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Abalone Shell (shi jue ming)
Abutilon Seed (dong kui zi)
Acanthopanax Bark (wu jia pi)
Achyranthes (niu xi)
Aconite (fu zi)
Acorus (shi chang pu)
Adenophora Root (nan sha shen)
Agkistrodon (bai hua she)
Agrimony (xian he cao)
Ailanthus Bark (chun pi)
Akebia Fruit (ba yue zha)
Albizzia Bark (he huan pi)
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Ampelopsis (bai lian)
Andrographis (chuan xin lian)
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Antelope's Horn (ling yang jiao)
Apricot Seed (xing ren)
Areca Peel (da fu pi)
Areca Seed (bing lang)
Arisaema (tian nan xing)
Ark Shell (wa leng zi)
Arnebia (zi cao or ying zi cao)
Arnica (arnica montana)
Artichoke Leaves (Cynara scolymus)
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Ashwagandha (withania somniferum)
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Cranberry (vaccinium macrocarpon)
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Onion (yang cong)
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Ophiopogon (mai dong)
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Patrinia (bai jiang cao)
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Peach Seed (tao ren)
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Perilla Stem (su geng)
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Pinellia (ban xia)
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Pipe Fish (hai long)
Plantain Seed (che qian zi)
Platycodon (jie geng)
Polygala (yuan zhi)
Polygonatum (huang jing)
Polyporus (zhu ling)
Poppy Capsule (ying su qiao)
Poria (fu ling)
Prickly Ash Peel (hua jiao)
Prinsepia Seed (rui ren/zi)
Prunella (xia ku cao)
Prunus Seed (yu li ren)
Pseudostellaria (tai zi shen)
Psoralea (bu gu zhi)
Pueraria (ge gen)
Pulsatilla (bai tou weng)
Pumice (fu hai shi)
Pumpkin Seed (nan gua zi)
Purslane (ma chi xian)
Pyrite (zi ran tong)
Pyrrosia Leaf (shi wei)
Quisqualis (shi jun zi)
Radish (lai fu zi)
Realgar (xiong huang)
Red Atractylodes (cang zhu)
Red Clover (trifolium pratense)
Red Ochre (dai zhe shi)
Red Peony (chi shao)
Red Sage Root (dan shen)
Rehmannia (shu di huang)
Reishi (ling zhi)
Rhubarb (da huang)
Rice Paper Pith (tong cao)
Rose (mei gui hua)
Rosemary (mi die xiang)
Safflower (hong hua)
Saffron (fan hong hua)
Sandalwood (tan xiang)
Sanguisorba Root (di yu)
Sappan Wood (su mu)
Sargent Gloryvine (hong teng)
Saw Palmetto (ju zong lu)
Schefflera (qi ye lian)
Schisandra (wu wei zi)
Schizonepeta (jing jie)
Scirpus (san leng)
Scopolia (S. carniolica Jacq.)
Scorpion (quan xie)
Scrophularia (xuan shen)
Scutellaria (huang qin)
Sea Cucumber (hai shen)
Sea Horse (hai ma)
Seaweed (hai zao)
Selaginella (shi shang bai)
Senna (fan xie ye)
Shiitake (hua gu)
Siegesbeckia (xi xian cao)
Siler Root (fang feng)
Slippery Elm (ulmus fulva)
Smilax (tu fu ling)
Smithsonite (lu gan shi)
Sophora Flower (huai hua mi)
Sophora Root (ku shen)
Spirodela (fu ping)
Stellaria (yin chai hu)
Stemona (bai bu)
Stephania (fang ji [han])
Sweet Annie (qing hao)
Teasel Root (xu duan)
Tiger Bone (hu gu)
Torreya Seed (fei zi)
Tortoise Plastron (gui ban)
Tremella (bai mu er)
Trichosanthes Fruit (gua lou)
Trichosanthes Root (tian hua fen)
Trichosanthes Seed (gua lou ren)
Tsaoko Fruit (cao guo)
Turmeric (jiang huang)
Turtle Shell (bie jia)
Tussilago (kuan dong hua)
Urtica (xun ma)
Uva ursi (arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
Vaccaria Seed (wang bu lui xing)
Valerian (jie cao)
Veratrum (li lu)
Viola (zi hua di ding)
Vitex (man jing zi)
Walnut (hu tao ren)
Watermelon (xi gua)
White Atractylodes (bai zhu)
White Mustard Seed (bai jie ze)
White Peony (bai shao)
Wild Asparagus (tian men dong)
Windmill Palm (zong lu pi/tan)
Xanthium (cang er zi)
Zedoary (e zhu)

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Creatine

What is creatine? Why do we need it?

Creatine is a well-known dietary supplement. Also known as creatine monohydrate, it is produced by the human body, present in muscle tissues, and used in the production of phosphocreatine, an important component in the formation of ATP, which is responsible for a wide range of metabolic processes.

Supplementing with creatine will increase phosphocreatine levels in muscle, especially when those people exercise or take large amounts of carbohydrates.

Creatine is a popular supplement among athletes. Evidence has shown that creatine supplements may lead to increases in lean body mass following exercise. In particular, it appears to improve performance and prevents the onset of muscle fatigue during periods of high-intensity exercise such as weight lifting. However, these gains appear to be effective only for short periods of time

Creatine may be effective in treating other health conditions as well. Intravenous injections of creatine may improve heart function in people with congestive heart failure. Large amounts of creatine may also reduce total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in both men and women.

How much creatine should I take?

There are two popular methods used for supplementing with creatine. In the first method, known as "loading," people take 20 grams of creatine per day (mixed with warm liquid and taken in four amounts) for five to six days, followed by two to 10 grams per day, for short-term gains in muscle mass. In the second method, smaller amounts (three grams per day) are taken over a period of four weeks, which provides extended levels of creatine in the muscles. Some studies have shown that taking creatine with sugar appears to maximize the effect of the supplement.

What forms of creatine are available?

Creatine is produced naturally in the human liver, kidneys and pancreas. It can also be obtained through food sources such as fish. Supplements are also available as powders, pills, capsules and tablets.

What can happen if I take too much creatine? Are there any interactions I should be aware of? What precautions should I take?

While creatine is not toxic, some minor side-effects may be reported, including diarrhea and muscle cramping. In addition, a case study published in 1999 reported an incidence of interstitial nephritis, a debilitating kidney condition, in a patient who was taking 20 grams of creatine per day; the patient's kidney function improved following discontinuance of creatine. As such, creatine should be avoided by patients with existing kidney diseases.

As of this writing, there are no well-known drug interactions associated with creatine. As always, make sure to consult with a licensed health care provider before taking creatine or any other herbal remedy or dietary supplement.


References

  • Andrews R, Greenhaff P, Curtis S, et al. The effect of dietary creatine supplementation on skeletal muscle metabolism in congestive heart failure. Eur Heart J 1998;19:617-22.
  • Koshy KM, Griswold E, Schneeberger EE. Interstitial nephritis in a patient taking creatine. N Engl J Med 1999;340:814-5
  • Peyrebrune MC, Nevill ME, Donaldson FJ, et al. The effects of oral creatine supplementation on performance in single and repeated sprint swimming. J Sports Sci 1998;16:271-9.
  • Rawson ES, Clarkson PM. Acute creatine supplementation in older men. Int J Sports Med 2000;21:71-5.
  • Tarnopolsky M, Martin J. Creatine monohydrate increases strength in patients with neuromuscular disease. Neurology 1999;52:854-7.
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