Properties: None given
Meridans Entered:
Primary: None given
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Expels Wind
Ptosis, Bell's palsy (Applied topically to use the electrical discharges to stimulate the facial muscles)
- Promotes urination
Oedema
- Promotes lactation
Insufficient lactation
Suggested Daily Dosage: 1 fish boiled in a stew and taken continuously for oedema or lactation. For external application, the tail part is cut while live and placed directly on the paralysed spot every morning (Li Shizhen, 1596).
Notes:
Quote regarding using its electrical impulses for facial paralysis comes from Wu, C. H. (1984): Electric Fish and the Discovery of Animal Electricity: The mystery of the electric fish motivated research into electricity and was instrumental in the emergence of electrophysiology, American Scientist 72(6): 598-607. Available at https://www.jstor.org/stable/27852970. Electric fish have been used for similar purposes in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome.
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, and A+ Medical Encyclopaedia have 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.
