An ancient, precious and expensive Chinese herb might possess anti-depressant effect, according to a new study by scientists at the National Taiwan University.
The study will be published in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine.
Depression is a common psychiatric disorder with a high morbidity and mortality rate. The pharmacotherapy used in clinic today is not suitable for all patients and causes certain side-effects. Thus, looking for alternative treatments with antidepressant effect and minimal side-effect is important.
Gastrodia elata Bl. (tin ma, ) is a famous Chinese traditional medicine used for centuries.
What is Tin Ma? The earliest account of tin ma was recorded in Shennong Bencao Jing , "The Herbal Encyclopedia of Shennong", which is considered the oldest Chinese medicine text in history. The name(s) of author(s) have been lost through time but the book is believed to be at least 2200 years old.
The encyclopedia lists tin ma as being able to "treat aching of the brain" and to "calm one's emotion"and to help people sleep. In modern times, tin ma has been used to treat hypertension, dizziness, headache, and somatic paralysis to name a few. Tin ma is also considered to be anti-epileptic, anti-arthritic with the abilities of calming emotions (and thus depression) and soothing pain.
It is mainly produced in Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou provinces. Other producing regions include Northeast China and North China. Nowadays, wild tin ma is rare and its prices are dear. Tin ma farms are abundant in China.
