What are Corydalis?

Widely used in Chinese herbal medicine, the herb corydalis is said to alleviate pain by “moving qi” and “stimulating the blood.” These expressions refer to traditional concepts included within the complex theories of traditional Chinese herbal medicine . In terms of Western diagnostic categories, corydalis may be recommended for soft tissue injuries , menstrual discomfort , and abdominal pain.

The part of the plant used medicinally is the rhizome (underground stalk).

There is no reliable evidence that corydalis or its constituents offer any medicinal benefits. Corydalis contains a number of active and potentially dangerous chemicals in the alkaloid family, including tetrahydropalmatine (THP), corydaline, protopine, tetrahydrocoptisine, tetrahydrocolumbamine, and corybulbine. Of these, THP may be the most active, as well as the most toxic (see Safety Issues ).

Only double-blind , placebo-controlled studies can actually show that a treatment works, and there is only one such study that is relevant to corydalis. This trial tested THP as a treatment for a type of heart rhythm abnormality called supraventricular arrhythmia. ¹ Reportedly, use of THP produced significant benefits as compared to placebo. However, this study was conducted in China,...

Safety Issues

Corydalis has not undergone any meaningful safety testing. The herb is known to produce immediate side effects, including nausea and fatigue, in some people. In addition, there are serious safety concerns related to its alkaloid constituent THP. Use of products containing THP has repeatedly been associated with severe and potentially fatal liver injury. ^{2 3 4 5 6} In addition, there are three reports that use of THP by young children has led to life-threatening suppression of the central nervous system. ⁷ For these reasons, we strongly recommend against the use of corydalis, especially by young children, pregnant or nursing women, or people with liver disease.