Trichosanthes
Root (tian hua fen)
Radix
Trichosanthis
Properties:
Sweet and slightly bitter in flavour, slightly cold in
nature, it acts on the lung and stomach channels. The
slightly cold property of the herb can clear heat, and the
moist quality promotes the production of body fluid and
clears away the heat in lung
and stomach, thus nourishing Yin and moisturizing dryness.
It is used to treat the syndromes of
impairment of the body fluid, vexation, thirst, dryness of
lung and dry cough. It is also used to subdue swellings, drain
pus and to treat skin and external diseases including
carbuncles, furuncles and abscesses.
Effects:
Clearing away heat, promoting the production of body
fluid, subduing swellings and draining pus.
Indications:
1. For treating
the impairment of the production of body fluid, dry cough,
short of sputum, red tongue, lack of tongue fur,
hemoptysis, it is used in combination with ophiopogon
root, rehmannia root to clear away heat in lung,
moisturize dryness and quench cough.
2. For treating
the impairment of the production body fluid due to febrile
diseases, vexation, thirst, red tongue and dry throat, it
is used in combination with ophiopogon root, gypsum to
nourish Yin, clear away heat and relieve restlessness and
cough.. For deficiency of Yin, internal heat, diabetes,
use in combination with pueraria root, Chinese yam to
nourish Yin, promote the production of
body fluid and quench thirst, known as Yu Ye Tang
(Decoction of Jade Liquor).
3. For treating
various skin and external carbuncles and abscesses,
pyogenic infections (whether diabrotic or not), it is used
in combination with other drugs such as dahurian angelica
root, honeysuckle flower, liquorice, etc. for
clearing away heat, detoxicating, subduing swellings.
Dosage and
Administration: 10-15g.
Precautions:
It is incompatible with aconite root and should not be
used for pregnant women.
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