Mirabilis himalaica, Ba spru བ་སྤྲུ
Four o’Clock
Ba spru, Thal bras (Tibetan)
Xi Ma La Ya Zi Mo Li, Ba Zhu (TCM)
Kuth mitha (Sanskrit)
Botanical name:
Mirabilis himalaica (syn. Oxybaphus himalaicus, Allionia himalaica), M. himalaica var. chinensis
Three varieties are mentioned in Tibetan Medical texts, differentiated based on the color of their flowers:
- White-flowered (superior)
- Red-flowered (Intermediate)
- Dark-red flowered (Inferior)
Only the first two are used in medicine. (Kletter)
Parts used:
Root
Some sources use the whole plant, and the whole plant is commonly available on the market, presumably due to its rarity.
Temperature & Taste:
Very Warm, dry. Sweet
Uses:
1. Warms and Strengthens the Kidneys:
-Cold-type Edema, especially first stages
-Kidney disorders from Yang deficiency; Impotence
-Debility associated with Coldness and Yang deficiency
-Cold and weakness in the lower back, sacrum and lower limbs
-warms and strengthens the Uterus
-regarded as Aphrodisiac
2. Clears Cold-Wind-Damp:
-Damp accumulation in the joints; arthritis, rheumatism
-pain, rigidity, shaking or numbness from Cold-Wind-Damp obstructing the channels
-Tumors; anti-cancer effects have been demonstrated.
3. Warms the Stomach:
-lowered digestive heat with poor appetite and digestion
4. Purges Phlegm and Damp:
-purgative in Cold, Phlegm and Damp disorders, especially with Yang deficiency
Dose:
It is often prepared into medicated Ghee (clarified Butter) preparations in Tibetan Medicine.
Decoction: 3–9 grams
Powder: 1–3 grams
Substitute:
1. Paeonia anomala (Unani)
2. Paeonia albiflora (Buryat region)
3. Russian physicians often use Withania in place of Mirabilis
4. Another Yang tonic such as Curculigo Xian Mao or Morinda Ba Ji Tian may be suitable.
5. Mirabilis has been used as a substitute for Mango kernel in Nepal. This suggests Mango kernel can be used for Mirabilis
Main Combinations:
Five Roots
It is one of the ‘Five Roots’ of Tibetan Medicine, used as a strengthening tonic, especially for the Kidneys. It is combined with Soloman’s Seal, Gymnadenia, Asparagus root and Angelica glauca. For Wind disorders, the Five Roots are made into a medicinal Ghee preparation.
1. Impotence, Mirabilis with Soloman’s Seal, Asparagus root, Tribulus, Shilajit and Lesser Cardamon (as in Betel Immense Pleasure Giver)
2. Wind-Damp with Kidney weakness, Paralysis, ridigity of the limbs, rheumatoid arthritis, Mirabilis with Catechu, Soloman’s Seal, Tribulus, Asparagus root, Frankincense, Psoralea seed, Sesame seed and purified Aconitum ferox (as in Catechu 25 of Tibetan Medicine)
3. Pain of the cerebral nerves, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Shaking of the hands, Mirabilis with Turmeric, Caraway, Safflower, Long Pepper, Tinospora, Nutmeg, Clove, Asparagus root, Soloman’s Seal, Angelica glauca (as in Formula of Wealth of Tibetan Medicine)
4. Warm the Kidneys, regulates menstruation, ease lumbar pain, Mirabilis with Safflower, Madder, Lacca, Red Sandalwood, Juniper, Green Cardamon (as in Antelope Horn 14 of Tibetan Medicine)
Major Formulas:
Antelope Horn 14 (Rgya ru bcu bzhi) (Tibetan)
Betel Immense Pleasure Giver (Gu yu bde dpags) (Tibetan)
Catechu 25
Essence Pills (Bcud len ril bu) (Tibetan)
Lygodium 8 (Gser bye brgyad pa) (Tibetan)
Paraquilegia 6 (Mde’u ‘byin drug pa) (Tibetan)
Podophyllum 25 (‘Ol se nyer lnga) (Tibetan)
Selinum 6 (Tang kug drug thang) (Tibetan)
The Melting Solar Disk (Ju byed nyi mai dkyil khor) (Tibetan)
Women’s Universal Decoction (Mo nad spyi thang) (Tibetan)
Cautions:
Toxic in large doses.
Main Preparations used:
Click the above Tabs for more information on this medicine
GENERAL / REVIEW:
–Physicochemical properties, immunostimulatory and antioxidant activities of a novel polysaccharide isolated from Mirabilis himalaica (Edgew) Heim.
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY:
–Benzofuran ε-caprolactam glucosides, amides and phenylpropanoid derivatives with anti-inflammatory activity from Oxybaphus himalaicus.
–Himalaflavones F and G, two new flavonoids from the roots of Oxybaphus himalaicus Edgew with anti-inflammatory activity.
RENOPROTECTIVE:
–Oxybaphus himalaicus Mitigates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Kidney Injury by Inhibiting TLR4/MD2 Complex Formation.
DIABETIC KIDNEY DISEASE:
–Oxybaphus himalaicus alleviates diabetic kidney disease by suppressing the lipid metabolism and inflammation via PPARα signaling.
–Boeravinone C ameliorates lipid accumulation and inflammation in diabetic kidney disease by activating PPARα signaling.
CANCER:
–Mirabijalone E: a novel rotenoid from Mirabilis himalaica inhibited A549 cell growth in vitro and in vivo.
–A natural phenylpropionate derivative from Mirabilis himalaica inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in HepG2 cells.
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