Properties: Bitter and cold
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Liver, Gallbladder, Large Intestine
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Clears Heat, resolves toxicity and dries Dampness; astringes diarrhoea and dysentery
Diarrhoea, dysenteric disorders with blood in the stool
Vaginal discharge due to Damp-Heat
- Drains Liver Fire and benefits the eyes
Liver Fire affecting the eyes with redness and swelling of the eyes, styes or Superficial Visual Obstruction
- Disperses Wind-Dampness
Wind-Damp-Heat Bi
Psoriasis (decoction used as a wash)
- Calms wheezing, stops coughs and resolves Phlegm
Wheezing and coughs due to Lung Heat
- Aids fasting
Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the middle class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, keep the head from becoming white and make the body light. This may suggest it was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生).
Suggested Daily Dosage: 6-12g in decoction.
Notes:
While they all come under the general name of Qin Pi in the materia medica there are different names for the different species:
Fraxinus Bungeana = 小叶梣 Xiao Ye Cen = Bunga Ash Bark
Fraxinus Chinensis = 白蜡树 Bai La Shu = Chinese Ash Bark
Fraxinus Paxiana = 秦岭白蜡树 Qin Ling Bai La Shu = Pax Ash
Fraxinus Rhynchophylla = 梣皮 Cen Pi = Largeleaf Chinese Ash Bark
Fraxinus Stylosa = 柳叶梣 Liu Ye Cen = Willowleaf Ash Bark
Fraxinus Szaboana [Syn. Fraxinus Chinensis Var. Acuminata] = 尖叶梣 Jian Ye Cen = Acuteleaf Ash Bark
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.
