Properties: Pungent, Hot, Toxic
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Stomach, Large Intestine, and Lung
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Warmly unblocks and vigorously purges (purges accumulated Cold)
Severe Internal Cold Accumulation leading to constipation, abdominal fullness, distention and pain
Food Stagnation
- Drives out water and reduces oedema
Ascites due to end stage schistomiasis
- Breaks up clogged Phlegm and improves the condition of the throat
Difficult breathing, wheezing, and severe fullness and distention in the chest and diaphragm
Phlegm Blocking the Orifices
- Promotes healing of abscesses and ulcers topically and kills parasites
Abscesses that have suppurated but not ulcerated
Severe ulcers
- Stops diarrhoea
Diarrhoea due to Cold
- Kills Parasites
Insecticide topically
Internally for Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
Suggested Daily Dosage: 0.1-0.3g powder taken separately.
Cautions: It is contraindicated in pregnancy, those anxious about their health, and is incompatible with Qian Niu Zi.
While not actually on the list of banned and restricted herbal ingredients in the UK it is generally substituted with Wu Zhu Yu due to lack of availability.
Appears in 5 formulae listed on this site: (click to display)
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, has 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.
