What is Eucommia ulmoides bark used for?
Eucommia ulmoides, commonly known as the hardy rubber tree, is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant whose bark is renowned for its therapeutic properties. The bark, often referred to as "du zhong," has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine to address various health concerns. This blog explores the primary uses of Eucommia ulmoides bark extract, backed by modern research and traditional practices.
How Does Eucommia Ulmoides Bark Benefit Joint and Bone Health?
Eucommia ulmoides bark is widely celebrated for its ability to support joint and bone health. The bark contains several bioactive compounds, including iridoid glycosides, lignans, and flavonoids, which contribute to its therapeutic effects.
Osteoarthritis and Osteoporosis
The bark of Eucommia ulmoides is frequently used as a nutritional tonic to help the elderly, particularly with osteoarthritis prevention and management. Millions of people worldwide suffer from osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease of the joints that causes stiffness, pain, and reduced joint function. Eucommia ulmoides has been shown to slow down joint degeneration by protecting cartilage, improving cartilage metabolism, and inhibiting chondrocyte apoptosis. For older adults, this is essential for preserving mobility and quality of life.
For osteoporosis, particularly in post-menopausal ladies who are at higher gamble because of diminished estrogen levels, Eucommia ulmoides bark can be especially valuable. The lignan content of the bark has been shown to effectively reduce bone mass loss and increase bone density in studies. The bark's phytoestrogens mimic estrogen, reducing the rapid loss of bone density associated with menopause. Moreover, the mitigating properties of Eucommia ulmoides bark can lessen the gamble of breaks by improving bone strength and diminishing aggravation around joints.
Enhancing Bone Strength
Bone strength and density can be improved and maintained by incorporating Eucommia ulmoides bark into a healthy diet and regular exercise. The tonic properties of the bark, when combined with weight-bearing exercises, improve overall bone health, making it an effective supplement for maintaining strong bones. The bark's bioactive compounds increase osteoblast activity, which is necessary for bone remodeling and formation.
Additionally, the antioxidants in the Eucommia ulmoides extract protect bones from oxidative stress, which can cause bone loss. By killing free extremists, the cancer prevention agents in the bark support the primary honesty of bones. Consuming Eucommia ulmoides bark on a regular basis can also help the body absorb important minerals like calcium and magnesium, which are important for healthy bones.
Can Eucommia Ulmoides Bark Improve Cardiovascular Health?
Eucommia ulmoides bark has been shown to offer significant cardiovascular benefits. The bark's vasorelaxant and antihypertensive properties play a crucial role in promoting heart health.
Hypertension
Hypertension, or hypertension, is a typical condition that can prompt extreme medical problems like coronary illness and stroke. Studies have shown that Eucommia ulmoides bark concentrate can bring down pulse by advancing nitric oxide discharge, which helps in vasodilation. This impact is helpful in decreasing blood vessel pulse and safeguarding against renal injury. Nitric oxide is a basic particle in the cardiovascular framework, supporting the unwinding and expansion of veins, which can fundamentally bring down the gamble of hypertension-related complexities.
The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), a hormone system that regulates blood pressure and fluid balance, is linked to Eucommia ulmoides' antihypertensive effects. By repressing parts of this framework, the bark assists with keeping up with pulse inside ordinary reaches, accordingly diminishing the weight on the heart and forestalling hypertensive harm to the corridors and kidneys.
Antioxidant Properties
Eucommia ulmoides bark extract is wealthy in cell reinforcements, which assist with safeguarding the cardiovascular framework by killing free extremists that can harm cells. By reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, this antioxidant activity is crucial to the prevention of chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer. The elevated degrees of phenolic intensifies in the bark add to its powerful cancer prevention agent impacts. These mixtures help to diminish lipid peroxidation, a cycle that can prompt atherosclerosis, where plaques develop in the blood vessel walls and confine blood stream.
Additionally, the antioxidants in Eucommia ulmoides bark's anti-inflammatory properties aid in the prevention of cardiovascular disease-related chronic inflammation. The bark can help to protect the endothelium, the inner lining of blood vessels, by reducing inflammation. This helps to maintain vascular health and prevent atherosclerotic lesions from developing.
