Properties: Sweet, neutral
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Heart and Kidney
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Nourishes Yin, tonifies the Blood and moistens Dryness
Restlessness, insomnia, indigestion, scalds, hemoptysis, vomiting, dysentery, hematochezia, vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, furuncle, indigestion in infants
- Extinguishes Wind
Eczema, convulsions
Suggested Daily Dosage: Eaten or used as medium for external application.
Notable Constituents:
- Lecithin
A phospholipid with a polar choline found in phosphoester linkage to diacylglycerol. It is commonly used as a food additive, as an emulsifier to blend fats and water, and marketed as a supplement to benefit the gut mucosal lining and helping with disorders such as ulceration and potentially improving gut microbial diversity. However, it could have the opposite effect in some individuals, increasing inflammation and disrupting the microbial environment (Panyod et al., 2024).
- Choline
Parent compound of the cholines class to generate the cholinergic system of neurotransmitters, which helps to regulate memory, mood, muscle control, and required to form the membranes that surround your body's cells. Choline may be used as a supplement in the treatment of bipolar disorders with some evidence to suggest it helps manic episodes (Sylvia et al., 2013) but weak to no evidence it helps the depressive aspect (Rakofsky & Dunlop, 2014). It has also been investigated into improving the cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (Bonvicini et al., 2023) and similar vascular brain disorders (Bermejo, Dorado & Zea-Sevilla, 2023; Pan et al., 2024). Chicken eggs are one of the highest nutritional sources of choline, at 251.00 mg / 100 g (Zeisel et al., 2003).
- Inositol
Sugar alcohol that aids in cell signaling, insulin sensitivity, and hormone regulation, frequently used as a supplement to manage PCOS, metabolic syndrome, and mental health conditions.
Appears in 4 formulae listed on this site: (click to display)
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, and A+ Medical Encyclopaedia have 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.
