Properties: Bitter, cold
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Large Intestine, Liver and Stomach
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Purges and drains Fire and guides out accumulations
Heat Accumulation with constipation, dizziness, red eyes, and irritability (especially for Hot constipation with Heart and Liver Fire with irritability, restlessness and insomnia)
Chronic constipation
- Clears Heat and cools the Liver
Heat in the Liver channel or Liver Fire with epigastric discomfort, dizziness, headache, irritability, tinnitus, constipation and fever
- Kills parasites and strengthens the Stomach
Childhood nutritional impairment especially when due to roundworms
Tinea
Suggested Daily Dosage: 0.6 - 4.5g as concentrate in pills, or 10 - 15g of whole leaf in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated in cases of patients with hypo-function of stomach and spleen, poor appetite, diarrhea as well as pregnant women.
Notable Constituents:
- Chrysophanol
Trihydroxyanthraquinone with antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity. It may also induce necrosis in human liver cancer cells via a decrease in ATP levels causing a change in purinergic signalling.
Appears in 5 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.
