I enjoy your magazine so much - sharing: letters from our readers - Letter to the Editor

Better Nutrition, Feb, 2004 by Carol Fehr

In the September 2003 issue, I read the article on "An Old De-Fogger" (p. 26): I've done some research, and I can't find any info on the Chinese remedy "gastrodine compound granule" mentioned in the article. Does it have another name?

Carol Fehr

Via email

Another name for gastrodine is "tall gastrodia tuber"--the root of a plant from the orchid family called Gastrodia elata Blume. This dried gastrodine is used by Chinese herbalists--and was the key ingredient in the herbal blend given to some patients in the first-ever scientific study of this compound for vascular dementia. Although this dried root may be available from herbal shops in Chinese communities, to our knowledge, it's not currently sold in a commercially prepared form.

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