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Botanical Name: Corydalis ambigua, Corydalis yanhusuo
Family: Papaveraceae
Genus: Corydalis
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Ranunculales
Species: C. ambigua
Synonyms: C. ‘Ambigua’.
Common name: Yan Hu Suo
Parts Used: Rhizome
Habitat : Native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere and the high mountains of tropical eastern Africa.Woods and meadows from the lowland to the mountains of N. Japan.
Description:
Perennial herbaceous flowering plant growing to 0.2 m (0ft 6in) by 0.1 m (0ft 3in).
It is hardy to zone 6 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf 6-Mar, and the seeds ripen from May to June. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees.The plant is self-fertile.
The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and requires well-drained soil.The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils..It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland).It requires moist soil.
Corydalis (Greek korydalís “crested lark”) is a genus of about 470 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants in the fumewort family (sometimes included in the poppy family). They are most diverse in China and the Himalayas, with at least 357 species in China.
Cultivation :
Prefers a moist, well-drained rather light soil, thriving in semi-shade. Grows well in a woodland garden or peat bed. This species is very closely related to and probably part of C. fumariifolia. It is probably not really worthy of specific status and is best treated as a cultivar, C. ‘Ambigua’. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits.
Propagation:
Seed – best sown as soon as it is ripe, the seed rapidly loses viability if it is allowed to become dry. Surface sow and keep moist, it usually germinates in 1 – 3 months at 15°c. Germinates in spring according to another report. Two months warm, then a cold stratification improves the germination of stored seed. Sow the seed thinly so that the seedlings can be allowed to grow undisturbed in the pot for their first year. Apply liquid feed at intervals during their growing season to ensure they are well fed. The seedlings only produce one leaf in their first year of growth and are very prone to damping off. Divide the seedlings into individual pots once they have become dormant and grow them on in a partially shaded area of a greenhouse for at least another year. Plant them out into their permanent positions when they are dormant. Division in spring after flowering. Once the plants are dying down, dig up the clump and divide the tubers, planting them out straight into their permanent positions if required.
Corydalis species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species (butterflies), especially of the genus Mnemosyne.
Contains:
Alkaloids, including:
*dl-tetrahydropalmatine (THP)
*Papaveraceae type alkaloids
*Protopine
Medicinal Uses:
Alterative, antiperiodic, astringent, deobstruent, diuretic, emmenagogue, sedative, tonic. The root is analgesic, antispasmodic and sedative. The tuber has a history of over a thousand years use in mitigating pain. This species was ranked 10th in a test of 250 potential antifertility drugs
This is a tuberous early flowering E Asian species. A remotely related species C. yanhusuo is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine. In Chinese it is called yán hú suo.
Action:
*analgesic [a drug which relieves or diminishes pain without causing loss of consciousness]
*anti-arrhythmic [eases symptoms of arrhythmia]
*bitter [applied to bitter tasting drugs which act on the mucous membranes of the mouth and stomach to
*increase appetite and promote digestion]
*blood stimulant [an agent that excites or quickens the functional activity of the tissues giving more energy]
*cardio-protector [protects the heart]
*hypnotic [an agent that promotes or produces sleep without disturbing alertness and receptiveness to others]
*sedative [a soothing agent that reduces nervousness, distress or irritation]
Corydalis ambigua is used for:
Blood Conditions
*blood stasis (stoppage of flow)
Brain and Nervous System Conditions
*insomnia
*neuralgia
Cardiovascular Conditions
*acute myocardial infarction
*angina pectoris
*cardiac arrhythmia
*hypertension
*myocardial ischemia
Female Conditions
*dysmenhorrhea (painful menstruation)
Other
*headaches
*organ pain
*pain of injury
*visceral pain
Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corydalis_ambigua
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corydalis
http://www.globalherbalsupplies.com/herb_information/corydalis_ambigua.htm
http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Corydalis+ambigua
http://asiaherbs.org/