Properties: Acrid, bitter, slightly warm
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Heart, Large Intestine, Liver
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Regulates Heart Qi, calms the Spirit and subdues Liver Yang
Depression, especially with anxiety or insomnia
Reduced memory or concentration
Nervous restlessness, anxiety, insomnia, palpitations and headache
- Regulates Stomach and Intestines
Flatulent colic, indigestion or nausea with nervous tension, or with alternation of anxiety and depression
- Clears Heat and alleviates pain (topically)
Herpes simplex skin lesions
Suggested Daily Dosage: 6-12g in decoction.
Notable Constituents:
- Estragole
Phenylpropanoid with the odour of anise that has been identified as genotoxic and carcinogenic. target="_blank">European Medicines Agency recommends to limit safe exposure to 1 mg/person/day. It is insoluble in water so is primarily a concern in ground herbs or ethanol extracts. No information is available on estragole content of Melissa.
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.
