Properties: Sweet, pungent, neutral, toxic
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Large Intestine and Lung
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Moistens the Intestines and promotes defecation
Dry stools, constipation
- Eliminates swelling and resolves Toxicity (pounded and applied externally)
Furuncles, ulcers, suppurative infections on the skin, swellings
Sore throats, scrofula
Facial paralysis
Suggested Daily Dosage: Taken as pills or stir-baked products.
Cautions: It is contraindicated to pregnant women and people with loose stool.
Notable Constituents:
- Castor Oil
Oil pressed from the seeds of the castor bean that has been used as a laxative since ancient Egyptian times.
- Ricin
A ribosome-inactivating protein and of the most toxic substances known to man: an amount the size of a grain of salt can kill an adult human.
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, 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.
