Properties: Pungent, slightly bitter, slightly cold
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Lung, Spleen, Stomach and Large Intestine
Divergent Zones: Yangming
Extraordinary Vessels: Yin Qiao, Dai
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Releases the Exterior and vents measles
Headache due to Wind-Heat Early stages of measles
- Clears Heat and relieves toxicity
Fire toxins in the upper or superficial aspects of the body with sore teeth, swollen or painful gums, ulcerated lips or gums, canker sores, painful and swollen throat, sores or maculae from Warm-Heat pathogen diseases
- Raises Yang and lifts sunken Qi
Central Qi Sinking or Middle Qi Deficiency with shortness of breath, fatigue and prolapse
Dai channel spasms
Guides other herbs upwards
- Kills Gu Parasites and Scatters Toxins by Releasing the Exterior
Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 1998; 2015)
- Aids fasting
Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, prevent premature death, make the body light and prolong life. 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: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: The patients whose measles have come out or have yin deficiency and heat excess, or yin deficiency and yang going upward adversely are forbidden to use this herb.
Notes:
Actaea racemosa is used in Western herbal medicine but has a different action of clearing Deficiency Heat in menopause, rather than clearing Full Heat in infectious rashes and upper respiratory tract infections, and raising sunken Yang. In Chinese this is known as Zong Zhuang Sheng Ma.
Appears in 31 formulae listed on this site: (click to display)
Bu Pi Wei Xie Yin Huo Sheng Yang Tang (Tonify Spleen and Stomach, Drain Yin Fire and Raise Yang Decotion)
From: Discussion of the Spleen and Stomach by Li Gao / Li Dong Yuan (1249)
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Tonify the Middle to Augment the Qi Decoction)
From: Clarifying Doubts About Damage from Internal and External Causes by Li Gao / Li Dong Yuan (1247)
Da Yu Tang (Thrust Out Constraint Decoction)
From: Wondrous Lantern for Peering into the Origin and Development of Miscellaneous Diseases (1773) by Shen Jin-Ao
Dang Gui Nian Tong Tang (Tangkuei Decoction to Pry Out Pain)
From: Expounding on the Origins of Medicine by Li Gao / Li Dong Yuan (Yuan dynasty)
Ji Chuan Jian (Benefit the Flow Decoction)
From: Collected Treatises of Jing-Yue by Zhang Jie Bin / Zhang Jing Yue (1624)
Jia Jian Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Modified Tonify the Middle to Augment the Qi Decoction)
From: Discussion of the Spleen and Stomach by Li Gao / Li Dong Yuan (1249)
Ju Yuan Jian (Lift the Source Decoction)
From: Collected Treatises of Jing-Yue by Zhang Jie Bin / Zhang Jing Yue (1624)
Ma Huang Sheng Ma Tang (Ephedra and Cimicifuga Decoction)
From: Discussion of Cold Damage by Zhang Zhong-Jing (c. 220)
Niu Xi Dan Shen Jiu (Achyranthes and Salvia Wine)
From: Chinese Medicinal Wines and Elixirs (2008) by Various
Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin (Universal Benefit Decoction to Eliminate Toxin)
From: Dong-Yuan's Tried and Tested Formulas by Li Gao / Li Dong Yuan (1202)
Qing Shu Yi Qi Tang (Clear Summerheat and Augment the Qi Decoction)
From: Clarifying Doubts About Damage from Internal and External Causes by Li Gao / Li Dong Yuan (1247)
Qing Wei San (Clear the Stomach Powder)
From: Secrets from the Orchid Chamber by Li Gao / Li Dong Yuan (1276)
Qing Wei Tang (Clear the Stomach Decoction)
From: Golden Mirror of the Medical Tradition by Wu Qian (1742)
San Zhong Kui Jian Tang (Decoction to Disperse Swelling and Ulcerate What is Hard)
From: Secrets from the Orchid Chamber by Li Gao / Li Dong Yuan (1276)
Shen Shi Zhu Ling Tang (Polyporus Decoction from Master Shen)
From: Shen's Book for Revering Life (1773)
Sheng Ma Ge Gen Tang (Cimicifuga and Kudzu Decoction)
From: Craft of Medicines and Patterns for Children by Qian Yi (1119)
Sheng Xian Tang (Raise the Sunken Decoction)
From: Essays on Medicine Esteeming the Chinese and Respecting the Western by Zang Xi Chun / Zang Shou Fu (1918-1934)
Sheng Yang San Huo Tang (Raise the Yang and Disperse Fire Decoction)
From: Clarifying Doubts About Damage from Internal and External Causes by Li Gao / Li Dong Yuan (1247)
Shi Shen Tang (Ten Miracle Decoction)
From: Formulary of the Pharmacy Service for Benefiting the People of the Taiping Era by Tai Yi Ju (Imperial Medical Bureau) (1107)
Tiao Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Regulate the Middle to Augment the Qi Decoction)
From: Discussion of the Spleen and Stomach by Li Gao / Li Dong Yuan (1249)
Tong You San (Unblock the Stomach Opening Decoction)
From: Discussion of the Spleen and Stomach by Li Gao / Li Dong Yuan (1249)
Tong You Tang (Free Darkness Decoction)
From: Secrets from the Orchid Chamber by Li Gao / Li Dong Yuan (1276)
Xin Yi Qing Fei Yin (Magnolia Flower Drink to Clear the Lungs)
From: Orthodox Lineage of External Medicine by Chen Shi-Gong (1617)
Xin Yi San (Magnolia Flower Powder)
From: Formulas to Aid the Living by Yan Yong-He (1253)
Xuan Du Fa Biao Tang (Dissipate Toxin and Release the Exterior Decoction)
From: Golden Mirror of the Medical Tradition by Wu Qian (1742)
Ya San (Tooth Powder)
From: Getting to the Roots of Dentistry in Ancient China by Unknown (1390)
Yi Qi Cong Ming Tang (Augment the Qi and Increase Acuity Decoction)
From: Dong-Yuan's Tried and Tested Formulas by Li Gao / Li Dong Yuan (1202)
Yi Zi Tang (Decotion "B")
From: Trivial Comments on Medical Matters (1820)
Zhong Man Fen Xiao Tang (Separate and Reduce Fullness in the Middle Decoction)
From: Secrets from the Orchid Chamber by Li Gao / Li Dong Yuan (1276)
Zi Gen Mu Li Tang (Arnebia/Lithospermum and Oyster Shell Decoction)
From: New Book on Syphilis and Leprosy (1787)
Zi Xue Dan (Purple Snow Special Pill)
From: Arcane Essentials from the Imperial Library by Wang Tao (752)
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.
