Mux-Vomica Seed
(ma qian zi)
Semen
Strychni
Properties:
Bitter in flavour, cold in nature, it is toxic
and tropistic to the liver and spleen channels.
Being strongly toxic, it is rather effective in
counteracting toxic substances, resolving mass
or swelling and clearing channels to relieve
pain.
Effects:
Counteracting toxic substances, and clearing
channels to relieve pain.
Indications:
1. For scrofula or
boil, it is often used with herbs for subduing
swelling and relieving pain, such as Radix
Angelicae Sinensis, Resina Olibani, Moschus,
etc. ; for injury, blood stasis, pain and
swelling, it is used with drugs for removing
blood stasis and relieving pain, such as Flos
Carthami Resina Olibani, Myrrha, Moschus, etc.
2. For obstinate
arthralgia of wind-dampness type and arthrodynia
numbness and paralysis, it is often used with
herbs for clearing obstruction in channels to
relieve pain, such as Radix Aconiti, Scorpio,
Agkistrodon acutus, etc.
In recent years, it
has been used in combination with drugs for
detoxicating and resolving mass, such as
Realgar, Squama Manitis, Scorpio, Bombyx
Batryticatus, etc. to treat various kinds of
cancer and showed certain effects.
Dosage and Administration:
0.3-0.6 for oral
dose, used in pills or powder after being
processed; proper amount for external use.
Precautions:
This herb is strong in toxicity, so when taken
orally, its dosage should be controlled
strictly, and is prohibited in pregnancy.
