Individual Herbs Notebook

Cang Zhu

Translation: Dark Atractylodes

Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Atractylodes
Taxonomy: Atractylodes lancea seu chinensis seu japonica

Other names: Black Atractylodes / Gray Atractylodes / Sword-like Atractylodes root

Category: Aromatic Herbs that Transform Dampness



Properties: Pungent, bitter, warm

Meridans Entered:
Primary: Spleen, Lung and Liver
Sinews: Taiyin
Extraordinary Vessels: Chong, Ren


Traditional Actions/Indications:
  1. Strongly dries Dampness and tonifies the Spleen
    Dampness Obstructing the Middle Jiao and blocking transformative and transportive functions of the Spleen with anorexia, diarrhoea, epigastric distention and pressure, fatigue, nausea and vomiting and a thick, greasy tongue coat
  2. Induces sweating and expels Wind-Dampness
    Wind-Cold Dampness and Wind-Dampness with chills and fever, headache, body aches and nasal congestion
    Painful extremities due to Wind-Damp Bi
  3. Clears Dampness from the Lower Jiao
    Damp-Heat Pouring Downward with Leg Qi, some forms of atrophy disorders, vaginal discharge, swollen, sore joints
  4. Improves vision
    Night blindness and diminished vision with a rough sensation in the eyes
  5. Repels Ghosts
    "Strange diseases " that involve seeing ghosts
  6. Aids fasting
    Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, make the body light, prolong life and make one free from hunger. This may suggest it was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生).

Suggested Daily Dosage: 5-10g in decoction.


Notable Constituents: Mostly taken from Jun, Fu & Lei, (2018).

Notes:

The Ben Cao Gang Mu states that ghosts have an extreme dislike for Cang Zhu and so it is used in several cases of treatment for strange diseases that involve seeing visions of ghosts and demons (Wilcox, 2004).


Appears in 61 formulae listed on this site: (click to display)
Research Links & References: (click to display)