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Preface
Traditional Chinese medical pharmacy goes back to ancient times.
Involving more than just the great contributions to the flourishing
and prosperity of the Chinese nation, it represents an important
chapter to the annuals of Oriental civilization. lts unique
theories and miraculous therapeutic effects have fascinated more
and more people in the worid. Included in this book are fifty
clinically proved, valuable and world-famous traditional Chinese
drugs, of which twentyseven are herbal drugs, twenty are animal
drugs and three are other categories. The introduction of each drug
is composed of the following eleven parts.
1. Name The narnes of drugs are identical with those in the
Chinese Pharmacopoeia (1985). Three narnes are listed for each drug
in the English version: the Chinese pinyin (phonetic alphabet), the
English name and the Latin name.
2. Other Chinese Names They are Chinese names cornrnonly and
habitually used in clinical practice, or applied in
prescriptions.
3. Origin Parts of the medicinal rnaterials, the Latin names and
the families they belong to are introduced 4. Distribution lt is
the introduction to the rnain producing regions of the orthodox
drugs. 5. Characteristics The appearances of drugs are mainly
depicted with pictures attached, to rnake them
convenient for differentiation. 6. Differentiation Common fakes
and the simple differentiation rnethods are introduced 7.
Preparation Forms for exhibition (e.g., slice, powder, etc.) are
illustrated.
8. Nature, Taste and Channel Tropism The nature, taste and
channel tropism of the drugs are explained on the basis of the
Chinese Pharmacopoeia (1985) and on other classical literature and
books.
9. Actions and Indications Main actions and indications of the
drugs are introduced in a concise way. 10. Administration and
Dosage Directions of administration and routine dosage are
explained. 11. Caution The contraindications and special remarks
are emphasized. The drugs presented in this book, as compared with
the rich tradicional Chinese pharmacy, are but a drop in the sea.
The
purpose of this book is to provide a ladder, or a path, which
can lead our readers to the treasure-house of tradicional Chinese
medicine (TCM).
May tradicional Chinese drugs contribute to the health and
longevity of the people in the world.
July 26, 1989 Dr. Zhang Enqin Editor-in-Chief of the Book
Director of the Advanced Studies Department of Shandong TCM
College
CONTENTS Chapter One Herbal
Drugs.......................................................2
Renshen Ginseng Radx Ginseng .........2 Sanqi Notoginseng Radix
Notoginseng.... 12 Daihuang Rhubarb Radix et Rhizoma Rhei 18
Chuanxiong Chuanxiong Rhizome Rhizoma Chuanxiong
............................ 24 Chuanbeimu Sichuan Fritillary
Bu!bus FritiIlariae Bulb Cirrhosae................ 28 Taizishen
Pseudostellaria Root Radix Pseudostellariae..49 Tianma Gastrodia
Tuber . Rhizoma Gastrodiae.... 36 Wujiapi Acanthopanax Bark Cortex
Acanthopanacis..40 Wuweizi Magnolia Vine Fruit Fructus
Schisandrae.......44 (Schisandra Fruit) Bajitian Morinda Root Radix
Morindae Officinalis.................. 48 Danshen Red Sage Root
Radix Salviae
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Miltiorrhizae.................54 Gancao Licorice Root Radix
Glycyrrhizae .............58 Longyanrou Longan Aril Arillus
Longan............... 62 Baizhu Bighead Atractylodes Rhizoma
Atractylodis Rhizome Macrocephalae..........66 Danggui Chinese
Angelica Radix Angelicae Root Sinensis....................70
Duzhong Eucommia Bark Cortex Eucommiae..........76 Lingzhi Lucid
Ganoderma Ganoderma Lucidum........82
Heshouwu Fleece-flower Root Radix Polygoni Multiflori....86
Yanhusuo Corydalis Tuber Rhizoma Corydalis......90 Jinyinhua
Honeysuckle Flower Flos Lonicerae........... 94 Houpo Magnolia Bark
Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis...................98 Sharen Amomum
Fruit Fructus Amomi ...........102
Gouqizi Wolfberry Fruit Fructus Lycii............110 Huangqi
Astragalus Root Radix Astragali.........112 Huanglian Coptis Root
Rhizoma Coptidis ........116 Huangbai Phellodendron Bark Cortex
Phellodendri.....122
Yiner White Jellyfungus Tremella.................. 126 Chapter
Two Animal Drugs Mabao Horse Bezoar Caculus Equi . ..........130
Niuhuang Cow Bezoar Calculus Bovis........134 Quanxie Scorpion
Scorpio...................140 Guiban Tortoise Plastron Plastrum
Testudinis... 142 Hugu Tiger Bone Os Tigris ................... 150
Jineijin Chicken's Gizzardskin Endothelium Corneum
Gigeriae Galli.............158 Jinqian Multibanded Krait
Bungarus Parvus.....160 Baihuashe Zhenzhu Pearl Margarita
................164 Hamayou Forest Frogs Oviductus Ranae........170
Oviduct Chuanshanjia Pangolin Scales Squama Manitis........174
Haigoushen Ursine Seal's Penis Peni et Testes and Testes
Gallorhini.................178 Lingyangjiao Antelope's Horn Cornu
Saigae Tataricae.............180 Lurong Pilose Antler Cornu Cervi
Pantotrichum...............188 Gejie Gecko (Red-spotted
Gecko................196 House Lizard) Wugong
........................................................................
Centipede Scolopendra..............202Xiongdan Bear Gall Fel
Ursi........................206 Jiangcan Batryticated Bombyx
Batryticatus....212 Silkworm Chansu Toad Venom Venenum Bufonis ....
216 Shexiang Musk Moschus.................... 222 Biejia
Fresh-water Turtle Carapax Trionycis..........228 Shell Chapter
Three Other Kinds of Drugs.................................... 234
Dongchongxiacao Chinese Caterpillar Cordyceps........234
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Fungus Ejiao Donkey-hide Gelatin Colla Corii Asini... 238 Hupo
Amber Succinum.. ................244
Chapter One
Herbal Drugs
Renshen
Ginseng
Radix Ginseng
OTHER CHINESE NAMES
Bang chui,Ye shan shen, Jilin shen, Hong shen and Ren shen xu
ORIGIN
It is the dried root of Panax ginseng C.A. Mey, Araliaceae. Wild
ones are called wild mountain ginseng,, while cultivated ones are
called garden ginseng. DISTRIBUTION Wild mountain ginseng are
mainly produced in Changbai and other mountains in Jilin Province.
Garden ginseng are mainly produced in Jilin, Liaoning and
Heilongjiang provinces. CHARACTERISTICS
l.Garden ginseng: Mainly, there are two kinds: dried raw ginseng
and steamed red ginseng. (1) Dried raw ginseng
The main root is conical or spindle in shape, 6-9 cm in length
and 1-2 cm in diameter. The upper part is connected to the thin
rhizome which is 2-5.5 cm in length. There are 4-6 convex stalk
marks which are arranged in alternate order. Winter sprouts can
often be seen beside the convex stalk marks at the top of the
rhizome. While at the lower part of the rhizome, there are 2-4
tributary roots and a few thin offroots which are 8-12 cm in
length. There are irregular vertical wrinkles and thin cross
striations on the surface which is light brown in colour. Cross
striations of the main root are thin and close, and the striations
form into circles. The tributary roots have few long and transverse
lenticels. The dried root is hard in texture, with its cross
section being yellowish-white in colour. There are many radial
crevices on the root bark, on which some yellowish-brown spots are
scattered. The root is peculiarly fragrant in smell, and a little
sweet and bitter in taste (See Fig. 1-1).
(2) Steamed red ginseng It is usually 6-17 cm long in all. The
main root is 3-10 cm in length, with its surface being transparent
and reddishbrown in colour. Opaque dark brown spots can
occasionally be found and vertical furrows, wrinkles and marks of
small roots are all over. Annular furrows can be seen in the upper
part, while there are 2-3 cross twisted tributary roots in the
lower part. There are marks of stalk and 1-2 complete or broken
adventitious roots on the rhizome. Steamed red ginseng is hard and
fragile in text ure. Its cross section is smooth and cutin-like
(See Fig. 1-2).
2. Dried raw wild mountain ginseng The rnain root is as long as
the rhizome or even shorter. lt is usually 2-10 cm in length,
lambdoid, rhomboid, or cylindrical in shape. Its surface is
greyish-yellow in colour and has vertical furrows. The top of the
main root has close and deep annular transverse striations and the
lower part often has two tributary roots. Its fibrous roots are
Iong, thin, not twisty, and have distinct verrucous processes. The
rhizome is long and thin, and has dense stalk marks at the upper
part. The adventitious root is relatively thick and date pit-like
in shape (See Fig. 1-3). DIFFERENTIATION 1. Wild cowpea (Vigna
vexillata (L.) Benth.) Dried root of Vigna vexillata (L.)Benth.
assumes the shape of a cylinder or a long spindle and has no or a
few tributary roots. It is 10-20 cm in length and 0.5-1.5 cm in
diameter. At the top of the root is the mark of herbaceous stalk.
It has no rhizome part (while ginseng has). Those roots, the corks
of which remain on the surface, are yellowish-brown and with
vertical furrows and transverse lenticel-like scars on the surface;
while those, the corks of which are removed and the roots steamed
or boiled, are greyish-brown and slightly transparent, and have
remarkable vertical furrows and very thin fibres stretching out
like soft fur. The root is hard in texture, not easy to break. The
cross section of the non-steamed or non-boiled root is fibroid and
with starch; while that of steamed or boiled ones is cutin-like and
with crevices in the
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centre. It is slightly stinking or sometimes beanstench in smell
and light in taste. The bark of the root is orange in colour, and
turns into reddish-brown after steamed or boiled. The steamed or
boiled root is rather similar to the steamed or boiled red
ginseng.
2. Talinum Paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaerth. Dried root of the Talinum
Paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaerth. takes the shape of a cone or a long
spindle,
some have tributary roots, some have none. The root is 7-15 cm
in length and 0.7-1.7 cm in diameter. At the top is the remainder
of the xylum mark of stalk. The surface of the root, with its corks
not removed, is greyish-black and covered with vertical furrows and
protruding spot-like traces of fibrous roots. The surface of the
root, with its corks removed, root steamed or boiled, is
greyish-yellow and translucent. Spot-like root traces and vertical
furrows are clearly seen on the surface and longitudinal vascular
bundles dimly found inside. The root is hard in nature, not easy to
break. The cross section of the raw root is smooth, while that of
the steamed or boiled is cutin-like, with a large cavity in the
centre. It is slightly stinking in smell and weak in taste, leaving
a slight feeling of mucosity in tlle mouth. Peeled and then soaked
in boiling water, it turns into reddishbrown, rather similar to red
ginseng.
