INDIVIDUAL HERBS
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Radix Trichosanthis |
| Common English: | Trichosanthis Root Snakegourd Root |
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
Bitter Slightly Sweet (Sour) |
Cold (Cool) |
Lung Stomach |
8-16g Tincture: 2-5ml |
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Drains Heat and generates Fluids |
Lung Heat and Dryness with thirst and irritability Yin Deficiency thirst Wasting and thirsting disorder (Xiao Ke) Thick sputum, blood streaked sputum |
Clears and drains Lung Heat, transforms Phlegm and moistens Lung Dryness |
Phlegm Heat above the diaphragm, especially when the Heat has led to Dryness |
Relieves toxicity, expels pus and reduces swelling |
Chuang Yung (especially breast abscesses - internal and topical) |
CONTRAINDICATIONS |
|
INCOMPATIBILITIES |
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Rz. Phragmitis
|
Rx. Adenophorae/Glehniae |
|
Wasting and thirsting disorder and the thirst and irritability associated with injured fluids after warm febrile disease. |
Thirst and irritability due to injured fluids from Heat. |
Injured Yin from Stomach Heat with excessive thirst, irritability, Dryness in the mouth, cravings after eating, and emaciation which is often in diabetes. |
Concha Ostreae |
Bul. Fritillariae Cirrhosae |
Per. Trichosanthis
|
Irritability and mental disorientation due to Lung and Stomach Yin Deficiency and ascending Heat with thirst. Goiter from clumping of Phlegm-Heat. |
Cough due to Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs with thick, viscous sputum or blood streaked sputum. Dry cough due to Lung Heat. |
Non-productive cough, or one with scanty sputum, with a stifling sensation in the chest and thirst in the aftermath of a febrile disease. |
Rx. Adenophorae/Glehniae |
Flos Lonicerae |
Fr. Forsythiae |
Thirst in febrile disease. |
Reduces swelling and pus. |
Boils and carbuncles. |
Olibanum |
Squama Manitis |
Tub. Ophiopogonis |
Breast abscess. (internal and topical) |
Yang type breast or Intestinal abscesses. |
Heat and Dryness in the Lungs and Stomach. Excessive thirst and excessive water intake due to upper Xiao Ke. |
Hb. Dendrobii |
Rx. Rehmanniae |
Sm. Phaseoli |
Dryness with irritability. |
Wasting and thirsting syndrome. Hyperthyroidism. |
Topically for abscess without ulceration or necrosis. |
Olibanum |
Olibanum |
|
Breast abscess. |
External injuries. |
|
- Rx. Trichosanthis Tian Hua Fen, Tub. Ophiopogonis Mai Men Dong, and Tub. Asparagi Tian Men Dong all clear Heat and moisten the Lungs. The first is best for Lung Heat from Stomach Heat, the second is best for Lung Heat from Heart Fire and the last is best for Lung Dryness from Kidney Yin Deficiency.
- It is common in feverish diseases with thirst.
- It is especially used for swellings of the chest and throat.
- It is said to regulate and descend Qi, open the chest and soothe irritability
- Do a skin test before injection to prevent allergic reaction.
- Injection can induce abortion between 3-7 months.
- Trichosanthin is now being used as the active ingredient for GLQ223, an antiviral to treat HIV infection.
- Some sources say that is herb is in the Herbs that Transform Phlegm and Stop Coughing: Herbs that Cool and Transform Phlegm-Heat (Cool Antitussives) category.
- It eliminates stagnant Blood due to trauma, unblocks menstrual flow, expels Heat of mania, dispels yellow jaundice, moistens parched Dryness and excels at relieving alcohol toxicity.
- This herb has been shown to be effective in inhibiting the growth of cancer cells. It has used to treat skin cancer.
- It calms the Small Intestine, resolves swelling, treats breast abscess and expels pus to promote muscle development.
- For breast abscess, grind 30g of this herb with 3g Olibanum Ru Xiang into a powder and take 6g at a time with wine.
- For primary carbuncles or swelling, decoct this herb in wine, dry and grind into a powder, blend with millet wine, spread on paper and apply to the lesion.
- For primary carbuncles or swelling, grind equal portions of this herb with Sm. Phaseoli Lu Dou, blend with vinegar and apply to the lesion.
- Both Tian Hua Fen and Hb. Dendrobii Shi Hu generate fluids, alleviate thirst, nourish the Yin, clear Heat and enrich the Stomach. They are often used together, however Tian Hua Fen is sweet and cold, primarily enters the Lungs and Stomach, more strongly generates fluids, descends Phlegm-Fire, expels pus and reduces swellings. Shi Hu is sweet, bland, slightly salty, and cold. It enters the Kidneys and Stomach, enriches Kidney Jing, and has a superior ability to cool Heat from Deficiency.
- Both Tian Hua Fen and Rz. Phragmitis Lu Gen cool Lung and Stomach Heat, nourish the Yin, generate fluids and are often combined to treat insatiable thirst from febrile disease, and cough from Lung Heat. Tian Hua Fen is better at generating fluids and nourishing Yin and is mainly used for Stomach Yin Deficiency or lack of fluids. It also resolves toxicity, invigorates Blood and reduces swelling to treat toxic swellings, boils and sores. Lu Gen is stronger at cooling Heat at the Lung and Stomach Qi Level, vents and dissipates a pathogen and is best used in the early stages of a warm pathogen disease. Because it can expel pus, it is used in the treatment of Lung abscess.