Dr.Steve's BOTTOM LINE: Here's a study which shows that YeongyoSeungma-tang may have very significant effects on most of the KEY biochemical pathways in your body that relate to inflammation. Inflammation gone awry (in other words too much of what is sometimes a good immune response) is the reason for and/or major co-existing factor in multiple diseases from skin disorders through cancer. Although this is very preliminary data, it points to the fact that this ancient remedy in fact has a very plausible scientific explanation. We need more of this to separate the truth from the hype out there.

Anti-inflammatory effects of YeongyoSeungma-tang.

J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 Dec 10;126(3):377-81

Authors: Kim MJ, Im KR, Yoon KS

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: YeongyoSeungma-tang which includes Fructus Forsythia, has been used in oriental traditional medicine for treatment of early smallpox and atopic dermatitis. AIM OF THE STUDY: YeongyoSeungma-tang was carried out to investigate for anti-inflammatory effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: YeongyoSeungma-tang was tested for anti-inflammatory effects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) releases as well as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) expression using RAW264.7 macrophage cells. RESULTS: YeongyoSeungma-tang significantly inhibited generation of NO (42% and 59% inhibition at doses of 5 microg/mL and 10 microg/mL, respectively), PGE(2) (46% and 80% inhibition at doses of 5 microg/mL and 10 microg/mL, respectively) and TNF-alpha (6% and 23% inhibition at doses of 5 microg/mL and 10 microg/mL, respectively) on LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Consistently in these observations, the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) enzyme was also inhibited by YeongyoSeungma-tang. However, YeongyoSeungma-tang did not show any influence on the expression of cyclooxygenase-2. The cream containing 0.075% YeongyoSeungma-tang showed good skin moisturizing effect without any irritation. CONCLUSION: The present study may support the fact that YeongyoSeungma-tang can have the good possibility as an anti-inflammatory agent for troubled skins.