Corydalis, Yan Hu Suo 延胡索 Yan Hu Suo (TCM) Su mi  སུ་མི  (Tibet)

Corydalis yanhusuo

Corydalis glaucescens
Gartenflora [E. von Regel], vol. 27 (1878)

Corydalis decumbens
(Photo by KENPEI) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:

Corydalis yanhusuo (syn. C. ternata)
Others used in various parts of China include C. turtschaninovii (classical source), C. repens, C. ambigua var. amurensis, C. glaucescens
Corydalis decumbens is called Xia Tian Wu in TCM and has effects synonymous with Yan Hu Suo.
In Tibetan Medicine, four types of ‘Su Mi‘ (Corydalis) are recognised:

1. Su mi smug po
2. Su mi ser po
3. Su mi dmar po
4. Su mi dkar po

Parts used:

Root, prepared Root

Temperature & Taste:

Warm, dry. Pungent, Bitter.

Classifications:

K. Move the Blood

Uses:

1. Moves Qi and Blood, Eases Pain:
-Chest pain, Abdominal pain, Lower back pain
-Coronary Heart Disease, Angina Pectoris, Arrhythmia (proven effects)
-Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea
-Blood Stasis following Birth
-Pain and Swelling from Trauma
-one of the strongest herbs for pain associated with Blood stagnation
-in Tibetan Medicine, C. meifolia is used for Pain caused by Wind, and swelling of the limbs.

Dose:

Decoction: 3–9 grams (maximum dose of 20 grams)
Powder: 1–3 grams
Tincture (1:5 in 50% alcohol): 2–5 mls.

Comment:

1. This is a potent pain reliever, being one of the strongest non-narcotic analgesics.
2. When used for pain with deficiency it is taken with tonic medicines.
3. The Tibetan C. meifolia appears to be similar in use to the Chinese varieties.

Preparation:

1. Vinegar Stir-Fried Corydalis (Cu Chao Yan Hu Suo):
  It is soaked, then Stir-fried with 10% its weight of vinegar until dry; or else boil in a little vinegar until the vinegar is exhausted. This is better to move the Blood and ease Pain. Vinegar stir-fried Corydalis is about twice as active as a blood-moving medicine compared with the unprepared herb and is stronger to relieve pain.
2. Wine Stir-Fried Corydalis (Jiu Chao Yan Hu Suo):
  Replace rice wine with the vinegar and prepare as above. This makes the herb more penetrating and stronger to move the Blood and ease Pain.
3. Dry-Fried Corydalis (Chao Yan Hu Suo):
  Dry fry until aromatic and the color changes slightly. This is less active, not as strong to move the Blood, so is more gentle. It is regarded as better to regulate Qi and Blood and is better suited to delicate women with menstrual irregularities.
4. Salt-prepared Corydalis (Yan Chao Yan Hu Suo):
  Prepared with Salt facilitates alkaloid extraction in water.

Main Combinations:

1. Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea:
i. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Rose flower (Mei Gui Hua)
ii. from Qi and Blood stagnation, Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Cyperus rotundus Xiang Fu
iii. from Blood stagnation Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Dang Gui, Paeonia Bai Shao
iv. from Blood stagnation Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Safflower (Hong Hua), Angelica Bai Zhi
v. from Cold, Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Cinnamon twig (Gui Zhi) or Cinnamon, and Dang Gui
vi. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo  with vinegar-fried Cyperus rotundus (Xiang Fu), Ligusticum Chuan Xiong, Dang Gui, Paeonia Bai Shao, Atractylodes Bai Zhu, Licorice (as in Fu Ke Shi Wei Pian)
2. Menstrual disorders, dysmenorrhea, metrorrhagia with Qi and Blood deficiency, Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Dang Gui, Paeonia Bai Shao, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong, Atractylodes Bai Zhu, Cyperus rotundus (Xiang Fu), Saffron (or Safflower Hong Hua), Notoginseng San Qi (as in Ding Kun Dan)
3. Chest Pain and Angina from Qi and Blood stangation:
i. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Saffron (or Safflower)
ii. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Ligusticum Chuan Xiong
iii. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Curcuma Yu Jin, Salvia Dan Shen
iv. from Heart diseases, Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Salvia Dan Shen, Safflower (Hong Hua), Ligusticum Chuan Xiong
4. Irregular Heart Beat, Arrhythmia, Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Salvia Dan Shen, Polygonum Yu Zhu (Soloman’s Seal), Hawthorn fruit (Shan Zha)
5. Headache associated with Blood Stagnation, Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Calamus (Shi Chang Pu), Ligusticum Chuan Xiong
6. Pain from Trauma:
i. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Myrrh, Frankincense
ii. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Ligusticum Chuan Xiong, Dragon’s Blood (Xue Jie)
7. Pain associated with Inflammation, Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Frankincense (Ru Xiang) and Turmeric (Jiang Huang) as a Tincture
8. Lumbago, Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Black Pepper (3 grams each). Mix with Rice wine and take as a dose.
9. Joint Pain:
i. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Stephania Fang Ji
ii. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Cinnamon twig (Gui Zhi), Saposhnikovia Fang Feng, Angelica Du Huo
10. Abdominal pain:
i. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Cyperus rotundus Xiang Fu
ii. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Costus (Mu Xiang), Citrus Zhi Ke,
iii. from Qi and Blood stasis, Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Myrrh (Mo Yao), Amomum tsaoko Cao Guo
iv. Cold-type Abdominal pain, Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Cinnamon (Rou Gui), Fennel fruit (Xiao Hui Xiang), Amomum Sha Ren (Greater Cardamon), Licorice (as in An Zhong Pian)
v. Cold-type Abdominal pain, Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Galangal (Gao Liang Jiang), Cyperus rotundus Xiang Fu, Amomum Sha Ren
vi. associated with internal Abscess, Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Lonicera Jin Yin Hua, Costus (Mu Xiang)
11. Pain from excess Stomach acid：
i. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Cuttlefish bone (Hai Piao Xiao), Licorice
ii. Vinegar-fried Corydalis Yan Hu Suo, Cuttlefish bone (Hai Piao Xiao), Burnt Alum (as in An Wei Pian)
iii. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Cuttlefish bone (Hai Piao Xiao), Paeonia Bai Shao, Cyperus rotundus (Xiang Fu), Licorice (as in Hou Tou Jian Wei Ling Jiao Nang)
12. Abdominal Masses from Blood stagnation:
i. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Paeonia Mu Dan Pi, Peach kernel (Tao Ren), Rhubarb (Da Huang)
ii. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo with Motherwort (Yi Mu Cao), Safflower (Hong Hua), Dang Gui, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong, Galangal (Gao Liang Jiang), Curcuma Jiang Huang (Turmeric), Myrrh (Mo Yao), Frankincense (Ru Xiang), Rhubarb (Da Huang), Bitter Almond kernel (Ku Xing Ren), Toxicodendron Gan Qi (calcined), Licorice, Leech (Shui Zhi) (as in Hua Zheng Hui Sheng Pian)

Major Formulas:

Chen Xiang Jiang Qi Tang
Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang
Hu Po San (Amber Powder)
Jin Ling Zi San
Ju He Wan
Qi Zhen San
Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang
Xiang Ai Xiong Gui Yin
Yan Hu Suo Tang

Cautions:

1. Not used in Pregnancy.

Toxicity:

–Systematic review of published data on herb induced liver injury.

Main Preparations used:

