Properties: Pungent, bitter, sweet, neutral
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Liver and Kidney
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Tonifies Liver and Kidney Yin, strengthens the sinews and bones and expels Wind-Dampness
Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency with Bi pain (lower back and leg soreness and pain, joint problems, numbness and weakness and atrophy of the sinews and bones) (whether or not Wind-Dampness is present)
The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing classifies this herb in the superior class of woods saying that it "mainly treats lumbago and rigidity of the back in children."
- Nourishes the Blood and benefits the skin
Blood Deficiency with dry, scaly skin
Hypertension or high blood sugar due to Blood Deficiency (Qin et al., 2022)
The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing says it treats "welling abscesses and sores ... replenishes the muscles and skin, fortifies the teeth and hair, and promotes the growth of the beard
and eyebrows."
- Calms the womb and promotes lactation
Restless fetus due to Blood Deficiency or metrorrhagia during pregnancy
Insufficient lactation due to Blood Deficiency
Suggested Daily Dosage: 9-15g in decoction.
Notes:
In the Classic of Mountains and Seas, a collection of Pre-Qin mythological geography, there is a great tree in the far east called 扶桑 (Fu Sang), identified as an ancient "world-tree". It stands with its roots in the water and the ten suns on its branches. Nine suns are on its lower branches and the one (presumably the one that rises that day) is on the upper branch. It is debated whether this name refers to a hibiscus (扶桑 Fu Sang), or a mulberry tree (桑 Sang) that "supports" (扶 Fu) the ten suns.
Appears in 6 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, 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.
