Properties: None given
Meridans Entered:
Primary: None given
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Calms the Shen
Insomnia, depression, nervous disorders
Suggested Daily Dosage: Generally only sold as extraction in 5-HTP capsules, or modified into melatonin supplements.
Notable Constituents:
- 5-Hydroxytryptophan
Amino acid and intermediary metabolite between tryptophan and serotonin. Usually short lived, these seeds are one of the few natural sources of 5-HTP, containing 6-20% 5-HTP, making them the main source of extraction for supplements.
Notes:
There is no information on Griffonia simplicifolia as a herbal medicine, only its use as the source for "natural" 5-HTP supplements. Therefore the only action that can be attributed to it is the one western medicine has applied to 5-HTP supplementation.
Does not appear in any formulae listed on this site
Research Links & References: (click to display)
Research Links:
Reference Notes:
Individual herb information has sourced mainly from TCM Wiki and American Dragon for basic data and then updated manually with my own notes. Zhou, Xie and Yan (2011): Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Vol. 5, and A+ Medical Encyclopaedia have been used for entries not available from those sources with additional material searched for and filled in where available. Western herbs not appearing in the Chinese literature have used Ross (2010): Combining Western Herbs and Chinese Medicine: A Clinical Materia Medica, White Rabbit Institute of Healing and therapeutika.ch. Choices of which source to use or combine have been my own.
These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted. Actions and indications are taken from traditional uses and do not necessarily reflect the evidence base which should be researched independently. Dosages are for guidance only and will vary dependening on the potency of the batch and the tolerance of the individual so should be evaluated by a professional based on individual needs.
