Properties: Bitter, sweet, sour, neutral

Meridans Entered:
Primary: Liver and Kidney
Divergent Zones: Shaoyang

1. Invigorates the Blood and expels Blood Stasis
   Blood Stasis with dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea and retained lochia
   Pain due to trauma
2. Nourishes Liver and Kidney Yin, strengthens the sinews and bones and benefits the joints
   Low back and knee pain and soreness due to Kidney and Liver Deficiency
3. Descends Blood and Fire
   Blood Heat in the Upper Jiao with epistaxis, hematemesis and bleeding gums
   Yin Deficiency with Empty Fire Rising with toothaches
   Liver Yang Rising or Liver Fire with dizziness, headache and blurred vision
4. Clears Damp-Heat in the Lower Jiao
   Damp-Heat Pouring Downward with knee pain, or lower back painful obstruction
   As an auxiliary for painful urinary dysfunction (Lin) or vaginal discharge, especially for Stone Lin with lower back pain and bloody urine
5. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, make the body light and prolong life. This may suggest it was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生).

Suggested Daily Dosage: 6-15g in decoction.

• 20-hydroxyecdysone
  Phytoecdysteroid used by plants as a protection against insects. Several forms of this ecdysone may also have steroid-like effects in humans and form the basis of supplements like turkesterone. Zhang et al. (2012) found four varieties of this compound in the roots of Huai Niu Xi.
• Inokosterone
  Another phytoecdysteroid with four variations described by Zhang et al. (2012)

Notes:

Chuan Niu Xi and Huai Niu Xi have similar actions but Chuan Niu Xi is considered stronger at moving Blood Stasis while Huai Niu Xi has a stronger action on tonifying the Liver and Kidneys.