3.Huashan ginseng (Physochlaina infundibularis Kuang) It refers
to the dried root of Physochlaina infundibularis Kuang,
traditionally called Reshen (warm ginseng) and Huashan Renshen
(Huashan ginseng). lt takes the shape of a cone or a cylinder, with
a clear main root and fewer tribuatry roots. Often there is a short
rhizome at the top. lt is 10-20 cm in length and 1-3.5 cm in
diameter. The surface with corks still remaining, is brown and has
transverse light-coloured lenticel-like scars. The area where corks
come off is yellowish-white in colour. There are fine transverse
annular furrows at the top of the root. The surface of processed
Huashan ginseng is yellowish-brown, translucent, with spot-like
fibrous root traces and dim longitudinal vascular bundles. It is
hard, in texture. Cross section of the processed root is whitish in
colour and has radial fissures, while that of the non-processed
ones is cutin-like. It is faint in smell, sweet and a little bitter
in taste.
4. Lactuca indica L. lt refers to the dried root of Lactuca
indica L. The root assumes the shape of a cone, often with
tributary roots branching at the upper area. It is 5-15 cm in
length and 0.7-1.7 cm in diameter. Disc-shaped
sprouts or trace of sprouts are usually found at the top. lts
surface is greyish-yellow or greyish-brown in colour, with fine
wrinkles and transverse spot-like root traces, while the surface of
the steamed and boiled one is yellowish-brown and translucent. lt
is hard in texture and easy to break. The cross section is
comparatively
smooth and cambium can be dimly seen, which assumes an irregular
annular form. Occasionally, there are radial fissures. It is weak
in smell and a little sweet first but bitter then after in taste.
Among other counterfeits are dried roots of Phytolacca acinosa
Roxb., Mirabilis jalapa L., Hyoscyamus niger L., Platycodon
grandiflorum (Jacq.) A. DC., Campanumoea javanica Bl. Var. Japonica
Makino, etc.
The main characteristics of the counterfeits are: they have no
convex stalk marks in the top area of the root, instead, they have
traces of flbrous roots in the upper part. Besides, the root bark
is rougher, there are no annular furrows and fragrant smell. The
tastes of sweetness and bitterness are different from that of
ginseng. PREPARATION
Dried raw ginseng: remove the stalk and cut into thin slices.
Steamed red ginseng: remove the stalk and cut into, thin
slices.
Dried raw wild mountain ginseng: remove the stalk and grind into
powder or pieces. NATURE, TASTE AND CHANNEL TROPISM
It is sweet and gently bitter in taste, slightly warm in nature,
its therapeutical action is related to the channels of the spleen
and lung. ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS
l. Invigorating the primodial qi.
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It is used for the symptoms of shortness of breath, mental
fatigue, faint and indistinct pulse and prostration due to severe
or chronic illnesses, profuse bleeding and excessive vomiting or
diarrhea.
2. Tonifying the spleen and lung. The drug is prescribes for the
symptoms of poor appetite, loose stool, magersucht and lassitude
due to
deficiency of the spleen-qi, dyspnea and spontaneous
perspiration due to deficiency of the lung and kidney. 3. Promoting
the production of body fluid to quench thirst.
It is used for the treatment of thirst due to impairment of body
fluid and diabetes. 4. Tranquilizing the mind and invigorating
wisdom. It is used for the treatment of insomnia, amnesia,
palpitation or severe palpitation due to
deficiency of the heart-qi ADMINISTRATION AND DOSAGE
5-10 grams of ginseng are decocted solitarily with slow fire.
Decoctions of ginseng and other medicinal substances are usually
mixed together for internar use; or, 1-2 grams of powder are taken
orally, 2-3 times each day. To treat patients with prostration, the
dosage may increase to 15-30 grams for decoction, which is to he
taken in several separate doses.
CAUTION Those with sufficient vital-qi, excess syndrorne and
heat syndrome are contraindicated. Black false hellebore, faeces
trogopterorum or Chinese honey locust should be avoided to be used
together with ginseng. Ginseng efficacy may be reduced if one
continues to drink tea or have radish during the period of ginseng
administration.
Sanqi
Notoginseng
Radix Notoginseng
OTHER CHINESE NAMES Jin bu huan, Shen san qi and Han san qi
ORIGIN It is the dried root of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H.
Chen, Araliaceae. DISTRIBUTION Great quantities are brought from
Yunnan Province. Artificial cultivation is the main source of the
medicine at present. CHARACTERISTICS The main root is 1-6 cm long
and 1-4 cm in diameter, taking the shape somewhat like a spindle or
a circular cone.
There is a stem trace on the top of the root surrounded by
tumour-like projections, and circular marks of the broken branch
roots can be seen on its sides. The surface of the root is bright
and greyish-brown tinged with green, with horizontal lenticels,
unconnected longitudinal wrinkles and some remaining greyish-yellow
corks. The root is firm in texture, its bark often gets apart from
its xylem if it is smashed. The cross section looks greyish-green,
yellowish-green or greyish-white. The colour of the xylem in the
centre is darker and cutin-like with radial grains. The root tastes
a little bitter at first and turns sweet afterwards (See Fig. 2).
DIFFERENTIATION
1.Dried rhizome of Curcuma wenchowensis Liao Yao Mss.,
Zingiberaceae. lt is often artificially prepared by a process of
carving, taking the shape of an ellipse, a circular cone or
a spindle. lt is yellowish-brown in colour, 3-6 cm long and 2-3
cm in diameter. There are no stem marks on its top; the
artificially carved wrinkles and tumour-like projections make it
right the true notoginseng in
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appearance. Its body is heavy and firm, the cross section looks
dark brown or yellowish-green and waxy. It smells somewhat pungent
and tastes slightly bitter and acrid.
2. Dried tuberous root of Tacca plantaginea (Hance) Prenth.,
Taccaceae. Also named shui tian qi, it is 2-4 cm in length and
1-1.5 cm in diameter, looking quasi-spheroidal or
elliptical and somewhat curved. Its surface is greyish-brown,
with tough wrinkles and small-sized dotted projections showing
traces of the fibrous roots. On its top, there are usually
remaining leaf beds. The root gives out very little smell and
tastes bitter.
3. Dried rhizome of Panax japonicus C.A. Mey, Araliaceae. lt is
also called zhu gen qi, with a length of 5-22 cm and a diameter of
0.8-2.5 cm. The rhizome takes
the shape or a slightly curved oblate cylinder, resembling a
bamboo shoot with segments. Its surface is rough, greyish-brown or
yellowish-brown in colour, and with close dense joints, the space
between which is 0-8-2 cm. Above each joint there is a round stalk
trace that deeply caves in. lt is hard and brittle in texture and
easy to be broken. The cross section is relatively smooth, with a
colour of yellowish-white or light yellow. Also can be seen from
the cross section a number of dotted light yellow marks of the
fibrovascular bundle in circular arrangement. The rhizome smells
faintly aromatic and tastes bitter and a little sweet.
PREPARATION
Notoginseng powder. It is the fine powder prepared through a
process of cleaning, drying and grinding of the crude root. NATURE,
TASTE AND CHANNEL TROPISM
It is sweet and slightly bitter in taste and warm in nature. lts
therapeutic action is related to the channels of the liver and
stomach. ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS
l. Arresting bleeding and removing blood stasis. The root is
effective for various kinds of internal and external hemorrhage.
With its virtue in arresting
bleeding while removing blood stasis, it is especially suitable
for patients with both bleeding and blood stasis.
2. Relieving swelling and pains. It is often prescribed to treat
traumatism, pain caused by ecchymoma, and carbuncle, swelling
and
other skin and external diseases. The root can also be exhibited
for coronary heart diseases, angina pectoris and bites of
venomous
snakes. ADMINISTRATION AND DOSAGE
It is commonly adrninistered 3-10 grams daily, preferably in
form of powder or pills. When it is exhibited as an ingredient of a
recipe, it is better to be ground and swallowed along wth the
decoction of other ingredients, 1-3 grams daily. Take optimum
amount when applied externally.
CAUTION For pateints suffering from deficiency of yin with dry
mouth due to hemorrhage, it should be used in
combination with drugs that can nourish yin and can remove heat
from the blood.
Daihuang
Rhubarb
Radix et Rhizoma Rhei
OTHER CHINESE NAMES
Jiang jun, Jiu jun, Shu jun, Chuan jun, Sheng dai huang, Jiu dai
huang, Shu dai huang and Dai huang tan. ORIGIN
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It is the dried root and rhizome of Rheum palmatum L., Rheum
tanguticum Maxim. ex Reg. or Rheum officinale Baill, Polygonaceae.
DISTRIBUTION
Rheum palmatum L. is rnainly produced in Qinghai. Rheum
tanguticum Maxim. ex Balf is mainly produced in Gansu. Rheum
Officinale Baill. is mainly produced in Sichuan.
CHARACTERISTICS
It assumes the shape of a cylinder, a cone, an ellipse or an
irregular lump, 3-17 cm in length, and 3-10 cm in diameter. After
the periderm is removed, the surface is yellowish-brown or
reddish-brown, with whitish retcular veins and asteroid dots
scattered. The periderm is brown in colour, with restiform
holes,and coarse furrows. It is hard in texture, occasionally, the
centre is soft and loose in some. The cross section is light
reddish-brown or yellowish-brown in colour and granular in outlook.
Pith of the rhizome is broader; with asteroid dots annulary
arranged or scattered. The xylem of the root is well-developed,
with radial veins and evident stratiform annulations and with no
asteria. lt is fragrant in smell, bitter and slightly puckery in
taste. It sticks to the teeth and gives a sensation of sand grain
when being chewed (See Fig. 3). DIFFERENTIATION
Among the main counterfeits of rhubarb are those of Sect. Rheum.
They are dried root and rhizome of Rheum franzenbachii Milnt, dried
root and rhizome of Rheum hotaoense C. Y. Cheng et C. T. Kao, dried
root and rhizome of Rheum wittrochii Lundstr and dried rhizome of
Rheum emodi Wall. Their rnain characteristics are as follows:
l. They are usually cylinder-like or cone-like in shape, some
are artificially cut vertically and transversely into irregular
strips and lumps. Generally, these counterfeits are 4-8 cm in
length, and 1-4 cm in diameter. The outer skin is brown and most of
which has been removed. The surface is yellowish-brown in colour.
