Properties: Sweet, salt, neutral
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Spleen, Stomach and Kidney
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Tonify Kidney Qi, Blood and Yin
Dry cough
Diabetes
Constipation
Emaciation
Dryness from body fluid depletion
- Resolve swelling
Puffiness
Suggested Daily Dosage: Cook for eating, 30-60g.
Cautions: It is contraindicated in case of damp-heat with phlegm stagnation.
Notable Constituents:
- Taurine
Conditional amino sulfonic acid that plays an important role in essential biological processes, especially in the heart and brain. It helps support nerve growth, and may calm the nervous system and can help lower blood pressure. Inadequate levels (mainly seen in cats who cannot manufacture it themselves) can lead to retinal damage, immunological issues, and cardiomyopathy. It can be manufactured by the body or obtained in the diet, mainly in fish and meat. It has has been linked to healthy ageing.
- Glycine
Non-essential amino acid that is important in the formation of collagen and glutathione which has been found to be depleted in older adults and supplementation can restore.
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.
