Properties: Sweet, slightly cold
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Kidney, Bladder, Liver and Lung
Divergent Channels: Bladder, Kidney
Extraordinary Vessels: Yang Qiao
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Promotes urination and clears Damp-Heat
Damp-Heat, generally Damp-Heat in the Lower Jiao with oedema, painful urinary dysfunction
- Promotes urination to solidify the stool
Diarrhoea due to Damp-Heat
Summerheat with Dampness
- Clears Liver Heat and clears the eyes
Eye problems due to Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency with dry eyes and diminished visual acuity
Heat in the Liver Channel with red, painful, swollen eyes and sensitivity to light
Hypertension, high blood sugar, diabetes, obesity and hyperlipidemia (Chen et al., 2022; Zhu et al., 2024)
- Clears the Lungs, expels Phlegm and stops coughing
Lung Heat induced cough with yellow copious Phlegm
- Aids fasting
Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, make the body light and slow ageing. This may suggest it was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生).
Suggested Daily Dosage: 9-15g in decoction.
Notes:
In western herbalism the husk of P. ovata is primarily used where the main mucilage content and indigestible fibre is found.
Psyllium in the diet for three weeks or longer has been found to lower blood cholesterol levels in people with elevated cholesterol (Williams, 2014; Jovanovski et al, 2018) and lower blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes (Gibb et al, 2015). Use of psyllium for a month or longer produces a small reduction in systolic blood pressure (Kahn et al, 2018).
Appears in 22 formulae listed on this site: (click to display)
Ba Zheng San (Eight Herb Powder for Rectification)
From: Formulary of the Pharmacy Service for Benefiting the People of the Taiping Era by Tai Yi Ju (Imperial Medical Bureau) (1107)
Bi Xie Fen Qing Yin (Tokoro Drink to Separate the Clear from the Turbid)
From: Awakening of the Mind in Medical Studies by Cheng Guo-Peng (1732)
Bu Gan Tang (Nourish the Liver Decoction)
From: Essential Subtleties on the Silver Sea by Unknown, attributed to Sun Si Miao (Maybe composed in the Song - Ming Dynasty, published ~1579)
Bu Qing Ke Li (Restore Clarity Granules)
From: Journal of Ethnopharmacology 324, 117786 by Xiao-min Liu, Hui Shi & Wei Li (2024)
Er Dong Er Di Jiu (Two Winters Two Earths Wine)
From: Chinese Medicinal Wines and Elixirs (2008) by Various
Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan (Life Saver Kidney Qi Pill)
From: Formulas to Aid the Living by Yan Yong-He (1253)
Jia Jian Ba Zheng San (Modified Eight Herb Powder for Rectification)
From: Essential Teachings of Dan-Xi by Zhu Dan-Xi (1732)
Jia Wei Wu Lin San (Augmented Powder for Five Types of Urinary Dribbling)
From: Golden Mirror of the Medical Tradition by Wu Qian (1742)
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang (Gentian Decoction to Drain the Liver)
From: Medical Formulas Collected and Analysed by Wang Ang (1682)
Qing Fei Yin Zi (Clear the Lungs Drink)
From: Secrets from the Orchid Chamber by Li Gao / Li Dong Yuan (1276)
Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin (Clear the Heart Drink with Lotus Seed)
From: Formulary of the Pharmacy Service for Benefiting the People of the Taiping Era by Tai Yi Ju (Imperial Medical Bureau) (1107)
Shi Wei San (Pyrrosiae Powder)
From: Supplemented Collections on Patterns and Treatments (1687)
Sou Feng Shun Qi Wan (Track Down Wind and Smooth the Flow of Qi Pill)
From: Fine Formulas for Women with Annotations and Commentary (16th Century)
Tuo Hua Jian (Out-Thrusting and Transforming Decoction)
From: Collected Treatises of Jing-Yue by Zhang Jie Bin / Zhang Jing Yue (1624)
Wan Dai Tang (End Discharge Decoction)
From: Fu Qing-Zhu's Women's Disorders by Fu Qing-Zhu (1826)
Wu Shen Tang (Five Miracle Decoction)
From: Records of Pattern Discrimination (1687)
Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan (Five Seed Pills to Honour the Ancestors)
From: Mysterious Exposition (733)
Xi Xin San (Thin Pungent Decoction.)
From: Essential Subtleties on the Silver Sea by Unknown, attributed to Sun Si Miao (Maybe composed in the Song - Ming Dynasty, published ~1579)
Xie Pi Chu Re Yin (Drain the Spleen to Clear Fire Drink)
From: Essential Subtleties on the Silver Sea by Unknown, attributed to Sun Si Miao (Maybe composed in the Song - Ming Dynasty, published ~1579)
Yi Huang Tang (Change Yellow [Discharge] Decoction)
From: Fu Qing-Zhu's Women's Disorders by Fu Qing-Zhu (1826)
Zhu Jing Wan (Preserve Vistas Pill)
From: Indispensable Tools for Pattern Treatment by Wang Ken-Tang (1602)
Zhu Jing Wan Jia Jian Fang (Formula Modified from Preserve Vistas Pill)
From: Methodology for Using the Six Warps in Ophthalmology (1979) by Chen Da-Fu
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.
