Properties: Bitter, cold
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Kidney and Bladder
Extraordinary Vessels: Yang Qiao
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Clears Damp-Heat and promotes urination
Damp-Heat Painful Urinary Dysfunction due to Damp-Heat with dark, burning and scanty urination
- Expels Dampness and stops itching
Damp skin disorders where itching is a main symptom (eczema, scabies) (internal and topical)
Damp-Heat in the external genitalia
- Clears Wind-Heat affecting the eyes and head
Swollen, painful eyes and head and skin disorders due to Wind-Heat
- Aids fasting
Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, sharpen the eyes and ears, make the body light and slow ageing. 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: 9-15g in decoction.
Notable Constituents:
- Momordin-Ic
A triterpene saponin probably responsible for its anti-inflammatory effects
Appears in 3 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.
