Category Archives: What Is Cissus?

Cissus Quadrangularis: Connecting Bone Health & Metabolic Health and Wellness

Cissus Quadrangularis ConnectingBones and Metabolic Health

Wellness Resources described this new body of science in their cutting-edge article The New World of Bones– Thyroid, Leptin, Blood Sugar, and Bone Strength, which I highly encourage to any one interested in this subject matter. Continue reading Cissus Quadrangularis: Connecting Bone Health & Metabolic Health and Wellness

Cissus Quadrangularis – An Effective Bone Healer

The herb cissus quadrangularis is extensively used in more traditional ayurvedic medicine for its great bone healing and bone repairing qualities.

New scientific exploration is helping to report the ability of this extraordinary bone support nutrient.

The most current examination reveals that it directly helps bone marrow make the bone-building carpenter cells known as osteoblasts in addition to directly support the formation of calcium matrix (new bone).

Cissus Quadrangularis Bone Healing

The mesenchymal stem cells inside bone marrow offer the ability to eventually become the critical osteoblasts. They can additionally become macrophages. Metabolic indicating guides what will happen. Excessive inflammation encourages macrophage formation and a scarcity of osteoblasts proportionate to too many osteoclasts, consequently promoting bone loss. Nutrients that support osteoblast development are highly beneficial for bone health.

This study shows that cissus quadrangularis not only assists mesenchymal stem cells develop into osteoblasts but that it also helps encourage the generation of more mesenchymal stem cells, which can then develop into more osteoblasts. This herb contains highly bioactive regeneration abilities for bone.

The investigators concluded that “cissus quadrangularis stimulates osteoblastogenesis and may be utilized as preventive/alternative all-natural medicine for bone diseases such as osteoporosis.”.

References:

  1. ^ Cissus Quadrangularis Helps Bone Buiding Cells  Clinics (Sao Paulo).  Potu BK, Bhat KM, Rao MS, Nampurath GK, Chamallamudi MR, Nayak SR, Muttigi MS.

Cissus Quadrangularis: A One-of-a-Kind Bone-Building, Weight-Management Nutrient

Cissus Quadrangularis Bone BuildingClinical evidence supporting the use of cissus quadrangularis for bone and metabolic health continues to shine. Cissus quadrangularis is a time-honored ayurvedic herb being used for a lot more than one thousand years. Its nickname is “bone setter.” We have explained how cissus quadrangularis helps bones in two recent articles, Cissus Quadrangularis – An Effective Bone Healer and Cissus Quadrangularis: Connecting Bones & Metabolic Health and Wellness. One analysis on cissus quadrangularis and bones reveals that cissus quadrangularis works at the level of gene transcription to ignite osteoblasts and to specifically increase their generation of osteocalcin1. This is an impressive finding, as it indicates that the nutrient is a bone-building gene regulator, lifting it to a new standing of effectiveness. Furthermore, osteocalcin2 function as a hormone in other places in your body by increasing adiponectin3 production in your white adipose tissue, in turn serving to help protect against insulin resistance and cardiovascular inflammation4.

Increased Interest in Cissus Quadrangularis

Increased interest in cissus quadrangularis and metabolism centers around its historical use for hemorrhoids, ulcers, asthma, and constipation– all important issues linked with bacterial imbalance in the intestinal tract. I have detailed the adverse effect of these factors on metabolism in a more recent article, How Digestive Problems Prevent Weight Loss. Science advocates the traditional use of cissus quadrangularis to help treat the cellular lining of the digestive tract, lower inflammation, boost antioxidant defenses, and control bacterial imbalance. Cissus quadrangularis has previously been shown to have antibacterial properties5, including against the Staphylococcus family typically found in surplus in obese individuals. One of the metabolic complications caused by bacterial imbalance is overproduction of harmful LPS, which interferes with metabolism.

Cissus quadrangularis also helps reduce LPS-induced free radical damage6

Cissus quadrangularis also helps reduce LPS-induced free radical damage6, helping counteract this problem in overweight people. It does so by helping lessen both inflammatory nitric oxide (iNOS) and the core inflammatory gene signal NF-kappaB. Another recent analysis revealed cissus quadrangularis to be particularly protective of the liver7, offsetting the toxic effects of a TB drug by substantially lessening free radical damage. This is relevant to weight management, as the liver is oftentimes subject to inflammatory and free radical-producing insults coming from both the digestive tract and white adipose tissue. Thus, cissus quadrangularis serves to help counter metabolic stress linked with digestive tract imbalance by a wide array of mechanisms.