The cross section is orange red or yellowish-brown in colour. The
xylem is broader and radiation veins are fine and close. There are
no asteria (different natured vascular bundles) in the cross
section of the rhizome. The smell is not delicately fragrant but
turbid. The taste is first puckery and then bitter.
2. Make some drops of rhubarb extract on a sheet of filter
paper, dilute the extract with thin alcohol and observe under an
ultraviolet lamp. The genuine rhubarb extract gives brown or
reddish-brown fluorescent rings and that of the counterfeits gives
a blueish purple fluorescence.
Among other counterfeits are dried root and rhizome of Rumex
obtusifolius L., Rumex chalepensis Mill and dried root of Rumex
japonicus Houtt. PREPARATION
Raw rhubarb Clean, cut into thick slices or lumps and d ry.
Liquor-moistened rhubarb Moisten the raw rhubarb slices with
liquor and thenroast. Liquor-stewed rhubarb Put liquor and raw
rhubarb slices in a container and put the container in a bigger
container in which proper amount of water is poured, heat the
bigger container. Roasted rhubarb Stir the raw rhubarb slices while
it is roasted, cool it down when it becomes black outside and dark
brown inside. NATURE, TASTE AND CHANNEL TROPISM
lt is bitter in taste and cold in nature. lts therapeutical
action is related to the channels of the spleen, stomach, large
intestine, liver and pericardium. ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS l.
Purging away pathogenic heat and relaxing the bowls. It is used for
the treatment of constipation due to heat of excess type, abdominal
pain due to indigestion, uncomfortableness due to diarrhoea and
dysentery. 2. Removing pathogenic heat from the blood and toxic
material from the body.
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It is used for the treatment of hematemesis and epistaxis due to
blood-heat, and conjuntival congestion, pharyngodynia, gingival
swelling and pain and other symptoms caused by pathogenic fire in
the upper part of the body. It is also prescribed for the treatment
of skin and external diseases due to noxious heat as well as burn,
acute appendicitis and abdominal pains. 3. Removing blood stasis
and restoring menstrual flow.
The drug is used for the treatment of amenorrhea due to blood
stasis and traumatic injuries.Besides, it can also be used to treat
hemorrhage of the upper digestive tract, jaundice and
stranguria.
Raw rhubarb has stronger efficacy n relieving constipation by
purgation. Liquor-moistened rhubarb is less stronger but
efficacious in clearing away heat of excess type in the upper-jiao.
Liquor-stewed rhubarb has a mild laxative effect. lt can reduce
some side effects such as abdominal pain and increases its function
in promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis. Roasted
rhubarb has a very weak laxative effect and is effective in
arresting bleeding. Therefore it can be applied to treat hemafecia
with accumulation in the large intestine. ADMINISTRATION AND
DOSAGE
For internal use, 3-30 grams each day. Do not decoct too long if
used for purgation. For external use, make proper amount of powder
into paste and then apply the paste to the affected area. CAUTION
Women in pregnancy, during menstrual and lactation periods should
not use it, or use it with care.
Chuanxiong
Chuanxi ong Rhizome Rhizoma Chuanxiong
OTHER CHINESE NAMES
Xiong qiong and Fu xiong ORIGIN Medicinal chuanxiong rhizome is
the rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort., Umbelliferae.
DISTRIBUTION It is mainly produced in Sichuan Province and also
seen in Guizhou, Yunnan, Shaanxi and Hubei provinces. Most of them
are cultivated. CHARACTERISTICS
Chuanxiong rhizome is an irregularly tuberous lump like a fist,
and 2-7 cm in diameter. lts surface is yellowish-brown in color,
coarse and wrinkly, and has many parallel bulgy, wheel-like nodes.
There is a circular concave stem trace at its top, and there are
many root traces at its lower end. lt is hard in texture and not
easy to break, The cross section is yellowish-white or pale yellow
in color, and has many little yellowish-brown oil dots scattered
about. lt has a strong specific fragrance and a pungent and bitter
taste. When chewed, it produces a slightly tingling sensation in
the mouth first and a sweet sensation thereafter (See ]Fig. 4).
PREPARATION
Raw chuanxiong rhizome is cleaned, moistened, sliced and dried.
NATURE, TASTE AND CHANNEL TROPISM
It is pungent in taste and warm in nature. lts therapeutical
action is related to the channels of the liver, gallbladder and
pericardium. ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS
1. Promoting blood and qi circulation. It is usually prescribed
for patients with irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea,
retention of
placenta, dystocia, etc. The drug serves as one of the key
medicinal herbs in the treatment of woman diseases. However, it can
not be used for long. It is also prescribed for patients with
stagnant swelling
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caused by injury, hypochondriac pain due to depressed qi,
carbuncles and boil. In recent years, it is applied to the
treatment of coronary heart disease and angina pectoris.
2. Dispelling pathogenic wind and relieving pain. The herb is
often prescribed for patients with headache, body pain and
arthritis. This is a nice medicine for headache and usualy used
together with other materia medica to treat headache, migraine and
overall headache caused by pathogenic wind and cold, or headache
due to pathogenic wind-heat. lt is also applied in the treatment of
arthralgia due to wind-cold dampness, muscular constricture and
pain of the limbs. ADMINISTRATION AND DOSAGE 3-9 grams of the herb
are decocted in water for oral use, take one dose daily.
CAUTION
lt is contraindicated in patients with menorrhagia and headache
caused by excessive fire due to yin deficiency.
Chuanbeimu
Sichuan Fritillary Bulb
Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae OTHER CHINESE NAMES Jian bei and
Chuan bei ORIGIN
Medicinal Sichuan fritillary bulbs are the dried bulbs of
Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don., Fritillaria unibracteata Hsiao et
K.C. Hsia, Fritillaria przewalskii Maxim. and Fritillaria delavayi
Franch, Liliaceae. The bulbs of the above-mentioned first three are
called "Songbei" or "Qingbei". And the last one is called "Lubei".
DISTRIBUTION
Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don. is mainly produced in Sichuan,
Yunnan provinces and Tibet Autonomous Region. Fritillaria
unibracteata Hsiao et K. C. Hsia is mainly produced in Sichuan
Province. Fritillaria przewalskii Maxim. is mainly produced in
Gansu, Qinghai and Sichuan provinces. Fritillaria delavayi Franch.
is mainly produced in Yunnan, Sichuan, Qinghai provinces and Tibet
Autonomous Region. CHARACTERISTICS
The shapes of the tendril-leaved fritillary bulbs vary with
their distribution (See Fig. 5). Songbei lt is conical or spherical
in shape. The base of the bulb is wde and the top is thin and
sharp, wth a
diameter of 3-9 mm. Its outside layer consists of two scale
leaves, which are different in size and closed up at the top. There
are also one or two little scale leaves inside. The outside scale
leaves, rolling inward, are obtuse or slightly sharp at the top and
flat or wide in the base. The surface of the leaves is smooth,
white in color and powdery in outlook. It is hard but brittle in
texture and the cross section is white in color. It is faint in
odor and slightly bitter in taste. Qingbei It is oblate or conical
in shape, larger than Songbei, 0.4-1.4 cm in length and 0.4-1.6 cm
in diameter. The outside two scale leaves are similar in size,
concave and closed side to side, with an even opening at the top.
Lubei
-
It is a prolonged circular cone, 0.7-2.5 cm in length and
0-5-2.5 cm in diameter, with some yellowish-brown stains on the
surface. The outside two scale leaves are similar in size, closed
side to side, forming an uneven opening at the top of the cone.
DIFFERENTIATION Dried bulbs of Tulipa edulis Baker and Iphigenia
indica Kunth. et Benth., or dried tuber of Bolbostemma paniculatum
(Maxim.) Feang. are the common fakes. The bulb of Iphigenia indica
Kunth., et Benth., has severe toxicity, while the bulb of Tulipa
edulis Baker has weak toxicity. The efficacy of Bolbostemma
paniculatum (Maxim.) Feang. differs from the genuine Sichuan
fritillary bulb. So, it is utterly harmful that these fakes are
used as genuine medicine.
The appearances of these fakes evidently differ from the real
medicine. The chief difference is that these fakes do not divide,
while the genuine Sichuan fritillary bulbs (Songbei, Qingbei and
Lubei) split into two parts. PREPARATION Sichuan fritillary bulb is
rid of the fibrous roots and coarse skins, and dried. Pound it upon
use. NATURE, TASTE AND CHANNEL TROPISM
It is bitter and sweet in taste and slightly cold in nature. Its
therapeutical action is related to the channels of the lung and
heart. ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS l. Clearing away heat and moistening
the lung; relieving cough and reducing sputum. lt is mainly used in
the treatment of cough due to heatphlegm, irritating dry cough due
to retention of pathogenic heat in the lung, dry cough without
phlegm, cough due to yin deficiency and phlegm with blood. 2.
Clearing away heat and resolving mass.
It is used in the treatment of scrofula and subcutaneous nodule
and acute mastitis in the inicial stage. ADMINISTRATION AND
DOSAGE
3-9 grams of the medicine are decocted, take the decoction
daily. If the powder is prescribed, 1-2 grams are taken each time.
CAUTION
lt is contraindicated in patients with productive cough due to
cold-dampness. Besides, it can not be used together with Radix
Aconiti.
Taizishen Pseudostellaria Root
Radix Pseudostellariae
OTHER CHINESE NAMES
Hai er shen and Tong shen ORIGIN lt is the dried tubrous root of
Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Miq.) Pax ex Pax et
Hoffm.,Caryophyllaceae. DISTRIBUTION It is mainly produced in
the east, the middle, the north and the northwest of China.
CHARACTERISTICS Pseudostellaria root takes the shape of a long and
thin spindle or a long and thin stick, slightly curved, with a
length of 3-10 cm and a diameter of 0.2-0.6 cm. Stalk marks can be
seen on the top. The surface of the root is yellowish-white and
fairly smooth, with negligible longitudinal wrinkles and traces of
fibrous roots at the concavities. The root is hard and crisp in
texture. The cross section is even and cutin-like, light
yellowish-white in colour; or looks powdery, whitish in colour. The
medicine has a faint smell and a slightly sweet taste (See Fig. 6).
DIFFERENTIATION
-
l. Dried tuberous root of Melandrium tatarinowii (Regel.)Y.W.
Tsui var. albifforum (Franch.) Z. Cheng, Caryophyllaceae.
