Properties: Bitter and cold
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Liver, Gallbladder and Lung
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Invigorates the Blood, dispels Blood Stasis, unblocks the channels and stops pain
Amenorrhea due to Blood Stasis
Wind-Damp Bi
Traumatic injury
- Clears Heat and resolves Dampness
Damp-Heat jaundice
Turbid vaginal discharge
Turbid, painful urinary dysfunction
- Discharges toxins and disperses swelling
Toxic skin conditions, burns and carbuncles
- Drains Heat, transforms Phlegm and stops cough
Lung Heat cough
Constipation due to clumping of Heat
Suggested Daily Dosage: 9-15g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for pregnant women.
Caution should also be taken if growing or wild foraging as careless harvesting can encourage propagation which is illegal in the UK due to the extreme invasive nature and damage to property values and biodiversity that this plant can do.
Notable Constituents:
- Resveratrol
Polyphenol best known for being the component in grape skins that gives red wine its ability to combat age related diseases. It has been found to have antioxidant and potential chemopreventive activities, anti-inflammatory effects and prevent cancer by inhibiting initiation, progression and promotion of tumor genesis. It also promotes both mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy to ensure quality control and protects brain and heart mitochondria from oxidative stress leading to senescence.
- Polydatin
Precursor of resveratrol that is easily transformed in vivo.
- Emodin
Anthraquinone that acts as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (anti-cancer, especially leukemia), an antineoplastic agent and a laxative.
Appears in 7 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.