Science confirms the benefit of cissus quadrangularis

Science confirms the benefit of cissus quadrangularis as an useful bone support nutrient, and expands on its role in metabolic support. Not only does cissus quadrangularis help greatly improve metabolism through osteocalcin-boosting cissus quadrangularis overweightadiponectin production, it also lowers toxic stress from digestive tract disproportion — a complication confronted by many who struggle with their body weight.

Other Names for Cissus Quadrangularis

Having done research on Cissus Quadrangularis for many years now we, at the Cissus Experts, felt it may be important to note that many herbs, including Cissus Quadrangularis, may have different common names throughout the world.  Cissus, the genus name, is the most common name which stems from the species name Cissus Quadrangularis.  In most studies you will find the name written as C. quadrangularis, CQ, CQE, or CQR-300.

Cissus quadrangularis

Cissus is commonly known as Veldt Grape, Devil’s Backbone, or Winged Treebine.

Cissus in India

Cissus has a long history of medicinal use in India and is commonly referred to as Hadjod, translated as ‘(the one) that unites broken bones’ in Hindi, while its Sanskrit name, asthisamharaka, literally means ‘protecting bones from destruction’.

Cissus in Thailand

In Thai, Cissus is written เพชรสังฆาต, which transliterates to “Phet sang kat” or “Phet Sangkhat”. It is mostly prescribed to relieve hemorrhoids, which is one benefit due to it’s anti-inflammatory properties. Some Thais are learning more about the wide range of benefits of Cissus.

A list of what Cissus Quadrangularis can otherwise be known as:

Asthisonhara, Chadhuri, Chaudhari, Cissus, Cissus Extract, Cissus Formula, Cissus Formulation, C. Quadrangularis, Cissus Quadrangularis, Cissus Quadrangularis Extract, CORE, CQ, CQE, CQR-300, Extrait de Cissus, Hadjod, Hadjora, Harbhanga, Harsankari, Hasjora, Kandavela, Mangaroli, Nalleru, Namunungwa, Phet Cha Sung Khaat, Phet Sang Kat, Phet Sangkhat, Pirandai, Quadrangularis, Samroi To, San Cha Khuat, Stemmed Vine, Vajravalli, Vedhari, Veld Grape, Veldt-grape, Vitis quadrangularis, Winged Treebine.

Scientific Classification of Cissus:

Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Vitales
Family: Vitaceae
Genus: Cissus
Species: C. quadrangularis

Binomial name: Cissus quadrangularis

Synonyms:  Cissus quadrangula, Vitis quadrangularis

How To Take Cissus

How to take Cissus
How do we eat this stuff?

Cissus Quadrangularis is used in supplements and medications that you may not even be aware of.  It’s healing abilities and antioxidant properties make this plant a great addition to many health and fitness supplements.  However, the most effective way to take cissus is in extract powder form.

Cissus extract contains high amounts of ketorsterones which is the most active part of cissus and its healing powers.  The extract powder should be taken orally 2-3 times a day.  Click here to see a full article on cissus dosages.

The powder can be purchased capsulized or in straight powder form.

Cissus Powder

Cissus Powder
Cissus is best taken in extract powder

Cissus can be found in bulk powder form.  The powder can be mixed with any drink or juice.  Many have found that the taste is extremely bitter and is very difficult to candy coat with a juice.  It also makes eating the supplement more of a chore with all the measuring.  So what’s the best way to take an herb in powder form?

Cissus Capsules

The fastest and most bitter-free way to consume cissus extract is in capsule form.  Ideally you want to find 500mg

Cissus in Capsule
Cissus Powder is easy to eat in Capsule form

capsules.  This makes your dosage very easy.  Most active, or injured, adults can start with 1000mg doses, but just to maintain health you can stay at 500mg doses.  Either way, the capsules help make consuming cissus extract simple.

When should I take cissus?

We suggest taking cissus first thing in the morning and in the evening before dinner.  The morning is the most important time to take cissus.  Throughout the night your levels of cortisol peak leaving you with the highest amount of cortisol in the morning.  You want to counter these high levels with cissus extract.

Cortisol Diagram
Cortisol Levels are highest in the A.M

Cissus also prevents your body from storing too many sugars as fat due to high levels of stress and cortisol.  By taking cissus before your first meal of the day you can counter this as well.

Some find taking cissus right before or after workouts gives them the most benefits.  It could be a mental thing with some that the timing to taking supplements is so important.  The truth is cissus can be taken anytime, night or day, and it will have beneficial effects to your well-being.

When should I NOT take cissus?

Although there are no proven adverse effects of cissus quadrangularis you could consult a physician or homeopathic doctor about cissus.  We have seen warnings about pregnant women taking any supplements without consulting with their doctor first.  There are no proven studies to show adverse effects on pregnancies, and in fact there have been studies that show cissus may actually help with bone growth development in new borns.