The root takes the shape similar to that of pseudostellaria
root, the main difference lies in that the former has several warty
projected bud bases on its top. On the surface, there are apparent
longitudinal wrinkles or corrugations and black horizontal dents in
which there are projected traces of fine roots. The medicine tastes
slightly sweet and bitter. 2. Dried tuberous root of Disporum
sessile D. Don., Liliaceae. The plant has a cluster of roots
growing together. A single root is shaped similar to
pseudostellaria root and the main difference is that there are
knotty stalk bases on the top. lts surface is greyish-yellow with
fine and dense longitudinal wrinkles. On the cross section, a thin
yellowish-white wooden core can be seen. PREPARATION
Pseudostellaria root: The crude root is carefully cleaned and dried
NATURE, TASTE AND CHANNEL TROPISM The medicine is sweet and
slightly bitter in taste and neutral in nature. Its therapeutic
action is related to the channels of the spleen and lung. ACTIONS
AND INDICATIONS Replenishing qi to invigorate the spleen and
promoting the production of body fluid and nourishing the lung, it
is used for fatigue and poor appetite due to hypofunction of the
spleen, asthenia, spontaneous perspiration and thirst caused by
insufficiency of qi and yin during convalescence, and unproductive
cough due to dryness of the lung. ADMINISTRATION AND DOSAGE To be
decoted for oral use, 9-30 grams daily. CAUTION Because the
tonifying efficacy of the medicine is relatively slow-acting, large
dosage and persistent administration are needed to achieve marked
effectiveness, and because of its tendency to tonify and nourish
yin and qi, it is better to be used in patients with qi deficiency
accompanied by insufficiency of yin fluid.
Tianma Gastrodia Tuber
Rhizoma Gastrodiae
OTHER CHINESE NAME Ming tian ma
ORIGIN It is the dried rhizome of Gastrodia elata Bl.,
Orchidaceae.
DISTRIBUTION It is rnainly produced in Sichuan, Yunnan and
Guizhou provinces. Other producing regions include
North-east China and North China. CHARACTERISTICS
lt is long and elliptical in shape, shrunk, crooked and slightly
flat, usually 3-15 cm in length, 1.5-6 cm in width and 0.5-2 cm in
thickness. At one end of the tuber, there is a reddish-brown
withered bud or a remaining stem. At the other end of the tuber,
there is an umbilcate scar. Gastrodia tuber is usually peeled, the
surface of the drug is yellowish-white or yellowish-brown in color
and has longitudinal wrinkles and some spotted segmental
annulations. It is hard and semitransparent, and not easy to be
broken. lts cross section is smooth, cutin-like and has rosin-like
lustre. Sometimes, it is hollow in some. It is peculiar in odour,
sweet and slightly pungent in taste (See Fig. 7). DIFFERENTIATION
The common fakes of gastrodia tuber are the roots of Mirabilis
jalapa L. and Dahlia pinnata Cav., or the tuber of potato (Solanum
tuberosum L.). Generally, these fakes are also spindlelike and
slightly
-
crooked in shape, however, they have no spotted segmentar
annulations and longitudinal wrinkles on the surface. In addition,
the cross section has no resin-like lustre. PREPARATION Get rid of
the fibrous roots and peel the raw gastrodia tuber, then steep it
in hot water or steam it till it becomes soft, cut it into slices
and dry them. NATURE, TASTE AND CHANNEL TROPISM It is sweet in
taste and neutral in nature. lts therapeutic action is related to
the liver channel. ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS l. Calming the
endopathic wind and relieving convulsion and spasm. lt is
prescribes for patients with symptoms caused by up-stirring of
liver-wind marked by convulsion. lt is commonly used, in
compatibility with other materia medica, to treat patients with the
above-mentioned symptoms, no matter they are caused by syndromes of
cold type or heat type. 2. Calming the liver and suppressing
liver-yang. This medicine is used in the treatment of such symptoms
as vertigo and headache caused by the hyperactivity of liver-yang.
It can also be used in the treatment of vertigo due to the
up-stirring of the wind-phlegm syndrome. 3. Rernoving obstruction
in the channels to relieve pain. It is applied in the treatment of
arthralgia due to the wind, cold and dampness, or in the treatment
of lassitude and insensibleness of the limbs caused by deficiency
of the liver and kidney. ADMINISTRATION AND DOSAGE
Be decocted for oral use, 3-9 grams daily. If the powder is
administered, 1-1.5 grams each time. CAUTION
Care should be taken when prescribing for patients with
deficiency of yin.
Wujiapi
Acanthopanax Bark Cortex Acanthopanacis
OTHER CHINESE NAME Nan wu jia pi
ORIGIN lt is the dried bark of Acanthopanax gracilistylus W.W
Smith, Araliaceae.
DISTRIBUTION lt is mainly produced in Hubei, Henan, Shaanxi,
Anhui, Zhejiang and Hebei provinces.
CHARACTERISTICS The bark takes the shape of an irregular reel,
5-15 cm long, about 0.2 cm thick and 0.4-1.4 cm in
diameter. The outer surface is greyish-brown with slightly
twisted longitudinal wrinkles and horizontal lenticels. The inner
surface is light yellow or greyish-yellow with fine longitudinal
grains. lt is light in weight, brittle in texture and is easy to be
broken. The cross section looks uneven, greyish-white in colour.
The drug smells a bit fragrant and tastes bitter and a bit hot (See
Fig. 8). DIFFERENTIATION Confusions about medicinal acanthopanax
bark are commonly seen. Besides genuine products, root-barks or
stalkbarks of some plants belonging to the same genus may be passed
off as acanthopanax bark in administration. In most parts of North
China, dried root bark of Periploca sepium Bunge., Asclepiadaceae
is applied for medical purposes by the name of xiang jia pi or
North wu jia pi. Actually, it is taken as a separate herbal
medicine by the name of xiang jia qi (Chinese silkvine root bark,
Cortex periplocae Radicis) in "Chinese Pharmacopeia, 1985 ed."
Prolonged and excessive administration of this medicine may result
in drug poisoning. However it is effective for edema caused by
heart diseases
-
and has a cardiotonic action, and can be used differentially.
There are several aspects characterizing Chinese silkvine root
bark, as are described as follows.
It is in the shape of a trough (some are in irregular pieces),
3-10 cm in length, 0.2-0.4 cm in thickness and 1-2 cm in diameter.
The outer surface is greyish-brown or yellowish-brown, with soft
corks, commonly looking scaly and easy to be taken off; the inner
surface is light yellow or light yellowish-brown and relatively
smooth, with fine longitudinal grains. It is light in weight,
brittle in texture and casy to be broken. The cross section looks
uneven and yellowish-white in colour. The bark possesses a peculiar
fragrance but tastes bitter. PREPARATION
The rude barks are cleaned, sliced into thick pieces and dried.
NATURE, TASTE AND CHANNEL TROPISM It is acrid and bitter in taste,
warm in nature and therapeutically related to the channels of the
liver and kidney. ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS
With the functions of dispelling wind and dampness and
strengthening the bones and muscles, it is administered in such
condition as numbness and pains due to pathogenic wind dampness,
muscular constructure of the extremities, lassitude in the loins
and knees, retardation of walking in children, general weakness and
fatigue, edema and beriberi. ADMINISTRATION AND DOSAGE
To be decocted for oral use, 4.5-9 grams daily. lt can also be
taken in form of liquor infusion. CAUTION
Acanthopanax bark is contraindicated in patients with
hyperactivity of fire due to yin deficiency.
Wuweizi Magnolia Vine Fruit (Schisandra Fruit)
Fructus Schisandrae
OTHER CHINESE NAME Bei wu wei zi
ORIGIN Medicinal magnolia vine fruit is the mature fruit of
Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. or
Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils., Magnoliaceae.
Habitually, the former is called "Beiwuweizi" (northern magnolia
vine fruit) and the latter is called "Nanwuweizi" (southern
magnolia vine fruit). DISTRIBUTION
Beiwuweizi is mainly produced in Jilin, Liaoning, Heilongjiang
and Hebei provinces. Nanwuweizi is mainly produced in Hubei,
Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces. CHARACTERISTICS
Beiwuweizi lt is irregularly round or oblate in shape and 5-8 mm
in diameter. The surface of the fruit is red or dark
red in color, wrinkly and glossy, and the pulp is very soft,
faint in smell and sour in taste. There are one or two
yellowish-brown kidney-shaped seeds which, after pounded, are
slightly fragrant in odor, pungent and faintly bitter in taste.
Nanwuweizi lt is smaller in size, thinner in pulp and
reddish-brown or dark brown in surface, having no lustre (See
Fig. 9). PREPARATION
Raw magnolia vine frit Get rid of the impurities and dry.
Vinegared m,agnolia vine fruit
Raw magnolia vine fruits are steamed with vinegar and dried
thereafter.
-
NATURE, TASTE AND CHANNEL TROPISM It is sour and sweet in taste
and warm in nature. Its therapeutic action is related to the
channels of the lung, heart and kidney. ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS
1. Astringing the lung and nourishing the kidney. It is usually
prescribed for patients with persistent cough and asthma of
insufficiency type. 2. Astringing seminal emission and diarrhea. lt
is used in the treatment of spermatorrhoea, protracted diarrhea,
enuresis and frequent micturition. lt is also prescribed for
patients with diarrhea before dawn due to cold of insufficiency
type of the spleen and kidney.
3. Producing the body fluid and arresting sweating. It is used
in the treatment of spontaneous perspiration, night sweat, thirst
due to impairment of body
fluid, palpitation and insomnia. ADMINISTRATION AND DOSAGE
Generally, 3-9 grams of the fruits are decocted, take the
decoction daily. Pound them upon decocting. lf it is used in the
treatment of astringing the lung and relieving cough, the dosage
may be less (1.5-3 grams), and if it is applied for the purpose of
nourishing or supplementing yin, the dosage may be larger (6-9
grams). CAUTION
lt should be used with care for patients with pathogenic factors
attacking the exterior of the body or with heat of excess type.
Bajitian Morinda Root
Radix Morindae Officinalis
OTHER CHINESE NAMES Ba ji and Ba ji rou
ORIGIN Medicinal morinda root is the dried root of Morinda
officinalis How, Rubiaceae.
DISTRIBUTION It is mainly produced in Guangdong, Guangxi and
Fujian.
