Properties: Pungent, slightly bitter, warm
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Spleen, Kidney and Heart
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach Qi to aid transformation and transportation and warms the Kidneys to aid Yang in warming the Spleen
Weak lower back and legs
A sense of heaviness with anorexia
Fatigue
- Augments the Heart Qi and calms the Shen
Heart Qi Deficiency with Insomnia with many dreams, poor concentration and mild depression
- Invigorates the Blood and unblocks the collaterals
Problems due to poor peripheral circulation with Blood Stasis signs
Suggested Daily Dosage: 6-15g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated in case of yin deficiency with effulgent fire.
Caution must be taken to have the correct species. Cortex Periplocae (Xiang Jia Pi) is often mistaken for this herb but contains toxic cardiac glycosides which could be dangerous, as well as poorer therapeutic effects and none of the adaptogenic properties of Wu Jia Pi (Complemedis.com).
Appears in 1 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.
