Nutgrass
Flatsedge Rhizome (xiang
fu)
Rhizoma
Cyperi
Properties:
The herb is pungent, sweet and slightly bitter in flavour,
and neutral in nature. It acts on the liver channel. Being
pungent for dispersing, bitter for purging, sweet for mild
action, and mainly acting on the liver channel to promote
Qi circulation, the herb can sooth the liver and regulate
the liver-Qi. Blood circulation follows Qi circulation,
and the coordination between Qi and blood can make
menstruation self-regulated. Therefore, it is an important
herb for soothing the liver and regulating menstruation.
Effects:
Soothing the liver, promoting circulation of Qi,
regulating menstruation and alleviating pain.
Indications:
1. The herb is
often used in combination with bupleurum root, nearly
mature bitter orange and other herbs for soothing the
liver and regulating the flow of Qi, such as Chaihu Shugan
Powder, to treat distention, fullness and pain in the
chest and hypochondrium caused by stagnation of the liver-Qi;
and with Chinese angelica root, chuanxiong rhizome,
bupleurum root and other herbs for promoting Qi and blood
circulation, regulating menstruation and alleviating pain,
to treat stagnation of the liver-Qi, irregular
menstruation and dysmenorrhea.
2. The herb is
often used in combination with evodia fruit, common fennel
fruit, lindera root and other herbs for promoting Qi
circulation, dispersing cold and alleviating pain, to
treat accumulation of cold in liver channel,
gastro-intestinal colic due to invasion of cold and
abdominal pain; and with galangal rhizome for warming the
middle jiao, dispersing cold, promoting Qi circulation and
alleviating pain, such as Liangfu Pill, to treat Qi
stagnation due to cold and distending pain of the stomach.
Dosage and
Administration:
6-10g.
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