CHARACTERISTICS Medicinal morinda root is cylinder-shaped (with
oblate circumference of the section) and slightly
curved. They are different in size. The diameter of the root is
usually 0.5-2 cm. The surface, with vertical wrinkles and
transverse crackles, is yellowish-grey or dark grey. In some roots,
the bark is transversely cracked and the xylem is exposed. The bark
is thicker, violet or light violet in colour, and easy to separate
from the xylem. The xylem, with a diameter of 1-5 mm, is hard and
yellowish-brown or whitish-yellow in colour. Morinda root is
odorless, sweet and slightly puckery in taste (See Fig. 10).
DIFFERENTIATION l. Dried root or root bark of Morinda umbellata
L., Rubiaceae.
The dried root of Morinda umbellata L. is cylinder-shaped,
slightly curved, and different in size. The diameter of the root is
usually 5-15 mm. The surface is usually yellowish-grey or
greyish-brown, with a little violet redness in some. Still in some
roots, the bark is cracked and the xylem is exposed, however, the
root does not look pearl-chain shaped. It looks rough and has many
vertical wrinkles or transverse lines on the surface. The bark is
thinner (usually 1-4 mm), yellowish-grey, yellowish-brown or
greyish-violet in colour, and rather easy to separate from the
xylem. The xylem is thicker (3-9 mm in diameter), radiation-shaped
in the transverse section, and yellowish-brown in colour. The dried
root is hard and tough, odorless, and slightly sweet in taste.
-
2. Dried root or root bark of Morinda shuanghuaensis C.Y. Chen
et M. S. Huang, Rubiaceae. The root, shorter or longer, is
cylinder-shaped (5-25 mm in diameter) and slightly curved. The
surface,
covered with vertical wrinkles and transverse crackles, is
rough, greyish-brown or dark brown in colour, The bark is cracked
and the xylem is exposed in some roots but the whole root presents
no pearl-chain shape. The bark, brown or violet-brown, is thinner
(1-2 mm thick in transverse sectiori) and generally easy to
separate from the xylem. The xylem, with radiation in the
transverse section, is thicker (4-14 mm), hard and tough. The dried
root is odorless and a little sweet in taste. There are roots of
other plants, e.g., Schisandra propinqua (Wall.) Baill. var.
sinensis Oliv. and Damnacanthus officinarum Huang, (Rubiaceae.)
which are the fakes for morinda root. Generally speaking, the
colour of the surface, ratio of the bark to the xylem, extent of
bark breakage and grains of xylem are the main indexes to
differentiate the false froim the genuine. Sometimes, microscope is
needed in differentiation. PREPARATION 1.Morinda root: Raw morinda
root is deprived of impurities and dried. 2.Morinda root bark: Raw
morinda root is cleaned, steamed and deprived of xylems when it is
still hot. Cut it into segments and dry them. 3.Salted morinda
root: Cleaned morinda root is moistened with salt water, steamed,
deprived of xylems when it is still hot. Cut it into segments and
dry them. 4.Licoriced morinda root: licorice root (Gtyyrrhiza) is
ground and then decocted. Cleaned morinda root is moistened with
the decoction of licorice roots, steamed, deprived of xylems when
it is still hot. Cut into segments and dry them. NATURE, TASTE AND
CHANNEL TROPISM
Morinda root is sweet in taste, pungent in flavour and slightly
warm in nature. Its therapeutic action is related to the channels
of the kidney and liver. ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS
l. Reinforcing the kidney and supporting yang. It is effective
in the treatment of impotence, frequent micturition, sterility due
to coldness in the uterus,
irregular menstruation, cold and pain in the lower abdomen, etc.
2. Expelling wind and removing dampness.
It is effective in the treatment of lumbago , leg pain and
lassitude. ADMINISTRATION AND DOSAGE
To be decocted for oral use, 3-9 grams a day. CAUTION
Morinda root is contraindicated in patients with dryness of
mouth and tongue, dribbling urination and constipation caused by
hyperactivity of fire due to yin deficiency.
Danshen Red Sage Root
Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae
OTHER CHINESE NAMES Zi dan shen and Xue dan shen
ORIGIN The drug is the dried root of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.,
Labiatae. DISTRIBUTION
It is mainly produced in Sichuan, Anhui, Jiangsu, Hebei and
Shandong provinces. CHARACTERISTICS
-
Red sage root is short and thick, and in some, stalk bases can
be seen on the top. The plant Salvia miltiorrhiza has several roots
that are in the shape of a slightly curved long cylinder, and some
of which have branches and fine fibrous roots. The root is 10-20 cm
in length and 0.3-1 cm in diameter. Its surface is rough,
brownish-red or dark brownish-red in colour with longitudinal
wrinkles. The outer skin of the maternal root is loose, usually
purple brown, with scales easy to be stripped. The root is hard and
fragile. Its cross section is loose with fissures or looks smooth
and dense; the bark looks brownish-red, the xylem greyish-yellow or
purple brown and the fibrovascular bundle, yellowish-white in
radial arrangement. The root has a faint smell and a slight bitter
and puckery taste. The artificially cultivated red sage root is
thicker, 0.5-1.5 cm in diameter. The surface is reddish-brown with
longitudinal wrinkles; the phloem clings tightly and is not easy to
be flayed. lt is solid in texture. The cross section looks
comparatively even and a little cutin-like (See Fig. 11).
PREPARATION Red Sage Root: The crude root is cleaned and cut into
thick slices before dried.
Liquored Red Sage Root: Slices of red sage root are moistened
with liquor and cauterized thereafter. NATURE, TASTE AND CHANNEL
TROPISM Red sage root is bitter in taste and slightly cold in
nature. The therapeutic action is related to the channels of the
heart and liver. ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS
l. Promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis. It is
used to cure stasis due to blood-heat, irregular menstruation,
dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, mass in the abdomen, postpartum
lochiorrhea and other syndromes. lt can also be administered for
treatment of angina pectoris in coronary heart disease,
hypochondriac pain due to stagnation of the liver-qi, and
stomachache due to blood stasis and sluggish flow of qi.
2. Relieving restlessness and tranquilizing the mind. The drug
is used to cure impairment of ying (the vessels in which blood and
qi are lodged) during the
course of febrile diseases, vexation and insomnia. Liquor
infusion of red sage root taken before retiring to bed can cure
neurasthenia.
3. Subduing swelling and relieving pain. It is used to subdue
swelling and relieve pain in carbuncles, sores and other skin and
external diseases,
swelling and pain of the joints and muscles due to arthritis of
heat type, etc. The drug can be administered for the treatment of
thromboangiitis obliterans and hypertension.
ADMINISTRATION AND DOSAGE To be decocted for oral use, 9-15
grams daily. The dosage can be increased to 30-60 grams for
patients with angiitis and arthritis of heat type. CAUTION Red
sage root is not suitable for patients with only deficiency but no
stasis, or with deficiency accompanied by cold, or with tendency to
bleed.
It should not be administered together with black false
hellebore.
Gancao Licorice Root
Radix Glycyrrhizae OTHER CHINESE NAMES
Guo lao, Sheng gan cao, Mi gan cao and Zhi gan cao ORIGIN lt is
the dried root and rhizome of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.,
Glycyrrhiza inflata Bat. or Glycyrrhiza glabra L.,Leguminosae.
DISTRIBUTION
lt is mainly produced in Inner Mongolia and Gansu. Shaanxi,
Shanxi, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Hebei, Qinghai and Xinjiang
are secondary to the main producing provinces.
-
CHARACTERISTICS Licorice root is cylinder-shaped, 25-100 cm in
length and 0.6-3.5 cm in diameter. The root periphloem
varies in tightness. Root surface is reddish-brown or
greyish-brown and covered with marked vertical wrinkles, furrows,
lenticels and sparse rootlet traces. The cross section of the root
reveals itself to be slightly fibroid, yellowish-white in colour,
powdery, clear in stratiform annules and radialized cracks are
found in some. The rhizome is cylinder-shaped, with bud traces on
the surface and with a pith in the centre of the cross section. lt
is weak in smell and peculiarly sweet in taste (See Fig. 12).
PREPARATION
Sliced Licorice Root The root is cleaned, cut into thick slices
and dried.
Honeyed Licorice Root The dried slices are stirred and roasted
while honey is added. NATURE, TASTE AND CHANNEL TROPISM It is sweet
in taste and neutral in nature. Its therapeutic action is related
to the channels of the heart, lung, spleen and stomach.a ACTIONS
AND INDICATIONS
1. Tonifying the spleen and moistening the lung. It is
efficacious in the treatment of syndromes due to deficiency of qi
in the spleen and stomach and cough with dyspnea.
2. Supplementing qi and restoring pulse. It is prescribed to
treat insufficiency of blood and deficiency of qi, manifested as
spontaneous sweating, palpitation, and knotted and intermittent
pulses. 3. Relieving spasm and pain. It is applied in the treatment
of stomachache, abdominal pain and spasm and pain of muscles.
4. Clearing away heat and toxic substances.It is often used to
treat pyogenic infections, e.g. carbuncles, deep-rooted carbuncles,
furuncles, multiple abscesses, scrofula, ulcer, sore thorat, etc.
It is also efficacious in the treatment of pesticides poisoning and
food poisoning. 5. Coordinating the actions of various ingredients
in a prescription. In a prescription, many medicinal matters are
mixed together. Radix Glycyrrhizae has the function of reducing or
relieving deviation or toxicity of other medicinal matters in a
prescription.
Raw Radix Glycyrrhizae has stronger actions in purging intense
heat, detoxicating, moistening the lung and relieving cough. And it
is often prescribed in the treatment of sore throat, food poisoning
and in relieving poisonous action of any drug. Honeyed Radix
Glycyrrlizae is sweet in taste and warm in nature, and has a better
action in
supplementing qi and relieving spasm and pain. lt is often used
in the treatment of anorexia, abdominal pain and loose stool due to
weakess of the spleen and stomach, fever caused by overexertion and
fatigue, cough due to consumptive lung diseases, palpitation and
intermittent pulse, epilepsy induced by terror and spasm of
muscles.
ADMINISTRATION AND DOSAGE
1.5-9 grams are decocted, take the decoction daily. CAUTION
lt is usually not prescribed for patients with retention of
dampness manifested as fullness sensation in the chest and
vomiting. Long-time administration or overdosage may result in side
effects, e.g. edema and hypertention. The symptoms of side effects
may disappear gradually after the drug withdrawal.
It is imcompatible with Radix Euphorbiae Pekinensis, Radix
Knoxiae, Flose Genkwa, Radix Euphorbiae Kansui and sargassum, do
not prescribe these drugs together.
