INDIVIDUAL HERBS
Pharmaceutical Latin: | Rhizoma Arisaematis Preparatum |
Common English: | Prepared Arisaema Rhizome Jack-in-the-Pulpit Prepared Dragon Arum Corm Arisaema Tuber |
Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
Bitter Acrid |
Warm Toxic |
Liver Lung Spleen |
3-10g Tincture: 1-3ml |
Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Dries Dampness and expels Phlegm |
Stubborn (extremely sticky) Phlegm in the Lungs with cough and a distended sensation in the chest |
Disperses Wind-Phlegm in the channels and stops spasms |
Wind-Phlegm Obstructing the Channels with dizziness, vertigo, numbness in the limbs, facial paralysis, spasms or trembling in the hands and feet, opisthotonis, stroke, seizures or lockjaw |
Reduces swelling and alleviates pain |
Topically for Chuang Yung (deep rooted sores, ulcers and carbuncles. Swelling due to traumatic injury and joint pain secondary to Phlegm Topically for cervical cancer |
CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
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Phlegm-Dampness Obstruction that will not dissipate, with fainting from Wind-stroke, coughing with copious sputum, a cold upper back, a stifling sensation in the chest and a thick, gummy nasal discharge. |
Cough due to Lung Heat with yellow, viscous Phlegm. |
Wind-Phlegm causing dizziness, vertigo, muscle spasms, and seizures, may have: focal distention of the chest, vomiting, anorexia, and hypersomnia. |
Cornu Saigae Tataricae |
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Wind-Phlegm obstructing the channels causing facial paralysis, headache, painful obstruction, and muscular tetany. |
Muscular tetany with lockjaw and opisthotonis. |
Phlegm-Heat leading to closed-type stroke. |
Rz. Acori Tatarinowii |
Rz. Atractylodis |
Rx. Saposhnikoviae |
Phlegm turbidity deranging the orifices of the head and veiling them leading to seizures and convulsions. |
Wind-Damp painful obstruction. |
Muscular tetany. Powdered topically for wounds. |
Borneolum |
Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum |
Rz. Acori Tatarinowii |
Wakens the brain, expels Wind, and opens what is closed applied externally as a powder, rubbed on the gums for Wind-Stroke with clenched jaw. Internally to treat closed-type strokes. |
Numbness of the hands and feet, hemiplegia, or deviation of the eyes and mouth caused by Phlegm Obstruction. |
Epilepsy. |
Rz. Zingiberis |
Rz. Zingiberis Recens |
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Topically for joint pain. |
Crush into a paste and apply topically for facial paralysis. |
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- This herb is extremely drying in nature.
- The action of this herb is said to be violent.
- It is used for asthma with a tight, full feeling in the chest.
- Raw, this herb Sheng Nan Xing is very toxic and is used topically primarily, for Yin abscesses, trauma-induced swelling and pain and swelling of the joints.
- Apply topically as a powder mixed with vinegar for Phlegm nodules.
- A large dose orally or applied topically as a suppository can treat uterine or cervical cancer.
- Internally it appears in decoctions with fresh ginger which greatly reduces its toxicity.
- If numbness of the tongue is experienced after ingestion, use granulated sugar as an antidote.
- It inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
- It is said to cure abdominal masses, enteritis, convulsive diseases, facial distortion, dizziness, temporal mandibular joint pain, tetanus, laryngitis, stomatitis, glossitis and tuberculosis.
- One source says that this herb eliminates Stasis, reduces swelling, eases the chest and disperses Blood to induce abortion.
- Rz. Arisaematis Preparata Zhi Nan Xing is less toxic and is effective in dispersing Wind and clearing the channels in Wind-Stroke (generally this is the form given at the pharmacy).
- Be sure to remove the outer skin as it is extremely toxic.
- Side effects include: irritation of the oral cavity - in extreme cases, necrosis, dry scratchy throat, edema and numbness of the tongue and lips, increased salivation and voice problems.
- When this herb is powdered and mixed with cows bile, it is called Pulvis Arisaemae cum Felle Bovis Dan Nan Xing. it is bitter and cool and no longer toxic. It is moistening and does not have the strong tendency of Tian Nan Xing to dry and damage the Yin. It is less acrid and more bitter and clears and transforms Phlegm-Heat, extinguishes Wind, and stops tremors. It is used for tremors, seizures, or stroke due to Phlegm-Heat and is often used in pediatrics, usually with Calculus Bovis Niu Huang, Rz. Coptidis Huang Lian, Rz. Gastrodiae Tian Ma and Scorpio Quan Xie. The dosage is 3-6g, Tincture: 0.5-2ml. The longer this is stored, the better the quality.
- There is skin itchiness on contact with this herb. Toxicity may be reduced by boiling with alum.
- This herb is used when Phlegm-Dampness congests the body and disturbs the nerves and joints.
- This herb enters the Liver channel and has the special ability to move within the channels and collaterals.
- Both Zhi Tian Nan Xing and Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum Zhi Ban Xia dry Dampness, transform Phlegm and treat Phlegm-Dampness in the Spleen and Stomach. Zhi Ban Xia specifically treats Spleen and Stomach Phlegm-Dampness, alleviates nausea and reduces focal distention. It is acrid but conserving. Zhi Tian Nan Xing has a far more dispersing action, mainly enters the Liver channel and excels at treating Wind-Phlegm in the channels and collaterals, dispersing Blood and reducing swelling. It is acrid but not conserving and is acutely drying. In combination, Zhi Ban Xia should be the primary herb if Phlegm-Dampness is the target and Zhi Tian Nan Xing should be the main herb if Wind-Phlegm is the target.
- Raw Arisaema Sheng Tian Nan Xing should not be taken internally. Externally it is used for swollen abscesses and sores, insect and snake bites.