Huperzia serrata (Qiancengta)

It is a strong inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase. It is more effective than Tacrine, galanthamine and physostigmine (Antilirium).  It has been approved in China for treatment of  Alzheimer's disease. As of this writing,  the drugs being used in Alzheimer's disease are mainly Tacrine, Donepezil, galanthamine, and physostigmine (Antilirium). They are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. They can increase the available acetycholine and can mitigate the symptoms memory loss but the side effects can include nausea, vomiting, anxiety, and Tacrine is seriously toxic for the liver. Huperzine A does not have those side effects.

According to all the information available today, memory loss caused by over- active cholinesterase is not considered to be Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is actually caused by b-amyloid protein.

Present day application:
Alzheimer's disease (actually Alzeimer's D is cause by b-amyloid, not by over active acetylcholinesterase )
 
Distribution:
Subtropical areas of China and tropical areas of Asia.
 
Properties (characteristics):
Acrid, sweet, slightly bitter, slightly warm.

Medical functions:
Mild diuretic action may help to reduce swelling due to water retention.
huperzine A inhibits acetylcholinesterase (huperzine A may  improve symptoms of myasthenia gravis, and Alzheimer's disease)
prevention of poisoning from a class of chemicals called organophosphates. 
 
Actions & Indications:
Dementia, Pneumonia, suppurative Lung disease, vomiting bleed, Hemorrhoids, blood in stool, vaginal yeast infection, physical injuries from impact. swelling from toxins.
 
Chemical ingredients:
Huperszine A, serratine,  serratanidine,  serratinidine,  tohogenol,  tohogeninol,  tohogenine.
(Huperzine A is a saponin extracted from the herb. Huperzine A was first isolated in 1980 at the Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences and the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
 
Dosage:
For decoction: 10 to 20 g
For external use: use the decoction to apply to affected areas or make into powder and apply.