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Longyanrou Longan Aril
Arillus Longan OTHER CHINESE NAMES
Gui yuan rou and Yuan rou ORIGIN
lt is the dried pseudo-carp of Euphoria longan (Lour.) Steud.,
Sapindaceae. DISTRIBUTION
lt is mainly produced in Fujian, Guangdong, Sichuan provinces
and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
CHARACTERISTICS The drug is in form of longitudinally ruptured
irregular pieces, and often, several pieces adhere each
other. A single piece is about 1.5 cm long, 2-4 cm wide and 0.1
cm thick. It is semitransparent, brown in colour. One side of it is
rugose and uneven while the other side is bright with fine
longitudinal creases. The aril is supple and moist in texture and
gives out a faintly aromatic smell and sweet taste (See Fig. 13).
PREPARATION The crude aril is cleaned. NATURE, TASTE AND CHANNEL
TROPISM
The aril is sweet in taste and warm in nature. lts therapeutic
action is related to the channels of the heart and spleen. ACTIONS
AND INDICATIONS
Having the efficacy of tonifying the heart and spleen and
nourishing the blood to calm the mind, longan aril is an effective
tonic usually administered for insufficiency of qi and blood due to
impairment of the heart and spleen resulting from overstrain,
manifested as palpitation, amnesia and insomnia. Applied
individually, it can be decocted or steeped in hot water to be
taken orally to cure deficiency of qi and blood in the old and the
weak during their convalescence. ADMINISTRATION AND DOSAGE
Longan aril is administered 10-15 grams daily, or in a larger
dosage, 30 grams. It can be prepared into decoction, fluid extract,
liquor infusion or pills. CAUTION
Longan aril is contraindicated in patients with abdominal
distention due to retention of dampness or retention of fluid,
phlegm or fire.
Baizhu
Bighead Atractylodes Rhizome Rhizoma Atractylodis
Macrocephalae
OTHER CHINESE NAMES
Yu zhu, Dong zhu, Chao bai zhu, Jiao bai zhu and Tu bai zhu
ORIGIN lt is the dried root and rhizome of Atractylodes
macrocephala Koidz., Compositae.
DISTRIBUTION lt is mainly produced in Zhejiang, Hunan and
Jiangxi provinces.
CHARACTERISTICS Dried rhizome of bighead atractylodes is an
irregular-shaped pumpy mass that is usually 3-13 cm in
length and 1.5-7 cm in diameter. lts surface looks
greyish-yellow or greyish-brown with tuberculate processes and
disjointed longitudinal wrinkles and grooves. There are traces of
fibrous roots and residual
-
stalk radicals and buds on its top. It is hard in texture and
not easy to be broken. The cross section looks uneven, in a colour
range from yellowish-white to pale brown, with spotty
brownish-yellow oil cavities. The cross section of the oven-dried
rhizome is cutin-like with fissures, the colour being relatively
darker. The rhizome smells aromatic, tastes sweet and slightly
acrid. It is a little sticky when chewed (See Fig. 14).
PREPARATION
Bighead Atractylodes Rhizome: Clean the crude rhizome. Cut it
into thick slices and dry them. Soil-stir-roasted Bighead
Atractylodes Rhizome: They are slices of bighead atractylodes
rhizome stir-
roasted with fine powder of the dried soil of kitchen range.
Bran-stir-roasted Bighead Atractylodes Rhizome: Slices of bighead
atractylodes rhizome are stir-roasted with bran. NATURE, TASTE AND
CHANNEL TROPISM
lt is sweet and bitter in taste and warm in nature. Its
therapeutic action is related to the channels of the spleen and
stomach. ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS
l. Invigorating qi and strengthening the spleen. As an important
medicine to invigorate qi and strengthen the spleen, it is used in
inappetence and
diarrhoea, abdominal distention, lassitude and asthenia and
other symptoms caused by insufficiency of the spleen-qi resulting
in dysfunction of the spleen in transport.
2. Eliminating dampness to alleviate water retention. It is used
in syndromes as phlegm retention and edema due to retention of
water within the body
resulting from dysfunction of the spleen in water transport and
caused by insufficiency of the spleen-qi. Bighead atractylodes
rhizome is an effective medicine in treating phlegm retention and
edema, sticking
itself out both in reinforcing qi to strengthen the spleen and
in eliminating dampness to alleviate water retention.
3. Suppressing sweating and preventing abortion. It is used in
spontaneous perspiration due to lowered superficial resistance
against diseases and
threatened abortion brought on by deficiency of the spleen-qi.
lt is advisable to use the raw rhizome in eliminating dampness and
water retention and the soil-stir-
roasted rhizome to inforce the spleen and alleviate diarrhoea.
The bran-stir-roasted is suitable for replenishing qi and
strengthening the spleen to relieve dryness. ADMINISTRATION AND
DOSAGE
To be decocted in water for oral use, 5-15 grams daily. CAUTION
Bighead atractylodes rhizome is only indicated in damp syndromes of
middle-jiao. As it often impairs yin in the process of dampness
elimination, it should not be administered in patients with
internal heat due to deficiency of yin or with thirst due to
dryness brought on by loss of body fluid.
Danggui Chinese Angelica Root Radix Angelicae Sinensis
OTHER CHINESE NAMES Quan dang gui, Dang gui shen, Dang gui wei,
Jiu dang gui and Tu dang gui
ORIGIN
-
It is the dried root of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels.,
Umbelliferae. DISTRIBUTION
lt is mainly produced in Gansu, Sichuan, Yunnan, Shaanxi,
Guizhou and Hubei provinces. CHARACTERISTICS The dried root is in a
shape similar to a cylinder, 15-25 cm long, and has 3-5 or more
branch roots at the lower part. Its surface is tinged from
yellowish-brown deep to brown, with long longitudinal grains and
horizontal, long lenticels. The head of the root has a diameter of
1.5-4cm, the top is round and obtuse, with annular veins and purple
or yellowish-green remnants of stem and leaf sheaths. The surface
of the main root is concavo-convex; the branch roots, generally
having a diameter of 0.3-1 cm, are thick at the upper part and thin
at the lower and are mostly twisted, with a few traces of fibrous
roots. It is flexible in texture; the cross section is
yellowishwhite and light yellowish-brown. The bark is thick, with
crevices and many brown dotted secretory cavities. The colour of
the xylem is lighter, showing yellowish-brown stratiform circles.
The drug emits strong fragrance and tastes sweet, acrid and a
little bitter (See Fig. 15). DIFFERENTIATION 1. Dried root of
Levisticum officinale Koch., Umbelliferae.
Cylinder-shaped, the root varies in length, in a diameter of
0.7-2 cm. Some have branch roots. Its surface looks greyish-brown
and, distributed on it are longitudinal grains and horizontal, long
lenticel-like scars. It is flexible in texture. The cross section
is yellowish-white or light yellowish-brown. lt gives out a faint
smell and tastes slightly sweet but tingles the tongue.
2. Dried root of Angelica dahurica (Fisch. ex Hoffm.) Benth et
Hook. f., Umbelliferae Also named Northeast da huo, it is in shape
of an irregular circular cone. lts main root is rather short, only
1-2 cm, with a diameter of 4-6 cm. There are a number of branch
roots that are more than 20 cm in length and 0.4-1 cm in diameter.
The surface is brownish-yellow or dark brownish-yellow. lt is
widened and shrunk, possessing no fragrance as that in Chinese
angelica root. lt has an acrid taste which tingles the tongue.
3. Dried root of Peucedanum decursivum Maxim., Umbelliferae. Ye
dang gui is its another name. lts main root is in a shape similar
to an irregular cone, 3-6 cm in length, 1. 8-2 cm in diameter,
having a dark brown surface with longitudinal grains. On its top,
there are traces of leafstalk bases; on the lower part exist
several branch roots, 6-9 cm in length and 0-5-0.8 cm in diameter.
On the surface of the branch roots are longitudinal grains and
horizontal, projected lenticel-like scars. The root is hard or
flexible in texture, liable to be bro.ken. Seeing from the cross
section, it is dark brown at the bark and yellowish-brown at the
xylem. No fragrance as that in Chinese angelica root can be smelled
while a slight acridness can be tasted.
4. Dried root of Angelica pubescens Maxim. f. biserrata shan et
Yuan, Umbelliferae Its main root is short and thick and looks
cylindric. At the lower part there are 2-3 or more branch
roots, 10-30 cm in length and l.5-3 cm in diameter. The head
part of the main root is inflated, with horizontal grains around
and remnants of the leafstalks on its top. The surface of the root
is greyish-brown or dark brown, covered with longitudinal wrinkles
and projected horizontal lenticels and slightly projected fine root
marks. The root is hard, but will turn soft when moistened. A brown
ring can be observed on the cross section; the bark looks
greyish-white, presenting a number of sporadic oil spots in a
colour ranging from yellowish-brown to brown and the xylem looks
greyish-yellow or yellowish-brown. The root possesses a peculiar
fragrance and a taste of bitterness and acridness that tingles the
tongue a bit. PREPARATION
l. Chinese angelica root. It refers to the thin slices of the
crude Chinese angelica root prepared through a process of
cleaning,
slicing and drying. 2. Liquored Chinese angelica root. It refers
to the slices of Chinese angelica root moistened with liquor and
cauterized afterwards.
NATURE, TASTE AND CHANNEL TROPISM
-
Chinese angelica root is sweet and acrid in taste, warm in
nature and therapeutically related to the channels of the liver,
heart and spleen. ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS
l. Replenishing blood and regulating menstruation. lt is
efflcacious in the treatment of flaccidity and pale complexion,
vertigo, palpitation, irregular menstruation, amenorrhea and
dysmenorrhea due to blood deficiency. 2. Promoting blood
circulation to stop pain.
lt is efficacious for such conditions as traumatic injury,
carbuncle, celluliti, sore, ulcer and other skin and external
diseases, arthralgia due to pathogenic wind-dampness, and abdominal
pain due to stagnation of blood during menstruation and
delivery.
3. Loosing the bowels to relieve constipation. It is efficacious
for constipation due to the dryness of bowels and blood
deficiency.
The raw Chinese angelica root (slices) is more eligible for
enriching the blood and loosing the bowels, while the liquored
Chinese angelica root is more eligible for promoting blood
circulation and restoring menstrual flow. ADMINISTRATION AND
DOSAGE
A daily dosage of 5-15 grams is administered for internal
application in form of a decoction. CAUTION
Chinese angelica root is contraindicated in patients with
abdominal distention due to exuberant dampness and diarrhoea.
