Evodia is a tree that is native to China and Korea. Evodia fruit, which has a strong bitter taste, is commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The fruit and root bark are also used as medicine in other herbal practice.
Contents
Uses
- Evodia is used for digestion problems including diarrhea, dysentery, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), stomach ulcers, and lack of appetite.
- It is also used for obesity, headache, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure(CHF), infections caused by viruses, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and fluid retention.
- Women use evodia to prevent pregnancy, start their periods, and treat bleeding after giving birth.
- Evodia root bark is used for infections caused by parasites such as tapeworm and pinworm.
Benefits
This chemical compound is greatly appraised by alternative Chinese practitioners who claim that it features anti-obesity properties together with anti-inflammatory, anti-infectious, anti-cancer and diuretic effects. As previously mentioned, the recent increased interest in this plant based alkaloid led to a significant number of research that attempt to determine the potential effects and side-effects of this plant extract. For instance, a study involved the examination of Evodia trees and some essential bioactive compounds such as Evodiamine, Rutaecarpine and Dehydroevodiamine. This study insisted on the fact that these extracts carry analgesic, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal properties due to release of CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide). Below is a more detailed plan of health benefits associated with Evodiamine extract:
– Anti-obesity & anti-infection- by taking Evodiamine extract supplements you can lose weight more easily! However, for this extract to really work and contribute to your decreased appetite and fat loss process you should go to the gym on a regular basis. There is no other way to drop a few pounds in a healthy manner than to work out and keep a well-balanced diet! Supplements that include this compound are also recommended to those who experience lowered immune systems. Besides its anti-obesity actions, this natural ingredient can have impressive boosting effects for your immune system. Moreover, studies made on animals revealed that Evodiamine possesses similar thermogenic and stimulatory properties to another fat loss ingredient called capsaicin.
– Anti-cancer- This extract is mainly used as a healthy tool to lose weight, but it is also believed to inhibit the occurrence and development of cancer. Traditional herbal specialists prescribed Evodia fruit for digestive disorders. At present, this fact has been confirmed through clinical studies which showed that Evodiamine extract halters the development of Helicobacter pylori. This condition is generally treated with antibiotics which may modify the growth patterns of intestinal bacteria. As opposed to conventional antibiotics, the extract obtained from Evodia tree hasn’t showed signs of disrupting these growth patterns.
– Diuretic- although it is generally used for its anti-obesity effects, Evodiamine may have diuretic properties as well such as dealing with excess water retention. A specific study analysed the effects of this extract on the adrenal glands of rats and researchers discovered that the chemical compound reduced the amount of aldosterone released. This is a hormone associated with the regulation of water in the body. A decreased release of aldosterone causes diuretic effects, thus, expelling excess body water.
– Energy booster – Evodiamine also serves as a mild stimulant which increases positive energy.
– Other effects – this alkaloid extract can cure abdominal distress and its symptoms like vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. It can also be used as a painkiller for headaches. Chinese herbalists also use it to mitigate pain in the upper abdomen and pain attributed to abdominal hernias.
Cautions
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Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It might be UNSAFE to use evodia if you are pregnant. It contains some chemicals that affects pregnant animals. These chemicals cause the animals’ uterus to contract and also seem to reduce the size of the litter. It’s not known if evodia affects pregnant women, but it’s best to stay on the safe side and avoid use.
It’s also best to avoid using evodia if you are breast-feeding. Not enough is known about its effects.
- Surgery: Evodia seems to slow blood clotting. There is a concern that it might increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using evodia at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Interactions
- Caffeine interacts with EVODIA
The body breaks down caffeine to get rid of it. Evodia might increase how quickly the body gets rid of caffeine. Taking evodia along with caffeine might decrease the effects of caffeine. - Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates) interacts with EVODIA
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Evodia might increase how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking evodia along with these medications might decrease how well the medications work.
Some of these medications that are changed by the liver include clozapine (Clozaril), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), fluvoxamine (Luvox), haloperidol (Haldol), imipramine (Tofranil), mexiletine (Mexitil), olanzapine (Zyprexa), pentazocine (Talwin), propranolol (Inderal), tacrine (Cognex), zileuton (Zyflo), zolmitriptan (Zomig), and others. - Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates) interacts with EVODIA
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Evodia might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking evodia along with these medications might increase the effects and side effects of these medications.
Some medications changed by the liver include lovastatin (Mevacor), ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), fexofenadine (Allegra), triazolam (Halcion), and many others. - Medications that change the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) inhibitors) interacts with EVODIA
Some medications decrease how well the liver breaks down other medications. These medications that change the liver might decrease how fast chemicals in evodia are broken down in the body. This might increase the effects and side effects of evodia. - Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with EVODIA
Evodia might slow blood clotting. Taking evodia along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.
Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others. - Theophylline interacts with EVODIA
The body breaks down theophylline to get rid of it. Evodia might increase how quickly the body gets rid of theophylline. Taking evodia along with theophylline might decrease the effectiveness of theophylline.
Other names
Evodia Extract, Evodia Lepta, Evodiae, Evodiae Fructus, Evodia Fruit, Evodiamine, Evodia officinalis, Evodia rutaecarpa, Extrait d’Evodia, E. rutaecarpa, E. officinalis, Gosyuyu, San Cha Ku, Wu-Chu-Yu, Wu-Zhu-Yu
References
Source: WebMD, http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1159-evodia.aspx?activeingredientid=1159&activeingredientname=evodia
Live and Feel, http://www.liveandfeel.com/articles/evodiamine-is-a-great-antiobesity-remedy-3373