Properties: Sweet, bitter, and warm
Meridans Entered:
Primary: None given
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Relieves cough and calms wheezing
Cough and wheezing
- Dispels Wind and eliminates Damp, disperses swelling and alleviates pain
Chronic rheumatic arthritis
Swelling pain in throat, periodontitis, stomachache
- Promotes urination
Urethral stones, oedema
- Resolves snake bite toxin
Poisonous snake bite
Suggested Daily Dosage: 3-6g in decoction.
Notes:
Used in ancient Greek and Roman medicine since the time of Dioscorides (65 AD) for consumption and smallpox. Extracts have demonstrated antiviral activity against pox family viruses, HSV-1 and HSV-2, Influenza A, Influenza B, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro and notably low minimum inhibitory concentrations against the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex.
The name quinine fungus comes from the belief that it's bitterness was due to it containing quinine and was used against malaria but no quinine antimalarial activity has been found.
Does not appear in any formulae listed on this site
Research Links & References: (click to display)
Research Links:
Reference Notes:
Individual herb information has sourced mainly from TCM Wiki and American Dragon for basic data and then updated manually with my own notes. Zhou, Xie and Yan (2011): Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Vol. 5, and A+ Medical Encyclopaedia have been used for entries not available from those sources with additional material searched for and filled in where available. Western herbs not appearing in the Chinese literature have used Ross (2010): Combining Western Herbs and Chinese Medicine: A Clinical Materia Medica, White Rabbit Institute of Healing and therapeutika.ch. Choices of which source to use or combine have been my own.
These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted. Actions and indications are taken from traditional uses and do not necessarily reflect the evidence base which should be researched independently. Dosages are for guidance only and will vary dependening on the potency of the batch and the tolerance of the individual so should be evaluated by a professional based on individual needs.