There have been no studies that show adverse effects in children as well.  Like any herbal supplement, the dosage for children should be lower.

Anyone taking cissus for the first time should start with low dosages (500-1000mg) and see how your body reacts.  Everyone’s body is unique and responds differently to new foods.  Give your body time to adjust and then raise dosage level depending on your needs.

Is Cissus Safe?

Cissus Quadrangularis is a fairly unknown plant in western society and there has not been a substantial amount of laboratory testing on it, so this brings up the question:

Is Cissus Safe?

Cissus has been use as a natural treatment for many centuries by people all over the world and it has been considered by some as a “wonder plant”.  Cissus has also been used, in the past few years, by athletes, either in supplements or taken as an extract by itself.  There have been very little, if any, complaints that cissus has cause any serious ill effects.

It has been written that cissus may cause side effects such as headache, intestinal gas, dry mouth,diarrhea, and insomnia.  There is no sufficient evidence to support this through case studies, although  we have read through some forums, blogs, and articles, that cissus quadrangularis has caused some diarrhea when taken in strong doses.  Ayruvedic herbs can be potent, especially on a bodily system that may be imbalanced.  It is always advised to start herbal supplements at low doses to see how your body reacts.  We also strongly advise taking cissus quadrangularis on an empty stomach first thing in the morning with lemon water.  The lemon water alkalizes the body allow for better vitamin/mineral uptake.

Cissus is a plant in the grape family and is therefore a very effective anti-oxidant for the body.  The anti-oxidant capabilities allows the body to detox which promotes better vitamin/mineral absorption.  Cissus also supports healthy digestion and helps with weight management.  Cissus is 100% natural (when taken in pure extract form) and has been used since ancient times.  It is written about in ancient Ayurveda texts.

There have been many clinical studies done with cissus to test the bone mending capabilities and the tendon/ligament repair (collagen production).  Both of these studies were successful in showing that cissus does have bone enhancing capabilities.  One of the tests was done on pregnant rats to see if, when given cissus quadrangularis during pregnancy, there would be an effect on the fetal bone growth.  The offspring were healthy and showed enhanced bone growth and the mothers were safe and healthy.

Click Here to see a study how Cissus Quadrangularis extract during pregnancy stimulates fetal bone growth

Is Cissus Safe during Pregnancy?

It has been written that Cissus should not be taken by pregnant women.  Like anything, you should consult your physician if you are not sure of ingesting something while pregnant.  There have been no cases of cissus adversely affecting a pregnancy.   Due to the fact that there has been little, or no, testing of Cissus on humans it is hard to say whether cissus is 100% safe or not during pregnancy.

Is Cissus safe for Children?

Is Cissus Safe?
Cissus is Safe for Everyone

Since cissus is a 100% completely natural plant and has been shown to have multiple positive healing capabilities on humans, there should be no reason why Cissus is not safe for children.  I would suggest, however, lower doses than the recommended for bodybuilders.  I would suggest 500-700 milligrams per day at first for children.  Just check daily to see if there are any adverse effects as everybody should do with anything they ingest.

 Is Cissus safe for Adults and Elderly?

Cissus is suggested for older adults as it has been clinically tested and shown to be used as preventive/alternative natural medicine for bone diseases such as osteoporosis.  It’s anti-oxidant qualities provide older adults with a good environment to fight sickness and disease.  There have not been any side effects found with adults using a normal dosage of Cissus Quadrangularis Extract.  The suggested dosage of Cissus Extract is 800-2000 milligrams per day.  Athletes who train heavy or those with serious ligament, bone, or tendon injuries can work up to 5000 milligrams per day.

Cissus Quadrangularis may sound too good to be true, and that is why the Cissus Experts are sure your experience with Cissus Extract will be a positive one.  The healing qualities of this plant are powerful and never cease to amaze.  With no found adverse effects and no negative side effects, cissus can heal and help just about everyone.

Cissus Dosage

One of the most important questions you may have about Cissus is…

“How much Cissus should I take? What is the correct Cissus Dosage”

Cissus is a completely safe, natural herb that has virtually no track record of causing bodily harm.  With that said, you will not overdose on cissus.

The recommended dosage may vary depending on what you are using Cissus for.  Cissus can be used for bodybuilding/muscle building, bone/tendon/muscle repair, overall fitness, weight loss, and other uses.

