INDIVIDUAL HERBS
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Semen Sinapis |
| Common English: | White Mustard Seed Brassica Seed |
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
Acrid |
Warm |
Lung (Stomach) |
3-15g Do not decoct for a long time |
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Warms the Lungs, regulates Qi and expels Phlegm |
Accumulation of Cold-Phlegm with cough and asthma with copious thin sputum, chest distention, tightness and pain and rib pain especially in chronic disorders |
Promotes Qi movement, dissipates nodules, unblocks the collaterals and alleviates pain |
Phlegm-Dampness Accumulating in the Channels with numbness in the limbs Yin flat abscess, tuberculosis of the bones Spreading sores Phlegm nodules (scrofula) |
CONTRAINDICATIONS |
|
INCOMPATIBILITIES |
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Rx. Kansui |
Cx. Cinnamomi |
|
Cough with copious, clear, bubbly sputum, and pain, fullness, and distention of the chest due to water accumulation in the chest and diaphragm or Cold-Phlegm Obstructs the chest and flanks. |
Phlegm above and below the diaphragm with sudden excruciating pain in the thorax, neck and lower back, with cough, wheezing, a greasy tongue coat and a wiry, slippery pulse. |
Joint pain and Yin-type deep-rooted boils due to Phlegm-Dampness Obstructing the channels. |
Sm. Raphani |
Cornu Cervi Degelatinatum Lu Jiao Jiao Cx. Cinnamomi Rou Gui Rz. Zingiberis Preparatum Pao Jiang Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata Shu Di Huang |
|
Phlegm obstructing the channels and collaterals with numbness and pain in the shoulders and upper arms and/or back pain and stiffness. |
Restores the smooth flow of Qi and reduces Phlegm to treat coughing and wheezing especially when the chest and diaphragm feel full of Phlegm, particularly Cold-Phlegm and when the descent of Lung Qi is impaired. |
Yin sores. |
- Some sources say that this herb reduces swelling, warms the Middle and disperses Cold.
- This herb is excellent at reaching Phlegm in the sub costal region and between the skin and membranes that cannot be reached otherwise.
- It disperses clumps of Cold-Phlegm causing pain in the joints or Yin flat abscesses and can reach the Interior to relieve pain in the epigastric and abdominal regions.
- One source says that this herb is good for Phlegm Blocking the Heart Orifices.
- Both Bai Jie Zi and Sm. Raphani Lai Fu Zi excel at reducing Phlegm to treat cough and wheezing. Lai Fu Zi is gentle and neutral, acts within the organs, regulates Lung, Spleen and Large Intestine Qi to dispel fullness and eliminate Food Stagnation. It can be used for Hot or Colon disorders. Bai Jie Zi is warm, extremely ding and act promotes Qi at the level of the channels and collaterals to dispel Phlegm between the skin and the membranes. It should only be used to treat Cold-Phlegm because of its warm nature.
- Both Bai Jie Zi and Fr. Perillae Zi Su Zi treat cough and dyspnea form Cold-Phlegm. Zi Su Zi is best at descending rebellious Qi, settling wheezing and, dispersing Phlegm and treats the cough and acute wheezing due to Cold-Phlegm. Bai Jie Zi has an intensely drying nature, mobilizes the channels and collaterals and is best at promoting the flow of Qi and drying Phlegm.
- Both Bai Jie Zi and Arisaema cum Bile Dan Nan Xing mobilize the channels to eliminate Phlegm. Bai Jie Zi promotes the flow of Qi and eliminates joint pain associated with Cold-Phlegm., limitation of movement and Yin flat abscesses. Dan Nan Xing extinguishes Wind and eradicates Phlegm and is better suited to treating spasms and cramps or hemiplegia due to Wind-Phlegm.
- Both Bai Jie Zi and Fr. Trichosanthis Gua Lou move Qi in the chest, scour Phlegm and treat turbid Phlegm Obstructing the Qi causing pain and a stifling sensation in the chest. Gua Lou is moist , cold and more appropriate for conditions in which Heat and Phlegm have clumped together in the chest. Bai Jie Zi is warm, drying and powerful and is more appropriate for Cold-Phlegm accumulating in the chest.
- Raw White Mustard Seed Sheng Bai Jie Zi is very irritating to the Stomach and is rarely prescribed internally. Externally, it is used to stop pain. It is crushed and can be applied for Wind, Cold, Dampness, early-stage toxic swellings or Qi and Blood Stagnation in the channels and collaterals. It can be powdered and mixed with vinegar to apply to lumps and masses associated with Wind, Dampness and Phlegm.
- Dry-fried White Mustard Seed Chao Bai Jie Zi is usually used in decoction. Its acrid, dispersing actions are less and it warms the Middle to disperse Cold, expels Phlegm and facilitates the flow of Qi.