Arnebia (or Lithosperm) Root (zi cao)

Radix Arnebiae seu Lithospermi

Properties: Sweet and salty in flavour, cold in nature, it acts on the heart and liver channels. The herb is mainly effective in the heart, liver and blood. Its sweet and cold properties clear away heat and moisturize dryness. The effects of the herb include removing blood-heat, promoting blood circulation, detoxicating tacilitating eruption and loosening the bowel. It is indicated for the syndromes of maculus and eruption, measles with subcutaneous dark purple rashes, swollen throat, suppurative infections on body surface, particularly for the patients who are complicated by constipation.

Effects: Removing heat from the blood, promoting blood circulation, detoxicating and facilitating eruption.

Indications:

1. For heat toxin dormant in the body, dark purple subcutaneous rash, it is used in combination with red peony root and cicada slough, and the drugs for removing heat from blood and removing ecchymoses. If the erupting of skin rash is hindered manifested as the rashes showing dark purple colour, it is used in combination with the drugs for promoting eruption, such as arctium fruit and forsythia fruit, known as Zicao Xiaodu Yin (Detoxicant Cold Decoction of Arnebia).

2. For suppurative infections on body surface or scald and burns, it is applied externally with this single herb prepared as oleo-infusion, or used in combination with other drugs for detoxicating and removing heat from the blood.

Dosage and Administration: 3-10g, quantum satis when applied externally.

Precautions: It is contraindicated for the patients with loose stool due to insufficiency of the spleen. 

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