Properties: Bitter, pungent, cold, toxic

Meridans Entered:
Primary: Liver, Kidney and Bladder

1. 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
2. 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 contains toxic aristolochic acid. In many countries can easily be substituted with Han Fang Ji (Stephania tetranda) but this is also banned in the UK due to the common confusion between the two species. It is therefore generally substituted with Yi Yi Ren and Hai Tong Pi.