Properties: Bitter, slightly pungent, cold
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Lung and Large Intestine
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Clears the Lungs, transforms Phlegm, stops coughing and calms wheezing
Cough or wheezing due to Lung Heat with rebellious Qi
Lung Deficiency Heat
Lung Deficiency chronic asthma
- Clears and drains Large Intestine Heat and reduces swelling and pain
Large Intestine Heat with swelling and pain in and around the anus
Bleeding hemorrhoids and fistula
- Lowers Blood pressure
Hypertension due to Liver Yang Rising
Suggested Daily Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: Being bitter and cold, it should be used with cautions for cough and dyspnea due to cold deficiency or diarrhea due to spleen deficiency. Proper dose should be used to prevent vomiting.
This herb is prohibited from use in the UK under the banned and restricted herbal ingredients list issued by the MHRA because it contains toxic aristolochic acid.
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.