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GENERAL / REVIEW –Advances in phytochemical and modern pharmacological research of Rhizoma Corydalis. PROCESSING –[Effects of different types and standard of processing vinegaron inherent constituents in rhizoma of Corydalis yanhusuo]. –Influence of vinegar and wine processing on the alkaloid content and composition of the traditional Chinese medicine Corydalis Rhizoma (Yanhusuo). –[Study on method of Corydalis yanhusuo producing and concocting integration processing]. –Processing and Compatibility of Corydalis yanhusuo: Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics, and Safety. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY –13,13a-seco-protoberberines from the tubers of Corydalis yanhusuo and their anti-inflammatory activity. ANALGESIC –The Analgesic Properties of Corydalis yanhusuo. –Analgesic effect of the main components of Corydalis yanhusuo (yanhusuo in Chinese) is caused by inhibition of voltage gated sodium channels. –A network-based analysis and experimental validation of traditional Chinese medicine Yuanhu Zhitong Formula in treating neuropathic pain. –Dopamine D1 and D2 receptors mediate analgesic and hypnotic effects of l-tetrahydropalmatine in a mouse neuropathic pain model. –Role of Dehydrocorybulbine in Neuropathic Pain After Spinal Cord Injury Mediated by P2X4 Receptor. –The Antinociceptive Properties of the Corydalis yanhusuo Extract. –Pain: novel analgesics from traditional Chinese medicines. –[Analgesic effect of Corydalis yanhusuo in a rat model of trigeminal neuropathic pain]. DYSMENORRHEA –Investigation on Chinese herbal medicine for primary dysmenorrhea: implication from a nationwide prescription database in Taiwan. DRUG ADDICTION –The Extract of Corydalis yanhusuo Prevents Morphine Tolerance and Dependence. –Chinese Herbal Medicine for the Treatment of Drug Addiction. –[Study on acting mechanism of anti-morphine conditioned place preference between aqueous extract of Corydalis yanhusuo and L-THP and comparison of their effects]. ANTIPLATELET AGGREGATION –Simultaneous screening and analysis of antiplatelet aggregation active alkaloids from Rhizoma Corydalis. CARDIOVASCULAR –[Analysis of chemical constituents of anti-myocardial ischemia fraction of Corydalis yanhusuo]. –Beneficial effects of the extract from Corydalis yanhusuo in rats with heart failure following myocardial infarction. –Corydalis yanhusuo rhizoma extract reduces infarct size and improves heart function during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion by inhibiting apoptosis in rats.

CARDIOPROTECTIVE –Identification of Metabolites of the Cardioprotective Alkaloid Dehydrocorydaline in Rat Plasma and Bile by Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Triple Quadrupole Linear Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry. ATHEROSCLEROSIS –Antiatherosclerotic effect of dehydrocorydaline on ApoE-/- mice: inhibition of macrophage inflammation. NEUROPROTECTIVE –Structural characterization and neuroprotective effect of a polysaccharide from Corydalis yanhusuo. ANTIDEPRESSANT –Dehydrocorydaline induced antidepressant-like effect in a chronic unpredictable mild stress mouse model via inhibiting uptake-2 monoamine transporters. –A 1H-NMR-Based Metabonomic Study on the Anti-Depressive Effect of the Total Alkaloid of Corydalis Rhizoma. ANXIOLYTIC –Levo-Tetrahydroberberrubine Produces Anxiolytic-Like Effects in Mice through the 5-HT1A Receptor. –Evaluation of the anxiolytic properties of tetrahydropalmatine, a Corydalis yanhusuo compound, in the male Sprague-Dawley rat. ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE –Protopine promotes the proteasomal degradation of pathological tau in Alzheimer’s disease models via HDAC6 inhibition. SCHIZOPHRENIA –A Natural Product with High Affinity to Sigma and 5-HT7 Receptors as Novel Therapeutic Drug for Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia. INHIBITS ANGIOGENESIS –Alkaloid extract of Corydalis yanhusuo inhibits angiogenesis via targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor signaling. CANCER –13-Methyl-palmatrubine induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in A549 cells in vitro and in vivo. BREAST –Dehydrocorydaline inhibits breast cancer cells proliferation by inducing apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. –Corydalis yanhusuo W.T. Wang extract inhibits MCF-7 cell proliferation by inducing cell cycle G2/M arrest. –Yanhusuo extract inhibits metastasis of breast cancer cells by modulating mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. BONE CANCER PAIN –Simultaneous inhibition of NMDA and mGlu1/5 receptors by levo-corydalmine in rat spinal cord attenuates bone cancer pain. LIVER –AMPK-Mediated Metabolic Switching Is High Effective for Phytochemical Levo-Tetrahydropalmatine (l-THP) to Reduce Hepatocellular Carcinoma Tumor Growth. LUNG –13-Methyl-palmatrubine shows an anti-tumor role in non-small cell lung cancer via shifting M2 to M1 polarization of tumor macrophages.