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Abalone Shell (shi jue ming)
Abutilon Seed (dong kui zi)
Acanthopanax Bark (wu jia pi)
Achyranthes (niu xi)
Aconite (fu zi)
Acorus (shi chang pu)
Adenophora Root (nan sha shen)
Agkistrodon (bai hua she)
Agrimony (xian he cao)
Ailanthus Bark (chun pi)
Akebia Fruit (ba yue zha)
Albizzia Bark (he huan pi)
Albizzia Flower (he huan hua)
Alfalfa (medicago sativa)
Alisma (ze xie)
Aloe (lu hui)
Alum (bai fan)
Amber (hu po)
Ampelopsis (bai lian)
Andrographis (chuan xin lian)
Anemarrhena (zhi mu)
Antelope's Horn (ling yang jiao)
Apricot Seed (xing ren)
Areca Peel (da fu pi)
Areca Seed (bing lang)
Arisaema (tian nan xing)
Ark Shell (wa leng zi)
Arnebia (zi cao or ying zi cao)
Arnica (arnica montana)
Artichoke Leaves (Cynara scolymus)
Ash bark (qin pi)
Ashwagandha (withania somniferum)
Aster (zi wan)
Astragalus (huang qi)
Aurantium (zhi ke [qiao])
Bamboo Juice (zhu li)
Bamboo Shavings (zhu ru)
Belamcanda Rhizome (she gan)
Benincasa Peel (dong gua pi)
Benincasa Seed (dong gua xi/ren)
Benzoin (an xi xiang)
Bilberry (yue ju)
Biota Leaf (ce bai ye)
Biota Seed (bai zi ren)
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Bitter Orange Peel (ju hong)
Black Cohosh (sheng ma)
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Black Sesame Seed (hei zhi ma)
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Capillaris (yin chen hao)
Cardamon Seed (sha ren)
Carpesium (he shi)
Cassia Seed (jue ming zi)
Catechu (er cha)
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Centipede (wu gong)
Chaenomeles Fruit(mu gua)
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Chebula Fruit (he zi)
Chinese Gall (wu bei zi)
Chinese Raspberry (fu pen zi)
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Cinnabar (zhu sha)
Cinnamon (rou gui or gui zhi)
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Clam Shell (hai ge ke/qiao)
Clematis (wei ling xian)
Cloves (ding xiang)
Cnidium Seed (she chuang zi)
Codonopsis (dang shen)
Coix Seed (yi yi ren)
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Corn Silk (yu mi xu)
Cornus (shan zhu yu)
Corydalis (yan hu suo)
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Cranberry (vaccinium macrocarpon)
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Croton Seed (ba dou)
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Cuttlefish Bone (hai piao xiao)
Cymbopogon (xiang mao)
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Deer Antler (lu rong)
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Dianthus (qu mai)
Dichroa Root (chang shan)
Dittany Bark (bai xian pi)
Dong Quai (tang kuei)
Dragon Bone (long gu)
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Elder (sambucus nigra or sambucus canadensis)
Elsholtzia (xiang ru)
Ephedra (ma huang)
Epimedium (yin yang huo)
Erythrina Bark (hai tong pi)
Eucalyptus (eucalyptus globulus)
Eucommia Bark (du zhong)
Eupatorium (pei lan)
Euphorbia Root (gan sui or kan sui)
Euryale Seed (qian shi)
Evodia (wu zhu yu)
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Fo Ti (he shou wu)
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Ginseng, American (xi yang shen)
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Isatis Leaf (da qing ye)
Isatis Root (ban lan gen)
Java Brucea (ya dan zi)
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Kadsura Stem (hai feng teng)
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Morinda Root (ba ji tian)
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Musk (she xiang)
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Ophiopogon (mai dong)
Oroxylum Seed (mu hu die)
Oryza (gu ya)
Oyster Shell (mu li)
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Patrinia (bai jiang cao)
Pau D'Arco (tabebuia avellanedae)
Peach Seed (tao ren)
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Perilla Stem (su geng)
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Pinellia (ban xia)
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Plantain Seed (che qian zi)
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Polygala (yuan zhi)
Polygonatum (huang jing)
Polyporus (zhu ling)
Poppy Capsule (ying su qiao)
Poria (fu ling)
Prickly Ash Peel (hua jiao)
Prinsepia Seed (rui ren/zi)
Prunella (xia ku cao)
Prunus Seed (yu li ren)
Pseudostellaria (tai zi shen)
Psoralea (bu gu zhi)
Pueraria (ge gen)
Pulsatilla (bai tou weng)
Pumice (fu hai shi)
Pumpkin Seed (nan gua zi)
Purslane (ma chi xian)
Pyrite (zi ran tong)
Pyrrosia Leaf (shi wei)
Quisqualis (shi jun zi)
Radish (lai fu zi)
Realgar (xiong huang)
Red Atractylodes (cang zhu)
Red Clover (trifolium pratense)
Red Ochre (dai zhe shi)
Red Peony (chi shao)
Red Sage Root (dan shen)
Rehmannia (shu di huang)
Reishi (ling zhi)
Rhubarb (da huang)
Rice Paper Pith (tong cao)
Rose (mei gui hua)
Rosemary (mi die xiang)
Safflower (hong hua)
Saffron (fan hong hua)
Sandalwood (tan xiang)
Sanguisorba Root (di yu)
Sappan Wood (su mu)
Sargent Gloryvine (hong teng)
Saw Palmetto (ju zong lu)
Schefflera (qi ye lian)
Schisandra (wu wei zi)
Schizonepeta (jing jie)
Scirpus (san leng)
Scopolia (S. carniolica Jacq.)
Scorpion (quan xie)
Scrophularia (xuan shen)
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Sea Cucumber (hai shen)
Sea Horse (hai ma)
Seaweed (hai zao)
Selaginella (shi shang bai)
Senna (fan xie ye)
Shiitake (hua gu)
Siegesbeckia (xi xian cao)
Siler Root (fang feng)
Slippery Elm (ulmus fulva)
Smilax (tu fu ling)
Smithsonite (lu gan shi)
Sophora Flower (huai hua mi)
Sophora Root (ku shen)
Spirodela (fu ping)
Stellaria (yin chai hu)
Stemona (bai bu)
Stephania (fang ji [han])
Sweet Annie (qing hao)
Teasel Root (xu duan)
Tiger Bone (hu gu)
Torreya Seed (fei zi)
Tortoise Plastron (gui ban)
Tremella (bai mu er)
Trichosanthes Fruit (gua lou)
Trichosanthes Root (tian hua fen)
Trichosanthes Seed (gua lou ren)
Tsaoko Fruit (cao guo)
Turmeric (jiang huang)
Turtle Shell (bie jia)
Tussilago (kuan dong hua)
Urtica (xun ma)
Uva ursi (arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
Vaccaria Seed (wang bu lui xing)
Valerian (jie cao)
Veratrum (li lu)
Viola (zi hua di ding)
Vitex (man jing zi)
Walnut (hu tao ren)
Watermelon (xi gua)
White Atractylodes (bai zhu)
White Mustard Seed (bai jie ze)
White Peony (bai shao)
Wild Asparagus (tian men dong)
Windmill Palm (zong lu pi/tan)
Xanthium (cang er zi)
Zedoary (e zhu)

