Morning
Glory Seed (qian niu zi)
Semen
Pharbitidis
Properties:
Pungent and bitter in flavour, cold in nature, being
poisonous, it acts on lung, kidney and large intestine
channels. Bitter and cold for lowering, sweet for
dispersing, the herb is suitable for regulating the Qi or
vital function, promoting defecation and urination. Its
purgative action and toxicity are milder than those of
kansui root and knoxia root. Small dosage of the drug can
lower the Qi flow, relieve constipation and eliminate
water retention; but large dosage induces serious
diarrhea. It is only suitable for syndrome of excess type
with edema, and accumulation of phlegm.
Effects:
Removing water retention, subduing swelling and mass, and
being parasiticidal.
Indications:
1. For edema and abdominal distention,
difficulty in urination and defecation with normal genuine
Qi, the herb may be used alone in form of powder by oral
administration, or combined with gansui root knoxia root
to inhance the purgative action.
2. For stagnation in stomach and
intestine, constipation due to accumulation of heat, the
herb powder is used alone with ginger juice for oral use,
or combined with peach kernel and trichosanthes fruit (Fructus
Trichosanthis) for moistening bowels to relieve
constipation.
3. For abdominal pain caused by
ascariasis, it is often used together with areca seed
(Semen Arecae). It is also used to treat cestodiasis.
Dosage and Administration: 3-10g,
it is cracked and decocted in water; 1.5-3g in powder. The
action is mild if the herb is stir-baked but stronger when
it is used unprepared.
Precautions: It
should not be used for pregnant women.
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