Considering the number of studies showing Chinese "traditional" remedies being doped with high levels of western-type medications (eg. steroids in creams for eczema, and medications for asthma). I wouldn't touch anything from a Chinese herbalist with a 10 foot bamboo pole.

I just thought this bit of information might be helpful in illustrating a contraction, as the previous remarks intoned that Chinese herbal medicine is worthless. This reference is a peer-review scientific journal. - USA Registered Nurse

Cardiovasc Drug Rev. 2001 Fall;19(3):234-44. Related Articles, Links

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retriev...

Cardiovascular actions of berberine.

Lau CW, Yao XQ, Chen ZY, Ko WH, Huang Y.

Department of Physiology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China.

Berberine, is an alkaloid from Hydrastis canadensis L., Chinese herb Huanglian, and many other plants. It is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine as an antimicrobial in the treatment of dysentery and infectious diarrhea. This manuscript describes cardiovascular effects of berberine and its derivatives, tetrahydroberberine and 8-oxoberberine. Berberine has positive inotropic, negative chronotropic, antiarrhythmic, and vasodilator properties. Both derivatives of berberine have antiarrhythmic activity. Some cardiovascular effects of berberine and its derivatives are attributed to the blockade of K+ channels (delayed rectifier and K(ATP)) and stimulation of Na+ -Ca(2+) exchanger. Berberine has been shown to prolong the duration of ventricular action potential. Its vasodilator activity has been attributed to multiple cellular mechanisms. The cardiovascular effects of berberine suggest its possible clinical usefulness in the treatment of arrhythmias and/or heart failure.