Cortex lycii radicis

Cortex lycii radicis is a native Chinese deciduous shrub with bright red berries. The dried berries and root bark are used to make medicine.

Contents

• Uses
• Benefits
• Cautions
• Interactions
• Other names
• References

Uses

Cortex lycii radicis is used for diabetes, high blood pressure, poor circulation, fever, malaria, and cancer. It’s also used for erectile dysfunction (ED), dizziness, ringing in the ears(tinnitus); and to reduce fever, sweating, irritability, thirst, nosebleeds, cough, and wheezing.

Some people use Cortex lycii radicis as an eye tonic for blurred vision, for macular degeneration, and for other eye disorders. Cortex lycii radicis is also used to strengthen muscles and bone, and as a blood, liver, and kidney tonic.

In foods, the berries are eaten raw or used in cooking.

Benefits

1. Its extracts and betaine have strong antipyretic effects. The extracts include ethanol extract, water extract, and ether residue water extract, etc.;
2. Its decoction and extracts have hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect;
3. Its injection, decoction, and tincture have significant antihypertensive effect and associate with the decreased heart rate;
4. Its decoction has immunomodulatory effects, as well as anti-microbial effect. That’s being said, it has a strong inhibitory effect on the typhoid bacillus, paratyphi and Shigella flexneri. In addition it inhibits the cytopathic effect of Asian influenza virus type A Jingke 68-1 strain;
5. Its injection has significant excitatory function on isolated uterus;
6. Its 70% ethanol extract by percolation method can significantly improve the pain threshold and inhibit the physical and chemical pain.

Caution

Cortex lycii radicis is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken appropriately by mouth, short-term. It can cause some side effects such as nausea and vomiting.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Taking Cortex lycii radicis by mouth during pregnancy isLIKELY UNSAFE. It contains a chemical, betaine, which could cause miscarriage. Don’t use goji if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Allergy to protein in certain products: Cortex lycii radicis might cause an allergic reaction in people who are allergic to tobacco, peaches, tomatoes, and nuts.

Low blood pressure: Cortex lycii radicis might lower blood pressure. If your blood pressure is already low, taking goji might make it drop too much.

High blood pressure: Cortex lycii radicis might lower blood pressure. It might cause blood pressure to drop too much if you are taking medications for high blood pressure.

Diabetes: Cortex lycii radicis root bark might lower blood sugar. It might cause blood sugar to drop too much if you are taking medications for diabetes. Monitor your blood sugar levels carefully.

Interactions

• Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) substrates) interacts with Cortex lycii radicis
  Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver.Lycium might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking lycium along with some medications that are broken down by the liver can increase the effects and side effects of some medications. Before taking lycium talk to your healthcare provider if you take any medications that are changed by the liver.

  Some medications that are changed by the liver include amitriptyline (Elavil), diazepam (Valium), zileuton (Zyflo), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Voltaren), fluvastatin (Lescol), glipizide (Glucotrol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), irbesartan (Avapro), losartan (Cozaar), phenytoin (Dilantin), piroxicam (Feldene), tamoxifen (Nolvadex), tolbutamide (Tolinase), torsemide (Demadex), warfarin (Coumadin), and others.

• Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with Cortex lycii radicis
  Lycium bark might decrease blood sugar. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking lycium bark along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.
• Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs) interacts with Cortex lycii radicis
  Lycium seems to decrease blood pressure. Taking lycium along with medications for high blood pressure might cause your blood pressure to go too low.Some medications for high blood pressure include captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), losartan (Cozaar), valsartan (Diovan), diltiazem (Cardizem), Amlodipine (Norvasc), hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDiuril), furosemide (Lasix), and many others.
• Warfarin (Coumadin) interacts with Cortex lycii radicis
  Warfarin (Coumadin) is used to slow blood clotting. Lycium might increase how long warfarin (Coumadin) is in the body, and increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. Be sure to have your blood checked regularly. The dose of your warfarin (Coumadin) might need to be changed.

Other names

Baies de Goji, Baies de Lycium, Barberry Matrimony Vine, Chinese Boxthorn, Chinese Wolfberry, Di Gu Pi, Digupi, Épine du Christ, Fructus Lychii Chinensis, Fructus Lycii, Fructus Lycii Berry, Fruit de Lycium, Goji, Goji Berry, Goji Chinois, Goji de l’Himalaya, Goji Juice, Gou Qi Zi, Gouqizi, Jus de Goji, Kuko, Lichi, Litchi Chinensis, Licium Barbarum, Litchi, Lychee, Lyciet, Lyciet Commun, Lyciet de Barbarie, Lyciet de Chine, Lycii Berries, Lycii Chinensis, Lycii Fruit, Lycium barbarum, Lycium chinense, Lycium Fruit, Matrimony Vine, Ning Xia Gou Qi, Wolfberry

Reference

Source: WebMD, http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1025-di%20gu%20pi%20(goji).aspx?activeingredientid=1025&activeingredientname=di%20gu%20pi%20(goji)

ChineseHerbsHealing, http://www.chineseherbshealing.com/lycium-barbarum-root-bark-di-gu-pi/