Properties: Slightly bitter, astringent, warm
Meridans Entered:
Primary: None given
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Stimulates and Tonifies Qi
Recovery from fatigue
- Alleviates pain
Cocaine extracted from the leaves is used as an anaesthetic
Suggested Daily Dosage: None given. Usually made as a tea.
Cautions: Illegal in most western countries unless decocainized.
Notable Constituents:
- Cocaine
Tropane alkaloid used as a stimulant, anaesthetic and recreational drug. It has anesthetic and vasoconstrictor properties which are of use medically. It's stimulant properties are due to it being a central nervous system stimulant, a sodium channel blocker, an adrenergic uptake inhibitor, a dopamine uptake inhibitor, a serotonin uptake inhibitor and a sympathomimetic agent. It is illegal in most countries.
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.
