Properties: Bitter, cold
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Stomach
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Clears Heat, resolves toxicity, drains abscesses and swellings and expels pus
Early stages of sores and abscesses when they are red, swollen and painful
Especially for swelling and pain in the breast area
- Causes milk to descend (promotes lactation)
Encourages lactation, especially when there are signs of Heat
- 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, boost Qi, sharpen the eyes and ears, prevent forgetfulness 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: 5-9g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated to patients with qi deficiency, sores and ulcers in flat shape, and the pregnant women.
Quality Tests:
Echinops is called Yu Zhou Lou Lu (禹州漏蘆) in Chinese and batches are often adulterated with each other but they are used equivalently in medicine.
Notes:
Rhaponticum is known as Qi Zhou Lou Lu (祁州漏蘆) while Echinops is called Yu Zhou Lou Lu (禹州漏蘆). Batches are often adulterated with each other but they are used equivalently in medicine, despite having different chemical profiles and not sharing identical biological activity (Qiao et al, 2010).
Appears in 1 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, 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.