Improving Lipid Metabolism
Eucommia ulmoides bark additionally adds to better lipid digestion, which is fundamental for cardiovascular wellbeing. In animal models, the extract improved glucose metabolism and reduced body weight, making it a potential supplement for managing metabolic conditions like diabetes and obesity, which are heart disease risk factors. The bark's capacity to bring down serum cholesterol and fatty substance levels further backings its cardiovascular advantages.
The levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) can be decreased while the levels of good cholesterol (HDL) can be raised by improving lipid metabolism. This equilibrium is essential for forestalling the development of plaques in the corridors. Eucommia ulmoides bark improves lipid profiles, ensuring that blood vessels remain clear and elastic and promoting cardiovascular health as a whole.
Does Eucommia Ulmoides Bark Have Neuroprotective Effects?
Eucommia ulmoides bark is not only beneficial for physical health but also for neurological well-being. Its neuroprotective properties make it a valuable herb for supporting cognitive function and mental health.
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases
Eucommia ulmoides bark may aid in the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, according to research. The bark contains intensifies that can safeguard neuronal cells from amyloid-beta-instigated cytotoxicity, further develop learning and memory, and lessen neuroinflammation. Amyloid-beta plaques are normal for Alzheimer's infection and add to the degeneration of neurons. Eucommia ulmoides bark aids in maintaining neuronal health and function by mitigating the toxic effects of these plaques and preventing their formation.
Motor dysfunction and cognitive decline are the outcomes of the brain's loss of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease. Iridoids and lignans, two neuroprotective compounds found in Eucommia ulmoides bark extract, help to shield these neurons from oxidative stress and apoptosis, potentially halting the progression of the disease. Additionally, the bark's anti-inflammatory properties lessen neuroinflammation, a common symptom of both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. This broadens the protection that the bark provides for the brain.
Stress and Anxiety Reduction
In traditional Chinese medicine, Eucommia ulmoides bark is used to alleviate stress and anxiety. The herb acts as a general tonic for the central nervous system, helping to protect against adrenal fatigue and improve overall mental health. Chronic stress can lead to a variety of mental health issues, including anxiety disorders and depression. Eucommia ulmoides bark helps to balance the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which regulates stress responses in the body. By modulating the HPA axis, the bark reduces the production of stress hormones such as cortisol, which in turn helps to alleviate stress and anxiety.
The calming effects of Eucommia ulmoides bark can be particularly beneficial for individuals dealing with chronic stress and anxiety disorders. The bark's active compounds have been shown to increase the levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which are crucial for mood regulation. By enhancing these neurotransmitter levels, Eucommia ulmoides bark helps to promote a sense of well-being and mental clarity, making it an effective natural remedy for stress and anxiety.
Enhancing Cognitive Function
Eucommia ulmoides bark has been shown to enhance cognitive function by improving the ubiquitin-proteasome system, which plays a role in neuroprotection. This mechanism is essential in preventing neurodegeneration and maintaining cognitive health. The ubiquitin-proteasome system helps to remove damaged proteins and maintain cellular homeostasis, which is crucial for neuron survival and function. By supporting this system, Eucommia ulmoides bark helps to prevent the accumulation of toxic proteins that can lead to neurodegenerative diseases.
Moreover, the bark's antioxidant properties play a significant role in enhancing cognitive function. Oxidative stress is a major factor in cognitive decline and neurodegeneration. The antioxidants in Eucommia ulmoides bark neutralize free radicals, reducing oxidative damage to brain cells. This protective effect helps to maintain cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and problem-solving skills.
Conclusion
Eucommia ulmoides bark is a powerful traditional medicine with a wide range of health benefits, including supporting joint and bone health, improving cardiovascular function, and offering neuroprotective effects. Eucommia ulmoides bark extract’s bioactive compounds, such as iridoid glycosides, lignans, and flavonoids, contribute to its therapeutic properties, making it a valuable supplement for overall wellness.
As always, it's essential to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, especially if you have existing health conditions or are taking other medications. Eucommia ulmoides bark can interact with certain medications and may not be suitable for everyone.
References
1. Drugs.com Herbal Database - Eucommia Uses, Benefits & Dosage.
2. Superfood Evolution - Eucommia Bark Benefits, A Tonic Herb for the Bones and Joints.
3. The Health Clique - Eucommia Bark: Benefits, Side Effects, and Dosage.
4. Agric4Profits - 10 Medicinal Health Benefits of Eucommia ulmoides.
5. Kidney Coach - Eucommia ulmoides and its use in Kidney disease, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular diseases.
