Properties: Bitter, cold
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Large Intestine, Spleen, Stomach, Liver and Heart
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Clears Heat and resolves Stagnation
Constipation due to excess heat
Delirium due to Excess Yangming Heat
Food Stagnation
Dysentery
Damp-Heat Jaundice
Red eyes and headache
- Disperses Blood Stasis
Amenorrhoea
- Reduces Swellings
Abdominal masses
Suggested Daily Dosage: 10-15g in decoction. Excessive decoction will reduce the purgative action. Therefore it should be added at end to achieve this purpose and over-decocted to eliminate this action.
Cautions: It should be used with caution in case of spleen and stomach deficiency for its bitter and cold property which is easily to damage stomach qi. It is contraindicated to women during pregnancy, menstruation or lactation for it has actions of activating blood and resolving stasis, and can make the purged substances follow lactating out.
Notable Constituents:
- Emodin
Anthraquinone with a role as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, an antineoplastic agent and a laxative. It has also shown to inhibit the interaction between the SARS-CoV spike protein and ACE2 receptors (Ho et al, 2007)
- Rhein
Anthraquinone with laxative, antibacterial and potential anti-obesity effects. This can be easily destroyed by over-decoction.
- Rhapontin
Phytoestrogen glucoside with possible effects on diabetes and Alzheimer's.
Does not appear in any formulae listed on this site
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.
