Was Huperzia serrata originally used in traditional Chinese medicine to enhance cognitive function and treat dementia?
No. Traditionally, Chinese club moss has been used to treat contusions, strains, swellings, fever, and inflammation. The moss family is naturally scarce due to a slow growth rate and very specialized habitat requirements. Furthermore, the moss species are not successfully cultivated. From a traditional point of view, these moss characteristics have probably served natural limits to their popularity. The potential use of HupA for mental function was only discovered in the 1980s when the Chinese government was screening traditional plants for new applications. (Nat. Prod. Rep 2004;21:752-72).
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