Properties: Bitter, sour, hot and sweet
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Lung, Heart, Spleen
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Calms Shen
Insomnia, anxiety, stress disorders
- Tonifies Qi and Wei Qi
Builds immunity and strength, aids recovery.
- Tonifies Lung Qi
Colds, coughs, heavy feeling in the chest, tuberculosis.
- Tonifies Spleen
Poor appetite, diarrhoea
Poor memory, mental confusion
- Tonifies Jing
Impotence, male infertility
Suggested Daily Dosage: 3-9g per day in decoction.
Cautions: Caution in hot disorders due to it heating properties. Although traditionally used in pregnancy to strengthen the uterus and health of the mothers its spasmolytic activity of the uterus has led some western phytotherapists to restrict its use during pregnancy.
Interactions:
Notable Constituents:
- Withaferin A
Steroidal lactone with potent inhibition of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) giving cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, immuno-modulatory, anti-angiogenesis, anti-metastasis and anti-carcinogenic properties.
Notes:
This is the Indian herb Ashwagandha that is not traditionally used in TCM. Its actions have been taken from White Rabbit Institute of Healing with additional cautions from Pole (2006) Ayurvedic Medicine.
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.
