Properties: Bitter, astringent, lightly cold
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Lung
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Drains Dampness and absorbs suppuration
Sores that are filled with purulent fluid, chronic, syphilitic sores, non-healing sores and sores of the oral cavity
- Stops bleeding and generates flesh
Topically for bleeding due to external trauma Internal bleeding with epistaxis, hematemesis, hemafecia and irregular uterine bleeding
- Clears Heat, clears the Lungs, transforms Phlegm, generates fluids and stops diarrhoea
Cough due to Lung Heat Thirst due to Summerheat Bloody diarrhoea, dysenteric disorders These uses are now rare
- Relieves Food Stagnation in children and promotes digestion
Indigestion or Food Stagnation in children
Suggested Daily Dosage: 1-3g in decoction, wrapped in cloth.
Cautions: This herb is prohibited from use in the UK under the banned and restricted herbal ingredients list issued by the MHRA.
Notes:
Scribonius Largus, court physician to the Roman emperor Claudius, in his De compositione medicamentorum liber (c.47 AD), says that sap from the Indian lykion, identified as Acacia catechu, is a supremely effective eye salve, able to stop current pain and future swelling by applying to closed eyes, waiting for it to absorb and then washing with hot water and bathing (Jocks, 2020, http://theses.gla.ac.uk/82178/).
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, and A+ Medical Encyclopaedia have 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.