When taking a Cissus Extract such as Muscle Defense, we would recommend starting with 800mg – 1000mg per serving taken 2-3 times a day.  You may increase your dosage as you feel fit.  We feel anymore than 2000mg of cissus may be a waste as your body will most likely excrete most of the cissus it does not use.  Remember that cissus inhibits cortisol levels, but does not 100% stop cortisol, making it a safe, natural way to inhibit cortisol.


When taking cissus for an overall fitness or weight loss the dosage may be a little less.  You can keep it in the 600mg-1000mg range.  Again, depending on how your body is reacting you may increase the dosages.  Taking cissus 30 minutes prior to meals is the most effective way to dose.  Cissus may help control your appetite and controls the amount of sugars and fats your body produces and stores.

Cissus Dosage
A standard Cissus Dosage is about 1000 mg

In extreme cases, such as bone fractures or torn tendons, athletes may want to take heavy doses around the 2000mg level.  The most effective cissus extract products come in capsule form with anywhere from 500mg to 800mg of extract powder per capsule.  We would suggest taking 2-3 capsules per serving(or 4 in extreme cases).

Allow at least a week or 2 for the full effects of cissus quadrangularis to take.  You body will adjust to having this new herb affecting cortisol levels, and just like any other natural substance it may take some time for you body to adjust.  We suggest taking cissus for at least 2 months to allow cissus to completely heal any injuries.  For weight loss we suggest using lower doses of cissus over longer periods of time.

Whatever your reason for finding Cissus and using it as part of your daily regiment, just be confident you have found an amazing, natural herb that is completely safe.  If you do feel any adverse affects you may want to consult your physician to see if you are allergic to cissus.

Amazing Discovery – Cissus Quadrangularis

Finally, you can gain the muscle you work so hard to develop…Injury Free!

An Amazing Discovery Gains You Massive Muscle Mass. 100% Natural. A SouthEast Asian Ancient Secret Revealed!

It works like magic but almost nobody knows about it.

You’ll ask yourself, how can something 100% natural be so powerful… and so secret –

That’s the way the bodybuilding companies like it.

Hi, Ken Here from Cissus Experts. I’d like to give you an overview of Cissus, an extremely popular new supplement in the Health and Fitness community.

  • Increase your overall strength of the body
  • Maintain Body Weight
  • Mend, Repair, and Protect your body from Injuries

How can one supplement do all that?

Cissus Quadrangularis was originally written about in a Yoga text Ayurveda. It’s in the grape family, and we all know how the anti-oxidents of wine have be shown to protect the body. Well, Cissus is in the same family as the wine grape.

It’s more powerful and potent than most anti-oxidents found.

So why is Cissus Quadrangularis so hidden from the mainstream market?

Cissus only grows in a few places in the world and it has been marketed for many different uses, but none as popular as the Weight Loss and Weight Lifting communities.

It is grown in SouthEast Asia and India and it is even rare to find throughout these areas.

How did I stumble upon Cissus Quadrangularis?

Cissus Quadrangularis in Thailand
Cissus in Thailand

While traveling through Southeast Asia, I ruptured my Achilles Tendon. Not a good injury to have while trekking around.

I was DESPERATE!

I started looking up muscle and ligament repair and found Cissus and saw that it can be found in SouthEast Asia, EXACTLY where I was!

I found out the local name for it and found a bottle of capsules that was being marketed for hemorrhoids.

Apparently the list of Cissus cures goes on and on…

The results were AMAZING!

My Achilles Tendon was healing in record time. My doctor told me I wouldn’t be walking on it for another 2 months. Well, in just 3 weeks I was putting pressure on it.

I hadn’t exercised for a couple months and, being an avid athlete, was feeling lathargic to say the least, but to my suprise I didn’t gain an ounce of fat and my muscle tone had actually improved!

To make a long story short I felt I owed it to this Miracle Herb to share it’s powers with the world. I instantly set up an office in SouthEast Asia began my plan of how to get the most potent Cissus Quadrangulris to the people who can benefit from it the most….and I’m not talking about Hemorrhoids.

My research found the best Cissus Extract on the market at very affordable prices.

What is Cissus Quadrangularis?

Naming of Cissus Quadrangularis

What is Cissus Quadrangularis? Cissus is commonly known as Veld Grape, which as the name suggests, puts it into the grape family.  It has been called the “Devil’s Backbone” due to its physical appearance.  In Thailand cissus is called

What is Cissus Quadrangularis?
Cissus can be called “The Devil’s Backbone”

Phet Sang Kart(เพชรสังฆาต).  You will also see the word “ketosterones” which are plant sterols and are the active ingredient for muscle defense, joint health, tendon recovery, and many other  benefits we will be discussing.

