Polygala Root(Yuan Zhi) – “Profound Will” or “Long-term Memory”
Polygala root is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine that has been prescribed for thousands of years for a range of nervous system disturbances, these include amnesia, neurasthenia, palpitation, and insomnia. More recently, there has been renewed interest in the cognition-enhancing potential of Polygala tenuifolia root extracts. Several studies have shown that Polygala tenuifolia extracts have cognition improving effects in vivo, in addition to protective effects on neurotoxicity that is induced in vitro by factors such as glutamate, beta-amyloid, and the C-terminal fragment of amyloid precursor protein (CT)
Polygala contains triterpenoid saponins, these promote the clearing of phlegm from the bronchial tubes. The plant is used mainly as an expectorant and stimulant to treat bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis and whooping cough. The root is antibacterial, cardiotonic, cerebrotonic, expectorant, haemolytic, hypotensive, sedative and tonic. It acts mainly as a tonic for the heart and kidney energies. It is taken internally in the treatment of coughs with profuse phlegm, bronchitis, insomnia, palpitations, poor memory, anxiety, depression and nervous tension. Externally it is used to treat boils and carbuncles.
