Properties: Salty, bitter, neutral, lightly toxic
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Liver
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Breaks up and drives out Blood Stasis and reduces fixed masses
Amenorrhea and fixed uterine and abdominal masses due to Blood Stasis and/or traumatic injury
- Clears water passages
- Induces abortion
Abortion
Suggested Daily Dosage: 1.5-3g in decoction, 0.3-0.5g as powder or pills.
Cautions: Prohibited for pregnant women and patients with excessive menstruation.
Decoction is best avoided as hirudin easily breaks down with heating.
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 San Leng and E Zhu.
Appears in 1 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.
