Properties: Pungent, warm
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Heart, Gallbladder, Liver and Kidney
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Dispels Wind and relieves dizziness
Acute headaches with dizziness due to internal or external Wind
Palpitations
- Nourishes the Liver and improves eyesight
Chronic headaches from Liver Blood deficiency
Tearing
- Astringes leakage and stops cough
Excessive nasal discharge and saliva
Diarrhoea
Cough, shortness of breath
- Expels Evil Qi, Ghosts and Gu Toxins
Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as calming fright, warding off evil, eliminating Gu Toxins and Ghost possession and expelling the Three Worms
Chronic inflammation of the brain due to (Fruehauf & Qinn, 2011)
- Aids fasting
Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the middle class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, open the mind to communicate with spirits (通神 Tong Shen). Many of the herbs recommended for protracted use may have been part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生) and spiritual practice.
Suggested Daily Dosage: 3-9g in decoction
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.
