Benefits of Using Long Gu and Mu Li Could Be Explained By Hypocalcemia Model
Alopecia, Diarrhea, Parkinson’s symptoms, and Various Psychological Symptoms Are Closely Related to Ca Level.
By Hyunchang Cho, L.Ac., Ph.D ([email protected])
(1) Long Gu, Mu Li, and hypocalcemia
The main ingredients (up to 80 to 90%) of Long Gu and Mu Li are calcium compounds. There are other minerals, but we can say that the therapeutic effects of these herbs are mostly derived from the actions of calcium compounds. When calcium compounds are inside our body, they work as calcium ions (Ca2+). The actions of calcium ions can teach us many things about the therapeutic effects of these herbs.
This is how the hypocalcemia model was chosen to explain the therapeutic effects of Long Gu and Mu Li.
There are many clinical symptoms of hypocalcemia. I am not suggesting that Long Gu and Mu Li can treat all hypocalcemia symptoms. Rather, they seem to have selective therapeutic effects on some symptoms of hypocalcemia, as listed below.
*Clinical symptoms of hypocalcemia that may be associated with Long Gu and Mu Li
- Coarse hair, alopecia
- Digestive symptoms: increase in bowel movement, diarrhea
- A decrease in calcium absorption at the intestines will enhance smooth muscle contraction, which in turn will cause diarrhea.
- Nervous and muscular symptoms: tremors of wrists, feet, face, and larynx. In severe cases, muscle spasticity and seizures (focal, absence, grand seizures, and such)
- Neurological symptoms and signs: Parkinson’s symptoms, choreoathetosis, Chvostek’s sign, emotional instability, aggressiveness
- Mental symptoms: confusion, disorientation, delusional and psychotic symptoms
(2) In clinical practice, Long Gu and Mu Li are found to have therapeutic effects on PTSD and other psychological disorders with similar traumatic past events. Long Gu and Mu Li are also effective for various psychological disorders that manifest fear and anxiety as their main emotions.
Long Gu and Mu Li can increase calcium ion levels, thus alleviating the hyperactive state of the amygdala in the limbic system. Long Gu and Mu Li can treat emotions of fear and anxiety and PTSD, translated as Fearful Psychosis(驚狂), and other psychological disorders with similar traumatic past events.
Amygdala is the almond-shaped structure in the limbic system of the brain. It’s the small red-colored structure seen in the picture below. The amygdala controls fear and anxiety and plays an important role in learning and remembering events related to fear and anxiety.
(3) Long Gu, Mu Li, and serotonin
Three neurotransmitters of dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin are known to be responsible for our emotions. Dopamine is responsible for passion, pleasure, positive feelings, sexual desires, appetite, etc. Noradrenaline is responsible for anxiety, negative feelings, stress reactions, etc. Serotonin keeps these two neurotransmitters in balance. Serotonin is the so-called happiness neurotransmitter known to help us feel happy.
There are two types of awareness: keen awareness and quiet awareness. Keen awareness is produced by noradrenaline, which reacts to external stress and body changes by reinforcing the cerebral cortex to raise awareness levels. On the other hand, quiet awareness is produced by serotonin, which is not reactive to external stress and is close to the Level of awareness seen in meditation.
Decreased serotonin secretion will lead to melancholy and lack of emotions, from being unable to feel happy. This can also lead to depression and emotional apathy. Lack of emotions can manifest as emotional numbness, vacant facial expressions, emotional inactiveness, mutism, and the absence of everyday emotions.
Calcium ions are known to participate in the biosynthesis of serotonin. Serotonin from ingested food cannot pass through the brain-blood barrier. On the other hand, tryptophan can pass through this barrier. Calcium is known to activate tryptophan hydroxylase, which can convert tryptophan to 5-hydroxytryptophan (a precursor of serotonin).
Long Gu and Mu Li seem to treat a lack of happiness and emotions, melancholy, and such caused by decreased serotonin secretion by increasing calcium levels to promote serotonin secretion. I have many cases of patients who were on serotonin drugs to treat depression and such that were successfully treated with Long Gu and Mu Li formulas such as Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang and Gui Zhi Qu Shao Yao Jia Shu Qi Mu Li Long Gu Qio Ni Tang (Qio Ni Tang).
(4) Long Gu, Mu Li, and melatonin
The pineal gland in our brain secretes melatonin. Melatonin is a sleep inducer. To fall asleep, serotonin secretion should be activated. Melatonin also regulates the biological clock of our body. This biological clock creates and controls the circadian rhythm of day and night in our body.
I have many cases of insomnia treated with Long Gu and Mu Li. Among these cases, some were insomnia with reversed day and night patterns. These were people who usually worked night shifts. I think Long Gu and Mu Li were perhaps related to melatonin from these results. Melatonin is converted from serotonin. Tryptophan, an amino acid, first converts to serotonin, then becomes melatonin. Calcium participates in this process. Calcium plays an important role in inducing serotonin N-acetyltransferase, an enzyme that plays an important role in melatonin biosynthesis. Therefore, we need an elevated level of calcium to maintain deep sleep.
Long Gu and Mu Li are thought to raise calcium levels, thereby promoting serotonin secretion, from which melatonin is converted and synthesized.
