Xia Ku Cao (Selfheal Spike, Prunella)
Submitted by yyh_staff on Mon, 2008-06-09 14:16.
Chinese Name:
Xia Ku CaoEnglish Name:
Selfheal Spike, PrunellaFunctions and Usage:
- Clears liver and brightens the eyes - ascending liver fire with red, painful, swollen eyes, headache, dizziness (stronger than Mi Meng Hua, Jue Ming Zi, Qing Xiang Zi in clearing heat).
- Clears heat and dissipates nodules - neck lumps, scrofula, lipoma, goiter, swollen glands due to phlegm fire.
- Hypertension accompanied by liver fire or yang rising.
Functional Groupings (Click for Summary/Study Notes):
Dosage and Preparation Notes:
- Dosage: 9-15g
- When used alone, up to 30g
Channels Influenced:
Temperature and Taste Properties:
Contraindications:
- Avoid in patients with stomach or spleen deficiency.
Notes:
- Compare with Zhi Zi, Long Dan Cao, Chuan Lian Zi for clearing liver heat.
- Compare with Mi Meng Hua, Jue Ming Zi, Xiao Ku Cao, Man Jing Zi, Shi Jue Ming - they all reduce liver fire, expel wind-heat from the head especially from the eyes, and descend liver yang.
Bookmark/Search this post with:
Delicious
Digg
StumbleUpon
Google
TechnoratiTCM Herbal Sources and More Information
The information on our site is drawn from our own lecture notes and clinical experience. The following lecture notes were used within this section:
- Jin, Yan Ping: New England School of Acupuncture, CHM Pharmacopoeia I and II, Formulas I and II Lecture Notes
For a complete list of valuable resources, see our Herbal Medicine Resources section. The most recommended texts are below:
Related Content
