Properties: Bitter, pungent, cool, toxic

Meridans Entered:
Primary: Liver and Heart

1. Dispels Wind and Dampness, strongly clears Heat, resolves toxicity, reduces swellings and stops pain.
   Stubborn Damp-Heat Bi Syndromes with swollen joints and difficulty moving, especially rheumatoid, psoriatic and other autoimmune forms of arthritis
2. Eliminates Dampness, kills parasites and bugs and stops itching
   Stubborn skin disorders including Behcet’s syndrome, psoriasis, eczema, leprosy. Best for those with excruciating itching.
   Maggots, rats and snake venom (topically)

Suggested Daily Dosage: 5-12g in decoction, often with licorice to reduce toxicity. Can also be decocted for 1-2 hours and made into syrup, or pounded into powder and taken in tablets 0.5-1.5g per time, three times per day.

Cautions: Contraindicated for those with cardiac, hepatic, renal or gastrointestinal problems, arrhythmias or anemia, during pregnancy or lactation and in the debilitated. Should not be used without careful monitoring of blood and liver enzymes.

Although not on the UK Banned and Restricted Herbal Medicines List, it is rarely used outside of China where proper monitoring is possible. Side effects can include immunosuppression, reproductive issues, adverse skin reactions, hematologic and cardiovascular events. External application for longer than half an hour may cause blisters.

• Celastrol
  Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory triterpinoid that potently inhibits lipid peroxidation in mitochondria and inhibits TNF-alpha-induced NF-kappa-B activation, topoisomerase II activity and Hsp90. It may be of use in preventing neuronal degeneration in Alzheimer's Disease.
• Triptolide
  Diterpenoid that has earned this plant the nickname "Chinese methotrexate" due to its alkylating antineoplastic, antispermatogenic and immunosuppressive effects. It has been used in trials studying the treatment of HIV, Crohn's Disease, male contraception and gastrointestinal diseases but is of limited use due to toxicity.