopanax senticosus and cell-mediated immunity
The cytotoxic nature of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus stem bark extracts in human breast cancer cells

RADIOPROTECTIVE
The Therapeutic Effect of Acanthopanax senticosus Components on Radiation-Induced Brain Injury Based on the Pharmacokinetics and Neurotransmitters