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Forskolin
from:The traditional Indian practice, called Ayurvedic medicine, made great use of the herb Coleus forskohlii. They used the herb to treat asthma, heart disease, and a range of other ailments. This small herb belongs to the mint family and is native to Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Nepal.
Herbal Uses
For centuries, Coleus forskohlii is an important traditional Ayuverdic herb that has been a part of Indian medicine. In the 1970s, researchers were able to isolate an active chemical ingredient in Coleus forskohlii. They believed that this ingredient, called forskolin, is the chief reason why Coleus forskohlii seems to be effective in treating countless ailments.
How Forskolin Works
Forskolin is derived from the roots of the Indian plant, Coleus forskohlii. Forskolin acts by directly activating the adenylate cyclase and rasing cyclic AMP levels in a variety of tissues. Forskolin's action on cyclic AMP is considered very important since this is the compound that regulates the cells. Once cyclic AMP is formed through action from forskolin, this substance activates many other enzymes as well, creating a pandemonium of actions and reactions within the body. As a result, a diverse number of cellular functions are encouraged.
Under normal situations, cyclic AMP is formed when a stimulatory hormone, such as epihephrine, binds to a receptor site on the cell membrane. The hormone would then stimulate the activation of adenylate cyclase. All cellular membranes contain the enzyme, adenylate cyclase with specific receptors that determines which hormone will activate in particular cell. With the addition of forskolin, you are able to bypass this hormonal activation by adenylate cyclase.
Because forskolin can directly activate adenylate cyclase, intracellular cyclic AMP levels rise. By raising the intracellular cyclic AMP levels, certain beneficial physiological and biochemical effects occur. These include inhibition of platelet activation, inhibition of mast cell degranulation, inhibition of histamine release, increased force of contraction of heart muscle, relaxation of the arteries and other smooth muscles, increased insulin secretion, and increased thyroid function.
Forskolin: Other Uses
Forskolin is available in supplemental form. Forskolin extract is used and recommended for treatments against thyroid conditions, such as hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland produces too little thyroid hormone. This insufficient supply of thyroid sometimes leads to enlargement of the gland, a condition known as goiter.
Forskolin is believed to stimulate the thyroid gland and increase production of the thyroid hormone. Thus, in effect, forskolin helps relieve such symptoms in hypothyroidism as fatigue, depression, weight gain, and dry skin. By activating an enzyme, Forskolin is also thought to specifically increase thyroid function. This enzyme causes levels of cyclic AMP (Adenosine Monophosphate), a key cell-regulating substance.
In addition to hypothyroidism, quite a number of other conditions that are seemingly unrelated have been linked to low levels of cyclic AMP. Therefore, theoretically, these ailments may be treated using forskolin. These ailments that which can be treated through forskolin include asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure, glaucoma, eczema, and psoriasis. Studies have been conducted to examine the benefits of forskolin in easing the symptoms of these ailments.
Typically, forskolin is taken over the long term for treatment of hypothyroidism. It should be noted however that using forskolin in addition to thyroid hormone replacement therapy is not recommended.
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