INDIVIDUAL HERBS

Pharmaceutical Latin: Semen Arecae
Common English: Areca Seeds
Betel Nut
Herbs that Expel Parasites (Anthelmintics)
Taste Temperature Entering Meridians Dosage
Acrid
Bitter
Warm
Large Intestine
Stomach
6-15g
For tapeworms: 60-120g when used alone
Tincture: 2-4ml
Actions Indications/Syndromes

Kills parasites

Kills a wide variety of Intestinal parasites including fasciolopsis, pinworms, roundworms, hookworms, threadworms and Blood flukes

Best for tapeworms

Drains downward to expel the bodies of dead parasites

Regulates Qi, reduces accumulations, drains downward and unblocks the bowels

Food Stagnation and Qi Stagnation with abdominal distention, constipation or diarrhea with tenesmus

Promotes urination

Damp leg Qi and edema due to Excess

Treats malarial disorders

Malarial disorders

Relieves nausea Nausea
CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Use caution for those with collapse of Middle Qi.
  • Use for dysenteric disorders only if there is tenesmus.
  • Use with caution during pregnancy.
  • Overdose leads to increased salivation, vomiting, diuresis, and stupor.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS
  • There may be an exacerbation of extrapyramidal effects in schizophrenics and neuroleptics when used concurrently over a long period with antipsychotics such as chlorpromatazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine )Prolixin), thioridizine (Mellaril) and haloperidol (Haldol).

Sm. Cucurbitae Moschatae
Nan
Gua Zi
Rx. Aucklandiae
Mu Xiang

Fr. Mume
Wu Mei
Rx. Glycyrrhizae
Gan Cao

Fr. Carpesii
He Shi
Cx. Meliae
Ku Lian Pi

Dislodges and expels tapeworms.

Fasciolopsiasis.

A variety of intestinal parasites.

Sm. Pharbitidis
Qian Niu Zi

Rx. Aucklandiae
Mu Xiang

Per. Citri Reticulatae Viride
Qing Pi

Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu
Fr. Hordei Germinatus
Mai Ya
Fr. Amomi
Sha Ren

Strongly moves Qi, resolve accumulations and breaks up Stagnation to promote the expulsion of parasite bodies and treats abdominal pain, bloating and constipation due to many types of intestinal parasites, but especially roundworms, tapeworms and hookworms.

Food Accumulation and Qi Stagnation.

Food Stagnation in patients with Spleen Deficiency marked by indigestion and abdominal fullness.

Rx. Paeoniae Alba
Bai Shao
Rx. Aucklandiae
Mu Xiang

Rz. Coptidis
Huang Lian

or

Rx. Paeoniae Rubra
Chi Shao
Rx. Aucklandiae
Mu Xiang

Rz. Coptidis
Huang Lian

Fr. Aurantii Immaturus
Zhi Shi
Rx. Aucklandiae
Mu Xiang

Rz. Coptidis
Huang Lian

Per. Citri Reticulatae
Chen Pi
Fr. Chaenomelis
Mu Gua
(Fol. Perillae)
(Zi Su Ye)
(Rx. Stephaniae Tetrandrae)
(Han Fang Ji)

Damp-Heat dysenteric disorders with tenesmus.

Acute dysenteric disorders with abdominal pain and tenesmus.

Leg Qi.

Fr. Evodiae
Wu Zhu Yu
Fr. Chaenomelis
Mu Gua

Rx. Phytolaccae
Shang Lu
Caulis Akebiae
Mu Tong
Rz. Alismatis
Ze Xie

Fol. Perillae
Zi Su Ye
Per. Citri Reticulatae
Chen Pi
Rz. Zingiberis Recens
Sheng Jiang

Cold-Damp Leg Qi with swelling and pain.

Edema due to Excess.

Wind-Damp Leg Qi.

Rx. Dichroae
Chang Shan
Fr. Tsaoko
Cao Guo
(Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis)
(
Hou Po)

Sm. Cucurbitae Moschatae
Nan
Gua Zi
Fr. Quisqualis
Shi Jun Zi
Rx. et Rz. Rhei
Da Huang

Fr. Piperis
Hu Jiao
Cx. Meliae
Ku Lian Pi
Alumen
Ming Fan

Malarial disorders in patients with Phlegm-Dampness.

Dislodges parasites.

Intestinal obstruction due to parasites.

