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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> Fresh Research - Angelica
        
(Message started by: floridian on Jan 27^th, 2004, 9:15pm)

Title: Fresh Research - Angelica
Post by floridian on Jan 27^th, 2004, 9:15pm

[Well, Shit! Just found an article that suggest that aspirin and acetominophen also reduce pain from substance P and glutamate - so maybe this is just another thing that should help but doesn't. On the other hand, Angelica is very different from aspirin and acetominophen in other respects. So I'm leaving it up, anyway.]

The official translation is a little rough, but this seems like a candidate with a lot of therapeutic potential. Angelica reduces the irritation induced by IL-1 and TNF-A, two compounds that are elevated in clusterheads. And it reduces the pain caused by substance P and capsaicin - substance P being a chemical that transmits pain in clusters. And it blocks the pain transmitted on glutamate/NMDA nerve fibers. On paper, this looks like a pain killer made for clusters!!

European angelica has been used as flavoring agent for centuries (its in vermouth and some candies). Chinese and Japanese angelica are different species with different properties. This article is about Angelica gigas (Korean Angelica), yet another species. Not sure if the more common Dong Quai has the same effects as the Korean form.

Angelica (Chinese and Japanese) has also been shown to help reduce hot flashes - which involves CGRP, another of the bodies chemicals that is elevated in CH. Angelica is also a calcium channel blocker, One chemical in an Angelica is 200x stronger than finasteride in blocking alpha-5-reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT (which can enlarge the prostate and cause baldness in those who are genetically susceptible).

Angelica in general has a long history of use, although it does contain chemicals that can cause photosensitization if taken in larger doses. There could be a undesireable interaction if taken with with other calcium channel blockers (verapamil). My wife just started taking a formula with Angelica for another condition, and I stumbled on this while researching it.

Quote:

Biol Pharm Bull. 2003 Sep; 26(9): 1283-8.

Antinociceptive profiles of crude extract from roots of Angelica gigas NAKAI in various pain models.

Choi SS, Han KJ, Lee HK, Han EJ, Suh HW. Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chunchon, Kangwon Do, South Korea.

To characterize the antinociceptive profiles of Angelica gigas NAKAI (ANG; Korean angelica), methanol extract from the dried roots of ANG was made and mice were administered orally at the various doses (from 0.25 to 3 g/kg). ANG produced the increased latencies of the tail-flick and hot-plate paw-licking responses in a dose-dependent manner. In acetic acid-induced writhing test, ANG dose-dependently decreased writhing numbers. Moreover, the cumulative response time of nociceptive behaviors induced by intraplantar formalin injection was reduced during both the 1st and the 2nd phases in a dose-dependent manner in ANG-treated mice. Furthermore, oral administration of ANG did not cause licking, scratching and biting responses induced by TNF-alpha (100 pg), IFN-gamma (100 pg) or IL-1beta (100 pg) injected intrathecally (i.t.), especially at higher dose (3 g/kg). Additionally, in ANG treated mice, the cumulative nociceptive response time for i.t. administration of substance P or capsaicin was dose-dependently diminished. Finally, nociceptive responses elicited by i.t. injection of glutamate (20 microg), N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (60 ng), alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (13 ng) or kainic acid (12 ng) were decreased by oral administration of ANG. Our results suggest that ANG produces antinociception via acting on the central nervous system and shows antinociceptive profiles in various pain models, especially inflammatory pain.

Title: Re: Fresh Research - Angelica
Post by floridian on Jan 27^th, 2004, 10:15pm

Korean Angelica also inhibits nitric oxide production and mast cell degranulation (release of histamine, other inflammitory chemicals).

Title: Re: Fresh Research - Angelica
Post by jmorgan52 on Jan 28^th, 2004, 4:05am

I'm just glad I'm not a poor mouse!