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Carnitine

What is carnitine? Why do we need it?

Carnitine is a non-essential amino acid that the body can manufacture. A dipeptide, carnitine is synthesized in the liver, brain and kidneys from two other amino acids, methionine and lysine.

Carnitine helps transport fatty acids across the cell membrane, thereby increasing the oxidation of fatty acids. It also helps reduce blood triglyceride levels by increasing fat utilization and increasing the rate at which the liver uses fat. In addition, it lowers LDL cholesterol levels, increases HDL cholesterol levels, and increases the body’s tolerance to stress.

Laboratory studies have found that carnitine helps reduce the severity of angina attacks and other cardiovascular problems. Some practitioners recommend carnitine to help with high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and ischemic heart disease.

How much carnitine should I take?

For high cholesterol, some practitioners recommend between 3-4 grams of carnitine per day. Other practitioners recommend carnitine in conjunction with vitamin C to reduce angina.

What are some good sources of carnitine? What forms are available?

Carnitine is manufactured naturally in the body through the synthesis of lysine, methionine, iron, and vitamins B6 and C. Dietary sources of carnitine include beans, beef, chicken, dairy products, seafood, tempeh, wheat germ and whey.

What can happen if I don't get enough carnitine? What can happen if I take too much? Are there any side-effects I should be aware of?

Carnitine deficiency may be caused by low levels of vitamin C in the body or a genetic defect in the cell membranes. Deficiency may lead to a variety of conditions, including hypoglycemia, cardiomyopathy and muscle weakness. Vegetarians may also suffer from low levels of carnitine. Large doses of carnitine, on the other hand, may cause diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

Patients with kidney problems should not take carnitine supplements. It may also interact negatively with anticonvulsant drugs and some antibiotics, including pivampicillin and pivmecillinam. Make sure to consult with a qualified health practitioner before taking carnitine supplements.


References

  • Angelini C, et al. Clinical study of efficacy of L-carnitine and metabolic observations in exercise physiology. In: Borum (ed.) Clinical Aspects of Human Carnitine Deficiency. New York: Pergamon Press, 1986.
  • Cherchi A, et al. Effects of L-carnitine in exercise tolerance in chronic stable angina: a multicenter, double-blind, randomized placebo controlled crossover study. Int J Clin Pharmacology, Therapy and Toxicology 1985;23:569-572.
  • Marconi C, et al. Effects of L-carnitine loading on the aerobic and anaerobic performance of endurance athletes. European J Appl Physiol 1985;54:131-135.
  • Mason P. Handbook of Dietary Supplements: Vitamins and Other Health Supplements. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Science, Inc., 1995.
  • Pola P, et al. Statistical evaluation of long-term L-carnitine therapy in hyperlipoproteinemias. Drugs Under Experimental and Clinical Research 1983;12:925-935.
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