INDIVIDUAL HERBS

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati
Common English:	Bushy Knotweed Rhizome Giant Knotweed Japanese Knotweed Root Polygoni Cuspidatum

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Bitter (Sweet) (Sour) (Slightly Acrid) (Astringent)	Cold (Cool) (Warm)	Liver Gallbladder Lung	8-30g Tincture: 2-4ml

Actions	Indications/Syndromes
Invigorates the Blood, dispels Blood Stasis, unblocks the channels and stops pain	Amenorrhea due to Blood Stasis Wind-Damp Bi Traumatic injury
Clears Heat and resolves Dampness	Damp-Heat jaundice Turbid vaginal discharge Turbid, painful urinary dysfunction
Discharges toxins and disperses swelling	Toxic skin conditions, burns and carbuncles
Drains Heat, transforms Phlegm and stops cough	Lung Heat cough Constipation due to clumping of Heat

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Contraindicated during pregnancy.
Combine with tonics to avoid harm.
Reported side effects are: dry mouth, bitter taste in the mouth, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

INCOMPATIBILITIES

HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

Use caution for those taking insulin, sulfonylureas and other antidiabetics such as tolbutamide (Orinase), glipizide (Glucotrol) and glyburide (DiaBeta/Micronase) as there may be a synergistic effect leading to hypoglycemia.

Hb. Leonuri Yi Mu Cao Rx. Salviae Miltiorrhizae Dan Shen (Rx. Rubiae) (*Qian Cao Gen)*	Caulis Spatholobi Ji Xue Teng Cacumen Tamaricis Xi He Liu	Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui Flos Carthami Hong Hua
Amenorrhea Menstrual pain from Blood Stasis	Bi Pain	Trauma pain
Hb. Artemisiae Scopariae Yin Chen Hao Hb. Lysimachiae Jin Qian Cao or Hb. Artemisiae Scopariae Yin Chen Hao Fr. Gardeniae Zhi Zi Rx. et Rz. Rhei Da Huang	Sm. Coicis Yi Yi Ren Rz. Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Bei Xie	Rx. Aucklandiae Mu Xiang Fr. Aurantii Zhi Ke
Damp-Heat jaundice	Turbid Damp vaginal discharge	Biliary or urinary tract stones
Hb. Lysimachiae Jin Qian Cao	Flos Lonicerae Jin Yin Hua Fr. Forsythiae Lian Qiao	Sesame Oil
Biliary or urinary tract stones	Resolves toxicity	With fresh Hu Zhang topically for burns
Rx. Scutellariae Huang Qin Flos Lonicerae Jin Yin Hua Fol. Eriobotryae Pi Pa Ye	Olibanum Ru Xiang Myrrh Mo Yao Flos Carthami Hong Hua	Rx. Curcumae Yu Jin Endothelium Corneum Gigeriae Galli Ji Nei Jin Hb. Lygodii Hai Jin Sha Hb. Lysimachiae Jin Qian Cao Fr. Toosendan Chuan Lian Zi Rz. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo
Lung Heat cough	Sports and traumatic injuries	Gallstones
Flos Lonicerae Jin Yin Hua Fr. Forsythiae Lian Qiao Hb. Taraxaci *Pu Gong Ying*
Abscesses of the Internal organs Snakebite (as a topical paste)

Some sources consider this to be a “Damp-Heat Clearing” herb.
This herb invigorates the Blood, breaks up Stasis, expels Wind, eliminates Dampness, cools Heat, resolves toxicity, transforms Phlegm and stops cough.
It attacks all toxic Swellings, stops sore throat, facilitates urination and travels through all the channels and collaterals.
Used in conjunction with tonic herbs, it is an important herb for painful urinary dysfunction in older people with Qi and Blood Deficiency.
The fresh herb, ground and applied topically can be used for burns, sores, hemorrhoids, and other skin infections.
Wine-fried Bushy Knotweed Rhizome Jiu Chao Hu Zhang more strongly invigorates Blood and soothe sinews and is less likely to irritate digestion.
One source says that this herb tonifies the muscles and bones and increases strength.
This herb has been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
One source says that this herb is usually indicated for abdominal masses and regulating menstruation.
Another source says that this herb is effective for joint diseases and Blood Stagnation.
For abdominal masses, tinnitus, heaviness of the limbs, irregular menstruation and impotence, mix this herb with 600g of Sm. Dolichorus Bai Bian Dou and 200ml of old wine and decoct with 2000ml of water. Take 5ml each time.
One source says that washing ones hands and feet with this herb cure swelling and pain of the hands and feet.