Properties: Bitter, cold, toxic
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Large Intestine and Liver
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Cools Heat, resolves toxicity, expels Dampness, cools the Blood and kills parasites
Chronic, intermittent dysentery
Rectal tenesmus with dysentery containing Blood and mucus and dysentery caused by protozoa and amoeba
Long-term diarrhea and hemorrhoids
- Treats malaria
Malaria
- Treats cancer caused by Toxic Heat
Cancers of the colon, breast, esophagus, Stomach, skin, cervix and rectum
- Softens hardness
Topically for hard nodules, warts, corns cysts
Suggested Daily Dosage: 5-12 grains, 3x per day, usually wrapped in Long Yan Rou fruit, or 0.5-2g powder, or oil extracted for topical application.
Cautions: It is harmful to gastro-intestinal tract, liver and kidney, so it should not be taken for a long time; it is contraindicated to patients with gastro-intestinal bleeding, liver and kidney disorders. Attention should be paid to protect the normal skin around the lesion with adhesive tape when treating and excrescence in topical administration.
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.
