Properties: Bitter, cold, toxic
Meridans Entered:
Primary: None given
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Resolves Spasms and Relieves Pain, calms the Shen and settles Wind
Pain in the Stomach and abdomen
Wind-Damp Bi
Decayed toothache due to Wind
Painful wounds from knocks and falls
Incessant asthma and cough
Prolapse of the rectum due to diarrhoea
Dian Kuang
Fright epilepsy
Swelling Toxins of welling abscesses and sores
- Aids fasting
Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the lower class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, make the body light, enabling one to run as fast as a galloping horse, fortify the will, boost physical strength, and enable one to communicate with Spirits. 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). This is unusual for belonging to the lower class but its action of "communicating with Spirits" suggests it may have been used as a hallucinogen in rituals.
Suggested Daily Dosage: 0.5 - 3g
Notable Constituents:
- Hyoscyamine / Daturine / Atropine
Blocks the action of acetylcholine at parasympathetic sites in sweat glands, salivary glands, stomach secretions, heart muscle, sinoatrial node, smooth muscle in the gastrointestinal tract, and the central nervous system increasing cardiac output and heart rate, lowering blood pressure and drying secretions.
- Hyoscine / Scopolamine
Blocks some of the effects of acetylcholine within the nervous system and is used in medicine to used to treat postoperative nausea and vomiting; motion and sea sickness; gastrointestinal, renal or biliary spasms; irritable bowel syndrome and bowel colic; Clozapine-induced hypersalivation (drooling) and as a premedication to reduce secretions during surgery; eye inflammation
- Tropane alkaloids
Notes:
The UK banned and restricted herbal ingredients list restricts dosage to a maximum of 100 mg per dose and up to 300 mg daily.
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.
