Properties: Warm, Bitter, Sweet
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Liver, Large Intestine, Lungs
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Dredges the Liver to regulate the flow of Liver Qi
Alleviates constipation
Provides a strong sense of mental and physical vitality
- Purges the Gallbladder
Protects against the formation of Gallstones
- Opens the Heart Orifices and warms the Blood circulation
Stimulates and focuses mental activity
- Detoxifies and promotes urination
Constricted elimination of Damp and Heat due to a rich, heavy, greasy diet and/or weak digestion
- Gently tonifies
Liver-Spleen disharmony where Liver Qi stagnation is marked and Spleen deficiency is mild
Slightly improves Lung capacity
Suggested Daily Dosage: 6-18g in decoction.
Cautions: It may exacerbate Heart Heat or excessive Liver Yang and damage the Blood causing palpitations, anxiety, headaches, insomnia or tremors. Its dredging action is strong while its regulating and tonifying actions are weak so it should be avoided in cases of pronounced deficiency without being combined with other suitable herbs. Excessive long term consumption may deplete the Kidneys.
Notes:
Information has been collated from several sources including ITM Online, Flowing Elements and Sacred Valley Acupuncture.
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, 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.
