Properties: Bitter, pungent, cold
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Liver, Kidney and Bladder
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Promotes urination and reduces oedema especially in the lower body
Edema due to Dampness accumulating in the Lower Jiao with damp leg Qi, borborygmus, abdominal distention, ascites
- Expels Wind-Dampness and alleviates pain (purges Damp-Heat)
Wind-Damp-Heat collecting in the channels with fever, red, hot, swollen, painful joints (Wind-Damp-Heat Bi) Painful contractions of the hands and feet
Suggested Daily Dosage: 5-10g in decoction.
Cautions: Being bitter and cold, it can easily damage stomach qi, so it should be used cautiously to treat patients with anorexia and weak constitution due to yin deficiency.
This herb is prohibited from use in the UK under the banned and restricted herbal ingredients list issued by the MHRA because it can also refer to certain Aristolochia species which contain toxic aristolochic acid. In some European countries with statutory testing of imports the species can be identified but the UK has chosen to ban all species to avoid regulation. It us generally substituted with Yi Yi Ren and Hai Tong Pi.
Notable Constituents:
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Appears in 14 formulae listed on this site: (click to display)
Da Qiang Huo Tang (Major Notopterygium Decoction)
From: Hard Won Knowledge (1308)
Er Jia Jian Zheng Qi San (Second Modification of Rectify the Qi Powder)
From: Systematic Differentiation of Warm Pathogen Diseases by Wu Tang / Wu Ju Tong (1798)
Fang Ji Fu Ling Tang (Stephania and Poria Decoction)
From: Discussion of Cold Damage by Zhang Zhong-Jing (c. 220)
Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang (Stephania and Astragalus Decoction)
From: Discussion of Cold Damage by Zhang Zhong-Jing (c. 220)
Ji Jiao Li Huang Wan (Stephania, Zanthoxylum, Tingli Seed and Rhubarb Pill)
From: Essentials from the Golden Cabinet by Zhang Zhong-Jing (c. 220)
Jia Wei Er Miao Wan (Modified Two Marvel Pill)
From: Medical Mirror of the Past and Present (Ming dynasty)
Jiu Jian San (Powder Boiled in Wine)
From: Essential Subtleties on the Silver Sea by Unknown, attributed to Sun Si Miao (Maybe composed in the Song - Ming Dynasty, published ~1579)
Ming Mu Chu Shi Yu Zhu Fang (Foot Bath for Brightening the Eyes and Eliminating Dampness)
From: Studies of the Imperial Medical Files of the Qing Dynasty (Qing Dynasty)
Shang Zhong Xia Tong Yong Tong Feng Wan (Pill to Treat Painful Wind Anywhere)
From: Medical Formulas Collected and Analysed by Wang Ang (1682)
Shu Feng Huo Xue Tang (Dredge Wind and Invigorate the Blood Decoction)
From: Precious Mirror of Eastern Medicine (1613) by Heo Jun / Xu Jun
Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang (Relax the Channels and Invigorate the Blood decoction)
From: Restoration of Health from the Myriad Diseases by Gong Ting-Xian (1587)
Xiao Xu Ming Tang (Minor Extend Life Decoction)
From: Formulas with Short Articles (Jin Dynasty, 4th Century)
Xuan Bi Tang (Disband Painful Obstruction Decoction)
From: Systematic Differentiation of Warm Pathogen Diseases by Wu Tang / Wu Ju Tong (1798)
Zu Heng Xiao Zhong Tang (Calf and Ankle Swelling Dispersing Decoction)
From: Ten Lectures on the Use of Formulas from the Personal Experience of Jiao Shu-De by Jiao Shu-De (2005)
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.
