Properties: Sweet, astringent, neutral
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Liver and Kidney
Extraordinary Vessels: Dai
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Tonifies the Kidneys, assists Yang, retains Jing and astringes urine
Kidney Yang Deficiency with dribbling urine, urinary frequency, and nocturnal emissions, especially when unaccompanied by dreams
Enuresis in children
Impotence
Suggested Daily Dosage: 6-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It can tonify yang and astringe, so it is contraindicated in cases of yin deficiency with effulgent fire, and heat in bladder.
Animal products are prohibited from use in the UK under the Medicines Act 1968 ch. 67 which restricts herbalists to the use of plant products only. It is generally substituted with Tu Si Zi and Qian Shi.
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 3 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.
