Properties: Warm, aromatic, bitter, acrid
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Heart, Liver, Spleen, Stomach and Intestines
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Tonify and move Heart Qi
Cardiac weakness, poor circulation, exhaustion, hypotension.
Depression with lack of joy, lack of interest in life.
- Tonify and warm Spleen Qi, tonify Blood
Lack of appetite, weak digestion or retention of food with cold sensations in the epigastrium.
General weakness, anemia.
Poor memory.
- Tonify and move Liver Qi
Lack of self-confidence and self-assertion, depression and withdrawal, side effects of prolonged multi-medication, over-indulgence in alcohol or fatty foods.
- Calm and regulate the Intestines
Nervous indigestion or flatulence, irritable bowel syndrome, especially with sensation of cold.
- Calm hyperactive Liver Yang
Headache or migraine, especially with sensation of cold
Suggested Daily Dosage: 6-12g in decoction.
Cautions: Contrindicated during pregnancy as it may have uterine and menstrual flow stimulant effects.
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, 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.
