Properties: Sweet, pungent, warm
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Liver, Spleen and Stomach
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Dispels Wind and eliminates Dampness
Wind-Damp Bi Wind-Damp skin rashes
- Harmonizes the Stomach and transforms turbid Dampness
Turbid Dampness Obstructing the Middle with diarrhoea, cramps, abdominal pain, borborygmus and calf spasms
Suggested Daily Dosage: 5-15g in decoction, wrapped in cloth.
Cautions: Animal products are prohibited from use in the UK under the Medicines Act 1968 ch. 67 which restricts herbalists to the use of plant products only. It is generally substituted with Cang Er Zi and Fang Feng.
Notable Constituents:
- Serratiopeptidase
Marketed as beneficial for pain and inflammation for over 40 years although recent trials have questioned its efficacy.
Appears in 4 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, 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.
