INDIVIDUAL HERBS
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Radix Arnebiae/Lithospermi |
| Common English: | Groomwell Root Chinese Stoneseed Purple Weed Arnebia Lithospermi Lithospermum Root |
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
Sweet (Salty) |
Cold |
Heart Liver (Pericardium) |
3-20g Tincture: 1-4ml |
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Clears Heat, cools the Blood, invigorates Blood circulation, relieves Fire toxins and encourages rashes |
Xue Stage Heat, Blood Heat, Toxic Heat and dark purple rashes (measles, chicken pox) |
Moistens the Intestines, unblocks the bowels and promotes urination |
Blood Heat constipation and rashes accompanied by constipation and/or urinary dysfunction |
Clears Damp-Heat from the skin (aids healing of tissues) |
Damp-Heat skin lesions or vaginal itching topically Burns and wounds topically |
CONTRAINDICATIONS |
|
INCOMPATIBILITIES |
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Fr. Forsythiae |
Cornu Bubali |
|
Dark purple measles with incomplete expression of the rash |
Dark purple measles with incomplete expression of the rash with severe sore throat |
Heat toxin, delirious speech, and deep-purple rashes |
Fol. Isatidis |
Sm. Trichosanthis
|
Rx. Rehmanniae
|
Dense purpuric rash associated with severe Fire toxin |
Carbuncles due to severe interior Fire toxin with constipation |
Hematuria or epistaxis due to Blood Heat General bleeding |
Rx. Glycyrrhizae |
Cx. Phellodendri |
|
Prevents measles (use 3 to 6g Zi Cao with 1.3 to 3g and serve as a decoction once a day for three to seven. Begin with five days of contact.) |
Heat in the skin disorders such as boils, eczema, and burns |
Ointment for burns or sores |
Fr. Forsythiae |
Rx. Rehmanniae |
Sm. Plantaginis |
Sore throat with swelling and pain |
Hematemesis or epistaxis |
Hematuria |
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis |
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis |
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis |
Topically or Internally for abscesses, lesions or ulcerations |
Topically for burns with redness, swelling and pain |
Topically for itching and irritation from insect bites |
Rx. et Rz. Rhei |
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Constipation |
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- Arnebia is soft and its root is called “soft purple herb”.
- Lithospermi is harder and is called “hard purple herb”.
- Most sources say Lithospermi is the proper herb for Zi Cao.
- This herb is used in the treatment of skin cancer and breast tumors.
- Used as a preventative for measles - 91% effective.
- Treats most skin diseases and cuts and burns.
- Western relatives are borage for fevers and comfrey as a “cure all” including cancer.
- Facilitates the flow of urine.
- Both Zi Cao and Fr. Arctii Niu Bang Zi resolve toxicity, vent rashes, moisten the bowels and unblock the Intestines. Zi Cao is best for clearing and regulating Blood Heat with a lesser ability to eliminate Damp-Heat. It treats unexpressed rashes due to Blood Heat toxin. Niu Bang Zi mobilizes the Qi level, releases the Exterior, disperses Wind-Heat, benefits the throat, disperses clumps, drains the In Interior, descends Qi and resolves Heat toxin. It treats rashes due to Wind-Heat confined in the Exterior.