Properties: Bitter, pungent, extremely cold
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Lung and Bladder
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Drains the Lungs, reduces Phlegm and calms wheezing
Phlegm accumulation or Lung Heat with wheezing or cough with copious sputum and a gurgling sound in the throat
- Circulates water and reduces oedema
Lung and Bladder Qi Obstruction with facial oedema, or fluid accumulation in the chest or abdomen with urinary difficulty
Suggested Daily Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: With strong action it can damage healthy qi, so it is fit for excess syndromes. It should be used with cautions for lung qi deficiency cough and spleen deficiency edema.
Appears in 8 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.