Fr. Aurantii
Zhi Ke
Caulis Perillae
Zi Su Geng
Hb. Agastache
Huo Xiang
Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis
Hou Po

Sm. Descurainiae/Lepidii
Ting Li Zi

Haematitum
Dai Zhe Shi
Flos Inulae
Xuan Fu Hua
Fr. Perillae
Zi Su Zi

Caulis Bambusae in Taeniam
Zhu Ru
Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum
Zhi Ban Xia

Chest congestion.

Wheezing with Phlegm.

Belching and nausea.

Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis
Hou Po
Fr. Aurantii Immaturus
Zhi Shi
Rx. et Rz. Rhei
Da Huang

Rx. Aucklandiae
Mu Xiang

Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis
Hou Po

Concha Ostreae
Mu Li
Sm. Raphani
Lai Fu Zi
Rz. Sparganii
San Leng
Rz. Curcumae
E Zhu
Rx. Curcumae
Yu Jin

Abdominal distention with constipation.

Tenesmus.

Organomegaly, masses and cysts.

Poria
Fu Ling
Polyporus
Zhu Ling
Rz. Alismatis
Ze Xie
Exocarpium Benincasae
Dong Gua Pi

Rx. Dichroae
Chang Shan

 

Ascites.

Malaria.

 

  1. The ability of this herb to drain downward helps expel the bodies of the parasites.
  2. Habitual use causes a diminution in taste sensation, an increase in appetite, periodontal disease, and in some cases chronic diarrhea, in addition to discoloration of the mouth and lips. (It has a narcotic effect and is chewed with an alkaline substance).
  3. This herb is useful for gastrointestinal problems that is associated with bloating and edema.
  4. This herb is often combined with Rx. Dichroae Chang Shan to treat malaria. Chang Shan has anti malarial action but may cause nausea and vomiting. Bing Lang relieves nausea and vomiting to improve patient compliance in taking the herbs.
  5. This herb acts on accumulations of many kinds, dispersing Qi Stagnation, promoting movement in Blood Stasis, transforming Phlegm, facilitating the elimination of pathogenic water, reducing Food Stagnation, unblocking stool and driving out parasites.
  6. This herb has been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
  7. This herb is said to release inhibited visceral energy, dissipate masses and hemostasis and cure edema and stomachache.
  8. Another source says it expels abdominal masses, promotes digestion to remove Phlegm and pathogenic Wind, kills parasites sobers up the drunk, diminishes Phlegm Accumulation and cures dysuria and constipation.
  9. It is used as a tea to prevent miasma.
  10. Another source says it dissipates Stagnation and Stasis, regulates the Stomach to relieve pain, eases the Intestines to promote drainage and neutralizes a rich diet with much fat.
  11. It is also said to activate muscles to relieve pain.
  12. It is said to deactivate polio, the herpes virus the influenza virus and the rabies virus.
  13. It can also interrupt malaria.
  14. Both Bing Lang and Sm. Cucurbitae Moschatae Nan Gua Zi have a good parasite expelling action. To treat tapeworms, roundworms and other intestinal parasites and in combination, their effects are greatly enhanced. Bing Lang has the ability to strongly descend Qi, resolve accumulations, facilitate urination and reduce Phlegm and Food Stagnation which Nan Gua Zi cannot do.
  15. Both Bing Lang and Per. Arecae Da Fu Pi descend Qi, facilitate the removal of pathogenic water and reduce edema. Da Fu Pi is acrid, lightweight, more moderately descends Qi and and disperses formless and formed Qi Stagnation. It also dredges and unblocks Excess Phlegm in the Spleen and Stomach. Bing Lang is bitter, acrid and heavy with a strong sinking nature that violently descends Qi, breaks up Qi Stagnation, drains formed Qi Stagnation, treats edematous swelling in the skin and kills parasites.
  16. White Areca Bai Bing Lang is particularly effective in descending Qi and promoting urination, but is ability to kill parasites is weak.
  17. Fresh Areca Xian Bing Lang promotes the movement of Qi and resolves Food Stagnation without injuring Yin.
  18. Dry-fried Areca Chao Bing Lang is slightly less strong and more appropriate for older or weaker patients.
  19. Scorched Areca Jiao Bing Lang primarily reduces and guides out to harmonize the Stomach Qi, and is generally used for Middle Jiao Food Stagnation.
  20. Date Areca Zao Bing Lang is bitter, astringent and has the ability to digest Food Stagnation, revive from drunkenness, unbind the chest and stop nausea and are primarily used to treat Food Accumulation with Qi Stagnation, nausea, and a stifling sensation in the chest and abdomen.