Duzhong
Eucommia Bark Cortex Eucommiae
OTHER CHINESE NAMES
Chuang du zhong, Mian du zhong, Hou du zhong, Yan du zhong and
Chao du zhong. ORIGIN
Medicinal eucommia bark is the dried bark of Eucommia ulmoides
Oliv., Eucommiaceae. DISTRIBUTION
It is mainly produced in Hubei, Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan
provinces. CHARACTERISTICS Medicinal eucommia barks are flakes, 3-7
mm thick and different in size; some are flat in shape, some
slightly rolled up inwardly (two sides). The outer surface is light
brown or greyish-brown, with marked wrinkles or longitudinal
crackles. Some eucommia barks are thinner with a coarse outer
layer, under which there are many oblique square lenticels. The
inner surface is smooth and dark violet in color. It is crisp in
texture and easy to break. The broken section is connected by
silver-white, elastic, fine glue silks. lt is faint in smell,
slightly bitter in taste, and gives a sensation of colloid, when
chewed (See Fig. 16). DIFFERENTIATION
1. Trachelospermum axillare Hk.f. The dried barks of the stem
and root of Trachelospermum axillare Hk.f. of the oleander family,
are
more or less similar to that of eucommia. They are mostly rolled
up, longer or shorter (some are irregular flakes), and 2-5 mm
thick. The outer surface is greyish-brown in colour or with
greyish-yellow stripes, it has markedly projecting transverse or
round lenticels and transverse crackles. The inner surface is
greyish- brown or whitish-vellow in colour and has transverse
fine crackles too. It is hard and crisp in texture.
The section is granular. When broken, there appear fewer white
silks which have no elasticity and are very
easy
-
to break. It is faint in odour and slightly bitter in taste. 2.
Euonymus bungeanus Maxim.
It is dried bark of winterberry euonymus, winged euonymus
family. The outer surface is grey or greyish-brown in colour, while
the inner surface is pale yellow. The white gluesilks at the broken
section are sparse and crisp, which begin to break when pulled to 2
mm long. It is faint in odour and slightly sweet in taste.
3. Euonymus yunnancnsis Franch. It is the dried bark of yunnan
winged euonymus, winge euonymus family. Its outer surface is orange
yellow or yellowish-brown in colour, while the inner surface is
light yellow. At the broken section there are white, elastic silks.
The taste is bitter.
4. Euonymus vagans Wall. lt is the dried bark of Euonymus vagans
Wall, the winged euonymus family. The outer surface is grey, and
has markedly transverse wrinkles. It is crisp in texture, and easy
to break. Elastic white silks are usually noticed at the newly
broken sections. There are too many counterfeits to list here. They
are generally differentiated from the genuine in the following
aspects: surface color, glue-silks (number and elasticity), shapes
of lenticels, odor, taste, etc. PREPARATION
Dried Eucommia Bark Clean the crude bark, cut it into pieces or
strips and dry them.
Salted Eucommia Bark Pieces or strips of dried eucommia bark are
moistened with salt-water and stir-roasted until they become black
and the silks break. NATURE, TASTE AND CHANNEL TROPISM
lt is sweet in taste and warm in nature. Its therapeutic action
is related to the channels of the liver and kidney. ACTIONS AND
INDICATIONS
1. Nourishing the liver and kidney and strengthening the bones
and muscles. It is efficacious in the treatment of deficiency of
the liver-yin and kidney-yin manifestad as soreness and weakness of
the loins and knees; deficiency and coldness in the liver and
kidney marked by impotence, frequent micturition, etc.
2. Miscarriage prevention. lt is efficacious in nourishing the
kidney and preventing abortion, usually prescribed in the treatment
of threatened abortion and habitual abortion.
3. Calming and suppressing liver-yang. lt is efficacious in the
treatment of dizziness and vertigo due to hyperactivity of
liver-yang. ADMINISTRATION AND DOSAGE
Be decocted for oral use, 6-9 grams daily. CAUTION
Eucommia bark is a drug, warm and recuperative in nature.
Special care should be taken in prescribing it for patients with
excessive fire due to deficiency of yin.
Lingzhi Lucid Ganoderma
Ganoderma Lucidum OTHER CHINESE NAME
Ling zhi cao ORIGIN
-
Lucid ganoderma is the whole plant of Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss.
ex Fr.) Karst. or Ganoderma japonicum (Fr.) Lloyd., Polyporaceae.
DISTRIBUTION
Red lucid ganoderma is produced in East China, Southwest China,
Hebei, Shanxi, Jiangxi, Guangxi and Guangdong provinces. Violet
lucid ganoderma is produced in Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangxi,
Fujian and Guangdong provinces. CHARACTERISTICS
Red lucid ganoderma Consisting of a pileus and a stipe, it can
grow as high and wide as 12-20 cm. The shape of the pileus is
semicircular or kidney-like. lt is corky, having a hard, glossy,
reddish-brown outer layer shell with ring-like arrises and radial
wrinkles. The edge is thin and slightly rolled inward. The pileus
surface of the reverse side (the side facing carth) is white and
pale brown, consisting of numerous tubules within which spores
exist. The stipe, reddish-brown in color, grows laterally and is
about 4 cm in diameter (See Fig.17). Violet lucid ganoderma
Its shape is similar to that of red lucid ganoderma, but skin of
pileus and stine is violetish-black or black in color, the pileus
surface of the reverse side is rust-brown (See Fig. 17).
PREPARATION Wash lucid ganoderma before cutting it into thick
slices. Get the slices dried. NATURE, TASTE AND CHANNEL TROPISM
It is sweet in taste and neutral in nature and acts on the
channels of the kidney, lung, liver, heart and spleen. ACTIONS AND
INDICATIONS
l. Tonifying the lung and kidney. It is prescribed for patients
with symptoms caused by deficiency of both the lung and kidney,
including
cough and asthma which become worse on exertion, shortness of
breath and fatigue. 2. Tonifying the liver and kidney.
It is usually used in the treatment of symptoms caused by
deficiency in both the liver and kidney, such as tinnitus, deafness
and lassitude of the loins and knees.
3. Tranquilizing the mind by nourishing the heart. It is used in
the treatment of patients with palpitation, insomnia and amnesia
due to insufficiency of the heart-qi and deficiency of the
heart-blood.
4. Strengthening the spleen and stomach to improve digestion.
ADMINISTRATION AND DOSAGE Be decocted in water for oral use, 3-10
grams daily. It can also be made into forms of tincture or powder
for internal use. CAUTION
lt is contraindicated in patients with exopathic diseases at
their onset.
Heshouwu Fleece-flower Root
Radix Polygoni Multiflori OTHER CI-IINESE NAMES
Shou wu, Sheng shou wu and Zhi shou wu ORIGIN
It is the dried tuberous root of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.,
Polygonaceae. DISTRIBUTION
It is mainly produced in Henan, Hubei, Guizhou, Sichuan, Jiangsu
provinces and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. CHARACTERISTICS
-
Fleece-flower root varies in size and is in shape of a mass or
an irregular spindle. Its surface looks reddish-brown or deep
reddish-brown with uneven shrunk creases and shallow ruts as well
as long, horizontal lenticels and traces of fine roots. It is heavy
proportionally, firm and not easy to be broken. The section is
light yellowish-brown or light reddish-brown in colour and looks
powdery. At the cortex there are 4-11 ring-like allotype vascular
bundles, forming decorative patterns of cloudy floss. Seeing from
the section, the central part is comparatively large and sometimes
looks wooden. The root smells faintly and tastes a little bitter
with some sweet and puckery flavour (See Fig. 18). DIFFERENTIATION
1. Dried tuberous root of Pteroxygonum giraldii Damm. et Diels.,
Polygonaceae
Also called Hong yao zi and Qiao mai qi, it is different in size
and looks brown from the surface. It is usually in form of thick
slice, about 10 cm in diameter and 1.5 cm in thickness. The section
of the fresh tuberous root looks whitish; it looks pink after it
has been dried. lt presents no decorative patterns of cloudy floss.
lt has no smell but tastes bitter and extremely puckery. 2. Dried
tuberous root of Polygonum cillinerve (Nakai) Ohwi.,
Polygonaceae.
Also called Xue san qi, Zhu sha lian and Huang yao zi, it is
hard in texture and elliptical in shape with brown epidermis. The
cross section is uneven and in colour of loess, and sometimes shows
indistinct pattern of clouds and yellow fibrous veins. It smells
slightly fragrant and tastes slightly bitter. PREPARATION
l. Fleece-flower root. It is in form of thick slices for
decoction, prepared through processes of cleaning, slicing and
drying.
2. Processed flecce-flower root. It refers to slices of
fleece-flower root mixed with black soyabean (Glyoine mas,
Leguminosae)
decoction and steamed. NATURE, TASTE AND CHANNEL TROPISM Bitter,
sweet and puckery in taste, warm in nature, it is therapeutically
related to the channels of the liver, heart and kidney. ACTIONS AND
INDICATIONS 1. Fleece-flower root is efficacious in the treatment
of toxicosis, inflammation and constipation. It is mainly used in
the treatment of abscess, scrofula, sores and carbuncle, rubella,
constipation and hyperlipemia.
2. Processed fleece-flower root has the function of invigorating
the liver and kidney, replenishing vital essence and blood,
nourishing the hair and strengthening the bones and muscles. lt is
usually used to treat such conditions as deficiency of blood with
pale complexion, dizziness and tinnitus, early whitening of beard
and hair, weakness in loins and knees, numbness of the extremities,
metrorrhagia and metrostaxis, excess leukorrhea, weakness due to
lingering malaria, and hyperlipemia. Frequent administration of the
drug alone can cure dyszoospermia. ADMINISTRATION AND DOSAGE
To be decocted for oral use, 10-30 grams daily. CAUTION
The drug is not suitable for patients with loose stools or with
much damp-phlegm.
Yanhusuo CORYDALIS TUBE
Rhizoma Corydalis
OTHER CHINESE NAMES Xuan hu, Yuan hu and Cu yuan hu
ORIGIN It is the dried tuber of Corydalis turtschaninovii Bess.
yanhusuo Y.H. Chou et C.C. Hsu,
Papaveraceae.
