Asian Scientist (Aug. 29, 2013) – Researchers have found that the Chinese herbal medicine known as Ji-Sui-Kang (JSK) improved spinal cord injury outcomes in rats.
The study, published in Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, showed that JSK improved locomotor function, reduced tissue damaged, and preserved the structure of neural cells in rates with spinal cord injuries.
Although Chinese herbal medicines have traditionally been used for a variety of ailments, the rationale for their use relies more on anecdotal evidence than the results of modern-day controlled experiments.
“A number of anecdotal reports from Chinese medicine practitioners indicate that treatment with a novel herbal formulation, JSK, for periods of one week or three months improved functional recovery,” explains co-lead investigator Dr Shucui Jiang.
“Our present study provides an important and necessary foundation for further studies of JSK.”
In this study, rats began JSK treatment immediately after undergoing spinal cord injury. Within seven days, hind limb locomotor function was significantly better in JSK-treated rats compared to those receiving only saline.
JSK-treated rats continued to have better motor function than controls throughout the 21-day test period and treated animals appeared to support their weight better and have more coordinated movements.
“Our data suggest that JSK may enhance tissue recovery by reducing cell growth inhibitors and by promoting the proliferation of cells within the injured spinal cord,” said co-lead investigator Professor Michel P. Rathbone.
According to the researchers, JSK targets multiple biochemical and cellular pathways that may help protect against the primary traumatic injury as well as subsequent secondary injuries that evolve over time.
Although the complete herbal composition of JSK was not disclosed for proprietary reasons, some of its ingredients include Ginseng, Rhizoma (chuan xiong), Glycyrrhizae Radix (gan cao), Paeoniae Alba Radix (bai shao) and Cinnamomi Cortex (rou gui).
The article can be found at: Su et al. (2013) Effects Of A Novel Herbal Formulation JSK On Acute Spinal Cord Injury In Rats.
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Source: IOS Press; Photo: Michael Dorausch.
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