Discovery of Cissus

No, we did not discover cissus, but we would like to re-introduce this amazing herb back into our modern day society.  Cissus has been used by ancient civilizations for many different uses.  Cissus Quadrangularis was originally written about in an Ayurveda Yoga text.  It was used primarily to heal bone fractures and torn ligaments.  Since it is mostly found throughout India and Southeast Asia, it was mostly these civilizations who have recorded the most uses of cissus.  It has been used orally and topically, and not all of the benefits were recorded from ancient history as ones such as weight loss was probably not a hot topic back then.  We have been discovering more and more benefits the more we research cissus quadrangularis.

Uses and Benefits of Cissus

Now that we know what is Cissus Quadrangularus, let’s take a look at the benefits.  Cissus can be found(more hidden) in many supplements and medications.  Cissus can be taken as an extract or blended with other supplements.  The list of benefits goes on and on as we discover more about this ancient medicinal herb.

  • Muscle Repair – Cissus is used by body builders to repair torn muscles, ligaments, and bones.  It can be used by all athletes who suffer bone fractures or torn tendons such as ACL/MCL tears, Achilles tendon tears, or any joint/tendon injury.
  • Joint Health – Cissus is a natural joint health supplement similar to DHEA or MSM.  Cissus allows for joint, tendon, and ligament repair.
  • Bone Support – A latest study shows that cissus directly helps bone marrow make the bone-building cells known as osteoblasts as well as directly promote the formation of calcium matrix (new bone)
  • Workout Recovery – Cissus can improve your workout recovery time and allow your body to gain maximum benefits from over strenuous exercise.
  • Cortisol Blocker – This is one of the main goals of body builders since cortisol, a natural hormone in our bodies, breaks down muscle when they are stressed.  This means cortisol is working against heavy workouts.  By blocking cortisol your body allows muscles to get ripped.  Cortisol also plays a part in breaking down sugars and amino acids which can get stored as fats, another thing bodybuilders don’t want.
  • Weight Loss/Management – When we are stressed, either physically, mentally, or emotionally, our bodies send out hormones to defend itself.  Cortisol is one hormone our bodies send out.  What happens then is our body finds sugars to break down to store as fat in order to protect our cells from stress.  Cissus prevents the cortisol from interfering with our muscle growth and prevents the fat build up.
  • Anti-Oxidant – Cissus is in the grape family and therefore carries great anti-oxidant properties for the human body.  This makes cissus healthy for everyone.
  • Gastroprotective Activity- Cissus has been used to treat hemorrhoids and other digestive aids such as ulcers, asthma, and constipation – all important issues that are associated with bacterial imbalance in the digestive tract.
  • Malaria – Cissus has been used by Africans to relieve symptoms of Malaria

How to take Cissus Quadrangularis

All parts of Cissus quadrangularis are usable, including the stem, leaf, flower and fruit.  Throughout history cissus has been used topically and orally.  Currently cissus is used in nutritional suppliements.  The plant can be broken down into a powder which can be just the plant itself or the extract, which is a more potent form.  For athletes the extract form is the most useful way to take cissus.  The taste may be bitter making capsule form the best way to take it.

Cissus Extract
Cissus Extract Powder

The recommended dosages of cissus is anywhere from 600mg to 1000mg per serving.  Studies have found that cissus is most effective when taken 30 minutes prior to meals.  Servings may be taken 2-3 times per day.  Like any other herbal supplement, your body may have different reactions to the newly introduced supplement.  Some people see and feel results within 1 week, while others may not feel the effects of cissus for 1-3 months.  Your dosage may be increased over time.

Studies done with Cissus

A study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of methanolic extract of Cissus quadrangularis Linn (CQ) on the healing process of experimentally fractured radiusulna of dog. CQ treated animals revealed faster initiation of healing process than the control animals on radiological and histopathological examinations. The treated group also revealed a decrease in serum calcium level to a greater extent than the control group. Healing was almost complete on 21 st day of fracture in the treated animals and remained incomplete in the control animals. No significant alteration ofserum calcium level was observed on 21 st day of fracture in both the groups.

-taken from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cissus_quadrangularis

Cissus Products

When you’re looking for a cissus supplement, you will want to find a pure extract preferably in capsule form.  While cissus comes in powder, it has a strong, bitter taste and may be difficult for you to measure correct amounts.

Muscle Defense – Pure cissus extract from Thailand.  This is the most pure cissus you can find.  It comes in 500mg capsules for 60 servings.  Serving suggestion is 1000mg per serving.

Super Cissus RX – A cissus extract at 800mg per serving.  It is not a very potent extract and the servings actually suggest 1600mg for therapeutic use.

Any Questions about cissus and its uses please contact us, the Cissus Experts and/or leave comments below.