Clove (ding xiang)

Flos Caryophylli

Properties: The herb is pungent in flavour, and warm in nature. It acts on the spleen, stomach and Kinney channels. Being pungent and warm for dispersing cold, sinking the flow, and for warming the middle Jiao and dispersing cold from thd, spleen and stomach, it is an important herb for lowing rebellious stomach¡ªQi to arrest hiccup and vomiting. Moving downward to the kidney, the herb can also warm and support kidney-yang.

Effect: Warming the middle-jiao, lowering the adverse rising, warming the kidney and supporting Yang.

Indication: 

1.  The herb is often used in combination with fresh ginger, kakicalyx and dangshen for warming the middle-jiao, restoring Qi, lowering adverse rising and arresting hiccup, such as Dingxiang Shidi Decoction, to treat cold of insufficiency type in the middle-jiao, vomiting and hiccup; and with pinellia tuber for warming in the middle-jiao, lowering adverse rising and arresting vomiting, to treat vomiting due to cold in the stomach.

2. To treat of insufficiency type in the lower-jiao, deficiency of the kidney and impotence, the herb can be used in combination with morinda root, epimedium, Chinese cassia bark and other herbs for warming the kidney and strengthening Yang.

Dosage and Administration: 2-5g.  

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