-
DISTRIBUTION lt is mainly produced in Zhejiang Province and also
seen in Hebei and Shandong provinces and the
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. CHARACTERISTICS
Corydalis tuber is in a shape of an irregular oblate spheroid
with a diameter of 0.5-1.5 cm. lts surface is yellow or
yellowish-brown with irregular reticulate wrinkles. There are stalk
marks somewhat sunk on its top and swells can be seen at its
bottom. lt is hard and crisp in texture. The cross section is
yellow and cutin-like with waxen luster. The tuber has a faint
smell and a bitter taste (See Fig. 19). PREPARATION
Corydalis tuber: It is cleaned and cut into thick slices, then
dried or pounded into pieces. Vinegared corydalis tuber: The
selected and cleaned corydalis tubers are moistened and steamed
with
vinegar, and then thickly sliced and dried or pounded into
pieces. NATURE, TASTE AND CHANNEL TROPISM
Acrid and bitter in taste and warm in nature, it is
therapeutically related to the channels of the liver, spleen and
heart. ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS
Having the efficacies of promoting blood circulation to remove
blood stasis and promoting circulation of qi to relieve pain, the
drug is prescribed for alleviation of pain in the gastric cavity,
abdomen and hypochondrium due to stagnation of blood and qi,
dysmenorrhea due to blood stasis, mass in the abdomen, and
abdominal pain due to blood stasis after delivery. It can also be
used for hernial pain, general pain (pain all over) due to
stagnation of blood and qi, and traumatic injury. Corydalis tuber
is specialized in promoting circulation of blood. The raw drug is
mainly used for chest pain caused by stagnation of the heart blood,
amenorrhea due to blood stasis, pain and tenderness in the lower
abdomen, etc. Vinegared corydalis tuber is liable to release its
active principles when decocted and is able to guide the drug into
the liver, strengthening its effectiveness in alleviating pain. So
it is often used for hypochondriac pain due to stagnation of the
liver-qi, stomachache due to stagnation of the stornach-qi, hernial
pain, etc. ADMINISTRATION AND DOSAGE
To be decocted for oral use, 3-9 grams daily; l.5-3 grams each
time when the powder is taken orally. CAUTION:
Corydalis tuber is not suitable for patients with pain of
deficiency type and with no stagnation; or patients with bleeding
due to blood-heat and with preceded menstrual cycle.
Jinyinhua
HONEYSUCKLE FLOWER Flos Lonicerae
OTHER CHINESE NAMES
Ren dong hua, Shuang hua and Er hua ORIGIN
Medicinal honeysuckle flower refers to the dried flowerbuds or
newly blossoming flowers of Lonicera japonica Thunb., Lonicera
hypoglauca Miq., Lonicera confusa DC. and Lonicera dasystyla Rehd.,
Caprifolia ceae. DISTRIBUTION
It is mainly produced in Shandong and Henan, provinces.
CHARACTERISTICS
Lonicera japonica Thunb. The flower is long, club-shaped and
slightly crooked, usually 2-3 cm in length. The upper part is
thicker
(about 3 mm in diameter) and the lower part thinner (about
1.5mm). Its surface is yellow or yellowish-
-
brown in colour, and covered with short naps. At the base of
each flower, there is a small green calyx, which has five lobes at
the upper part. The lobe is triangular in shape and has villi,
about 2 mm long. The corolla of the blooming flower is tubular in
shape, labiatiflorous at the upper part. There are five yellow
stamina attached to the wall and only one pistil, with its ovary
having no villi. It is delicately fragrant in smell, weak and
slightly bitter in taste (See Fig. 20).
Lonicera hypoglauca Miq. lt is 2.5-4.5 cm in length, and 0.8-2
mm in diameter. Its surface is yellowish-white or yellowish-brown
in colour, with no or with sparse naps. The calyx, covered with no
naps in the middle and lower part, has
five lobes in the upper part, and each lobe is long and
triangular in shape and covered with naps. The lower labia of the
corolla in a blooming flower is reversed. Its style has no villi.
Lonicera confusa DC. It is 1.6-3.5 cm in length and 0.5-2 mm in
diameter. The middle part of the calyx and the corolla are densely
covered with greyish-white naps. The ovary has naps too. Lonicera
dasystyla Rehd.
It is 2.5-4 cm in length and 1-2.5 mm in diameter. Its surface
is light yellow and slightly purplish and covered with no naps. The
lobe of the calyx is short and triangular in shape. The upper labia
of the corolla in a blooming flower is irregular, the lower half of
the style is densely covered with longer villi. PREPARATION
Honeysuckle flower Clean and dry.
NATURE, TASTE AND CHANNEL TROPISM It is sweet in taste and cold
in nature. lts therapeutic action is related to the channels of the
lung, heart
and stomach. ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS
1. Removing heat and toxic substance. It is prescribes for the
paitents with wind-heat syndrome due to affection by exopathogens,
with incipient epidemic febrile diseases, manifested as fever and
slight adversion to wind-cold. It has the action of removing heat
and toxic substances and is efficacious in expelling wind-heat, and
usually applied in the treatment of boils, carbuncles and sore
throat.
2. Removing heat from the blood and arresting dysentery. It is
used for dysentery due to toxic heat, and loose stool with pus and
blood.
Frequent administration of its decoction is effective in
removing toxic substance, removing heat from the blood and
arresting dysentery. ADMINISTRATION AND DOSAGE
6-15 grams are decocted, take the decoction daily. Proper amount
is applied for external use. CAUTION Larger dosage is usually
prescribed for the treatment of boils due to toxic heat. Smaller
dosage is prescribed for the treatment of fever due to epidemic
febrile diseases.
Houpo MAGNOLIA BARK
Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis OTHER CHINESE NAMES
Chuan po, Zhi chuan po and Jiang hou po ORIGIN
Medicinal magnolia bark is the dried stalk bark, root bark and
branch bark of Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils or Magnolia
officinalis Rehd. et Wils. var. biloba Rehd. et Wils.,
Magnoliaceae.
DISTRIBUTION
-
It is mainly produced in Zhejiang, Sichuan, Hubei, Shaanxi,
Jiangxi provinces and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
CHARACTERISTICS Dried stalk bark
lt is simply called " Tong po" (tube magnolia bark) for it is
usually in form of a tube or a double-tube object that is 30-35 cm
long and 0.2-0.7 cm thick. The stalk bark which is near the root
has a popular name "Xue tong po" (boot magnolia bark) because it
looks like a loudspeaker, the thicker end being 13-25 cm long and
0.3-0.8 cm thick. The surface of the bark is greyish-brown or dark
greyish-brown. lt looks rough, with marked elliptical lenticels and
longitudinal wrinkles and, in some, with scales which are easy to
be taken off. The inner surface under the rough skin is
yellowish-brown. The reverse side of the stalk bark is
purplish-brown or dark purplish-brown and smooth, with fine, dense
longitudinal wrinkles and oil marks when scratched. The bark is
firm in texture and not easy to be broken. The cross section looks
granular and oily, the outer layer looking greyish-brown and the
inner, purplish-brown or brown and, in some, bright oily specks can
be seen. It smells fragrant and tastes acrid, hot and a bit bitter
(See Fig. 21).
Dried root bark (gen po) It is in shape of a single tube or in
irregular pieces, some are curved. It is hard in texture and
relatively
easy to break down. The cross section looks fibrous. Dried
branch bark (zhi po)
It is tube-shaped, 10-20 cm long and 0.1-0.2 cm thick, crisp and
easy to be broken. The cross section looks fibrous.
DIFFERENTIATION
The main counterfeit of magnolia bark is commolnly called "Da
pao tong", which is the dried trunk bark of Schefflera hypoleuce
(Kurz) Hams., Araliaceae. lt is tube-shaped, about 70 cm long and
0. 4 cm thick. The surface looks greyish-brown, with longitudinal
wrinkles and greyish-white corks and brown, dotted lenticels which
are 1 mm or leas in diameter. The surface of the reverse side is
brownish-black and smooth, with fine longitudinal grains, but not
oily at all when scratched. "Da pao tong" is hard in texture and
not easy to be broken. The cross section looks fibrous with a range
of white dotted fibrovascular bundles in the middle, It tastes a
little bitter, and acrid when prepared with ginger juice.
PREPARATION
Magnolia bark: Clean the crude bark, cut it into slices and
pieces, and dry them. Ginger-cauterized magnolia bark: Magnolia
bark strips are moistened with ginger juice and cauterized.
NATURE, TASTE AND CHANNEL TROPISM The medicine is bitter and
acrid in taste and warm in nature. lts therapeutic action is
related to the channels of the spleen, stomach, lung and large
intestine. ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS
With the efficacies of promoting circulation of qi, removing
dampness, eliminating food stagnancy and relieving asthma, magnolia
bark is administered for incoordination between the spleen and
stomach manifested as fullness in the epigastrium and abdomen
caused by retention of dampness, food, stagnancy and stagnation of
qi. As an important drug in relieving fullness or distention, it is
stressed in treatment of distention of excess type and symptoms
such as cough, dyspnea and abundant expectoration.
Ginger-cauterized magnolia bark can eliminate irritation to the
throat and can strengthen the effectiveness in relief of epigastric
distention and regulation of the stomach. ADMINISTRATION AND DOSAGE
To be decocted for oral use, 3-10 grams daily. CAUTION
Magnolia bark tends to be warm and dry in nature and has
stronger efficacy in promoting the circulation of qi. It should be
used carefully in patients with interior heat and loss of body
fluid and with deficiency of the spleen-qi and stomach-qi.
Sharen
-
AMOMUM FRUIT Fructus Amomi
OTHER CHINESE NAMES
Suo sha ren Yang chun sha and Chun sha ren ORIGIN
Medicinal amomum fruit is the dried ripe fruit of Amomum
villosun Lour. or Amomum longiligulare T.L. Wu, Zingiberaceae.
DISTRIBUTION It is mainly produced in Guandong and Hainan
provinces. A small quantity is produced in Guangxi Zhuang
Autonomous Region. CHARACTERISTICS
Fruit of Amomum villosum Lour.: It takes the shape of an ellipse
or an ovum, l.5-2 cm in length and 1-1.5 cm in diameter, with
three
inconspicuous ridges. The surface of the fruit is brown, with
closely rooted thorn-like projections on its body. There are
remains of perianth on its top, and often a fruit stem on the base
end. The peel of the fruit is thin and soft. The seeds muster into
a mass with three blunt ridges, and white diaphrams separate the
mass into three cavities, in each of which there are 6-15 seeds.
The seed is in the shape of an irregular polyhedron with a diameter
of 2-3 mm; its surface, coated with membranous arils, is
brownish-red or dark brown with fine wrinkles. The seed is firm in
texture and the endosperm is greyish-white. The fruit has a strong
aromatic flavour and a pungent, cool and slightly bitter taste (See
Fig. 22).
Fruit of Amomum longiligulare. L. Wu.: lt is in the shape of a
long ellipse or an ovum, l.5-2 cm in length and 0.8-1.2 cm in
diameter with three
apparent arrises.