Background

Corydalis yanhusuo is flowering plant that grows in mild climates throughout the northern hemisphere. It's used in traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

The root and tuber of the Corydalis yanhusuo plant are used in medicine. They contain chemicals that might help fight certain infections in the stomach.

People use Corydalis yanhusuo for constipation, indigestion, acid reflux, headache, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Don't confuse Corydalis yanhusuo with other species that might be generally called Corydalis. These are not the same.

Safety Safety definitions

When taken by mouth: A specific combination product (Motilitone, Dong-A ST) containing Corydalis yanhusuo extract and Pharbitis seed extract is possibly safe when used for up to 4 weeks. But there isn't enough reliable information to know if taking Corydalis yanhusuo alone is safe or what the side effects might be.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy: Corydalis yanhusuo is likely unsafe when taken by mouth during pregnancy. It might start menstruation and cause the uterus to contract. This could cause a miscarriage. Additionally, Corydalis yanhusuo contains a chemical called berberine, which can cross the placenta and might harm the fetus.

Breast-feeding: Corydalis yanhusuo is likely unsafe when taken by mouth while breast-feeding. It contains a chemical called berberine. Berberine can be transferred to the infant through breast milk and it might cause harm in newborns, including brain damage.

Children: Corydalis yanhusuo is likely unsafe when given by mouth to newborn infants. It contains a chemical called berberine, which can cause brain damage, especially in premature infants with jaundice. There isn't enough reliable information to know if it is safe for older children.

Bleeding disorders: Corydalis yanhusuo might slow blood clotting. Taking Corydalis yanhusuo might increase the risk of bleeding in people with bleeding disorders.

High bilirubin levels: Bilirubin is a chemical that is produced when old red blood cells break down. It is normally removed by the liver. Corydalis yanhusuo contains a chemical called berberine. Berberine may keep the liver from removing bilirubin fast enough. This can cause brain problems in people with high levels of bilirubin. Avoid using.

Surgery: Corydalis yanhusuo contains a chemical called berberine. Berberine might prolong bleeding or slow down the nervous system during and after surgery. It might also interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop taking Corydalis yanhusuo at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Effectiveness

Dosing & administration

Corydalis yanhusuo has most often been used by adults in a specific supplement (Motilitone, Dong-A ST). This product contains other ingredients. It has most often been taken by mouth three times daily before meals for up to 4 weeks. There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of Corydalis yanhusuo might be when taken alone.

Interactions with pharmaceuticals

Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

The body breaks down cyclosporine to get rid of it. Corydalis yanhusuo contains a chemical called berberine. Berberine might decrease how fast the body breaks down cyclosporine. This might increase the effects and side effects of cyclosporine.

Dextromethorphan (Robitussin DM, others)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Corydalis yanhusuo contains a chemical called berberine. Berberine might decrease how quickly the body breaks down dextromethorphan. This might increase the effects and side effects of dextromethorphan.

Losartan (Cozaar)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

The liver activates losartan to make it work. Corydalis yanhusuo contains a chemical called berberine. Berberine might decrease how quickly the body activates losartan, which might decrease the effects of losartan.

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) substrates)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Corydalis yanhusuo contains a chemical called berberine. Berberine might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) substrates)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Corydalis yanhusuo contains a chemical called berberine. Berberine might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Corydalis yanhusuo contains a chemical called berberine. Berberine might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.

Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Corydalis yanhusuo contains a chemical called berberine. Berberine might lower blood sugar levels. Taking Corydalis yanhusuo along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.

Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Corydalis yanhusuo contains a chemical called berberine. Berberine might lower blood pressure. Taking Corydalis yanhusuo along with medications that lower blood pressure might cause blood pressure to go too low. Monitor your blood pressure closely.

Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Corydalis yanhusuo contains a chemical called berberine. Berberine might slow blood clotting. Taking Corydalis yanhusuo along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.

Metformin (Glucophage)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Corydalis yanhusuo contains a chemical called berberine. Berberine might increase the amount of metformin in the body. This may increase its effects and side effects. This interaction seems to occur when berberine is taken around 2 hours before metformin. Taking berberine and metformin at the same time doesn't seem to increase the amount of metformin in the body.

Midazolam (Versed)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

The body breaks down midazolam to get rid of it. Corydalis yanhusuo contains a chemical called berberine. Berberine can decrease how quickly the body breaks it down. This might increase the effects and side effects of midazolam.

Pentobarbital (Nembutal)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Pentobarbital is a medication that can cause sleepiness. Corydalis yanhusuo contains a chemical called berberine. Berberine may affect sleep. Taking Corydalis yanhusuo with pentobarbital might cause too much sleepiness.

Sedative medications (CNS depressants)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Corydalis yanhusuo contains a chemical called berberine. Berberine might cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Some medications, called sedatives, can also cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Taking Corydalis yanhusuo with sedative medications might cause breathing problems and/or too much sleepiness.

Tacrolimus (Prograf)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Tacrolimus is removed from the body by the liver. Corydalis yanhusuo contains a chemical called berberine. Berberine might slow down the body's ability to remove tacrolimus. This might increase the effects and side effects of tacrolimus.

Interactions with herbs & supplements

Cannabidiol (CBD): Corydalis yanhusuo contains a chemical called berberine. Taking berberine and CBD together might cause heart rhythm problems at high doses. CBD might also slow down the body's ability to remove berberine. This might increase the effects and side effects of berberine.
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood pressure: Corydalis yanhusuo contains a chemical called berberine. Berberine might lower blood pressure. Taking it with other supplements that have the same effect might cause blood pressure to drop too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include andrographis, casein peptides, L-arginine, niacin, and stinging nettle.
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Corydalis yanhusuo contains a chemical called berberine. Berberine might lower blood sugar. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might lower blood sugar too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include aloe, bitter melon, cassia cinnamon, chromium, and prickly pear cactus.
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: Corydalis yanhusuo contains a chemical called berberine. Berberine might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng.
Herbs and supplements with sedative properties: Corydalis yanhusuo contains a chemical called berberine. Berberine might cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Taking it along with other supplements with similar effects might cause too much sleepiness and/or slowed breathing in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include hops, kava, L-tryptophan, melatonin, and valerian.
Probiotics: Probiotics are living organisms. Corydalis yanhusuo contains a chemical called berberine. Berberine might kill certain probiotics. If taken together, Corydalis yanhusuo might reduce how well probiotic supplements work.

Interactions with foods

There are no known interactions with foods.