Properties: Bitter, astringent, neutral
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Liver, Spleen and Stomach
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Alleviates pain and kills Parasites
Abdominal pain
Internal parasites
- Relieves coughing
Chronic cough
- Resolves Toxicity
Sores and boils, stubborn dermatitis, bald spots on the scalp, white wind patches
Suggested Daily Dosage: 9-15g in decoction.
Notable Constituents:
- Juglone
Toxic naphthoquinone and isomer of lawsone, the staining compound in henna leaf. It stunts the growth of other plants nearby by inhibiting certain enzymes necessary for mitochondrial respiration. It is used as a herbicide, a food colouring, preservative and dye for cloth, inks and cosmetics. Medicinally it is used for its antibacterial and antifungal properties and being researched a potential cytotoxic and antineoplastic agent in cancer treatments.
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.
