Individual Herbs Notebook

Sheng Ma

Translation: Ascending Hemp

Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Cimicifugae foetidae
Taxonomy: Cimicifuga foetida

Other names: Chinese Black Cohosh

Category: Herbs that Release the Exterior



Properties: Pungent, slightly bitter, slightly cold

Meridans Entered:
Primary: Lung, Spleen, Stomach and Large Intestine
Divergent Zones: Yangming
Extraordinary Vessels: Yin Qiao, Dai


Traditional Actions/Indications:
  1. Releases the Exterior and vents measles
    Headache due to Wind-Heat Early stages of measles
  2. Clears Heat and relieves toxicity
    Fire toxins in the upper or superficial aspects of the body with sore teeth, swollen or painful gums, ulcerated lips or gums, canker sores, painful and swollen throat, sores or maculae from Warm-Heat pathogen diseases
  3. Raises Yang and lifts sunken Qi
    Central Qi Sinking or Middle Qi Deficiency with shortness of breath, fatigue and prolapse
    Dai channel spasms
    Guides other herbs upwards
  4. Kills Gu Parasites and Scatters Toxins by Releasing the Exterior
    Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 1998; 2015)

Suggested Daily Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.


Cautions: The patients whose measles have come out or have yin deficiency and heat excess, or yin deficiency and yang going upward adversely are forbidden to use this herb.


Appears in 29 formulae listed on this site: (click to display)
Research Links & References: (click to display)