INDIVIDUAL HERBS

NAME: BEI DOU GEN - 北豆根 - RHIZOMA MENISPERMI

Pharmaceutical Latin: Rhizoma Menispermi
Common English: Asiatic Moonseed Rhizome
Sinomenium

CATEGORY

Herbs That Clear Heat and Purge Fire: Herbs That Clear Heat and Detoxify; Target Warm and Heat Diseases

PROPERTIES

Taste Temperature Entering Meridians Dosage
Bitter
Cold
Lung
Stomach
Large Intestine
(Urinary Bladder)
(Heart )
3-12g
Tincture: 1-3ml

ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS

Actions Indications/Syndromes

Clears Heat and resolves toxicity

Wind-Heat toxin affecting the Lungs and Stomach such as sore throat, cough and mumps

Snakebite

Dispels Wind and stops pain

Wind-Damp Bi

Resolves Dampness and reduces swelling

Damp-Heat

CONTRAINDICATIONS, INCOMPATIBILITIES AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Contraindicated for those with Spleen and Stomach Deficiency Cold.
  • Contraindicated for those with diarrhea.
  • Overdose can cause epigastric pain and fullness, acid regurgitation, vertigo, extensive sweating, chest oppression, tachypnea, agitation, nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure.
  • There is some cumulative toxicity, do not use continuously.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

MAJOR COMBINATIONS

Rz. Belamcandae
She Gan
Rx. Scrophulariae
Xuan Shen

Rx. Scutellariae
Huang Qin
Rx. Platycodi
Jie Geng

Rx. Isatidis
Ban Lan Gen
Fr. Forsythiae
Lian Qiao

Swollen, painful throat from Heat toxin

Cough due to Lung Heat

Mumps

Hb. Artemesiae
Yin Chen Hao
Rx. et Rz. Rhei
Da Huang

Rx. Cynanchi Paniculati
Xu Chang Qing
Rx. Scutellariae
Huang Qin

Rx. Angelicae Pubescentis
Du Huo
Rx. Clematidis
Wei Ling Xian

Damp-Heat jaundice

Damp-Heat dysenteric disorders

Wind-Damp Bi

NOTES

  1. This is a modern addition to the pharmacopia.
  2. It is used for a wide variety of Heat-toxin related problems, especially swelling.
  3. it is used for upper digestive tract cancers and irregular heartbeat.
  4. It is used in surgical anesthesia.
  5. It is sometimes used as a substitute for Rx. Sophorae Tonkinensis Shan Dou Gen, in Northern China.