INDIVIDUAL HERBS

Pharmaceutical Latin: Fructus Xanthii
Common English: Cocklebur Fruit
Xanthium Fruit
Burweed
Herbs That Release the Exterior: Warm, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior (Wind-Cold Diaphoretics)
Taste Temperature Entering Meridians Dosage
Sweet
Bitter
Acrid
Warm
(Cold)
Toxic
Lung
(Liver)
3-10g
Tincture: 2-4ml
Actions Indications/Syndromes

Disperses Wind and Dampness and opens the nasal passages

Any nasal or sinus problem with thick discharge and related sinus headache

Disperses Wind and dispels Dampness

Wind-Damp Bi or skin disorders with itching

Dispels Exterior Wind

Splitting occipital headache due to Wind-Cold (auxiliary)

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Contraindicated for headache or painful obstruction due to Blood Deficiency.
  • Use with caution for those with Qi and/or Blood Deficiency.
  • Use with caution during pregnancy.
  • Overdose may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or abdominal pain.
  • Do not use raw - decoct to eliminate toxicity.
  • Do not eat pork with this herb.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS
  • Use with caution in combination with anti-diabetic drugs such as insulin, tolbutamide (Orinase), glipizide (Glucotrol), and glyburide (Diabeta/Micronase) as there may be a synergistic effect leading to hypoglycemia.

Flos Magnoliae
Xin Yi Hua
Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae
Bai Zhi

Flos Magnoliae
Xin Yi Hua
Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae
Bai Zhi
Gypsum
Shi Gao
Rx. Scutellariae
Huang Qin

Flos Magnoliae
Xin Yi Hua
Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae
Bai Zhi
Rx. Rubiae
Qian Cao Gen
Flos Lonicerae
Jin Yin Hua

 

Headache and nasal obstruction.

Acute Wind-Heat patterns.

Chronic Wind-Heat patterns.

Flos Magnoliae
Xin Yi Hua
Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae
Bai Zhi
Fr. Schisandrae
Wu Wei Zi
Fr. Rosae Laevigatae
Jin Ying Zi

Rx. Clematidis
Wei Ling Xian
Rx. Chuanxiong
Chuan Xiong
Rz. Atractylodis
Cang Zhu

Fr. Tribuli
Bai Ji Li
Fr. Kochiae
Di Fu Zi
Periostracum Cicadae
Chan Tui

Allergic rhinitis.

Pain and numbness due to Wind-Damp Bi.

Decoction internally and wash externally for itching due to Wind rash or dampness induced sores.

Rx. Saposhnikoviae
Fang Feng
Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae
Bai Zhi
Rz. Ligustici
Gao Ben

Flos Magnoliae
Xin Yi Hua

Fr. Tribuli
Bai Ji Li
Fr. Kochiae
Di Fu Zi
Periostracum Cicadae
Chan Tui
Cx. Dictamni
Bai Xian Pi
Hb. Schizonepetae
Jing Jie

Wind-Cold headache.

Blocked nose due to Wind-Cold.

Chronic sinusitis.

Itching and rash.

  1. The toxic ingredients of this herb are altered by decoction and are not significantly present.
  2. Many sources include this herb in the Herbs that Expel Wind and Dampness category.
  3. This is one of the main herbs for deep-source nasal congestion with thick nasal discharge and a loss of smell.
  4. It is said that this herb cools fever, detoxifies, kills parasites and eliminates pathogenic Wind.
  5. This herb has been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
  6. It is effective in removing nasal polyps.
  7. For nail-shaped boils, insomnia and heaviness, crush this herb in child's urine and drink with cols water three times per day.
  8. Both Cang Er Zi and Flos Magnoliae Xin Yi Hua disperse Wind and unblock the nasal orifices to treat profuse nasal discharge and headache. Cang Er Zi spreads disseminates and unblocks. Its influence reaches from the head to the feet and knees and includes the skin and is used for Bi Syndrome and Damp skin diseases. Xin Yi Hua encourages the clear Yang to ascend to the head and brain.
  9. Rx. Xanthii Cang Er Gen, the root, is bitter, cool, slightly toxic, enters the Lung, clears Heat, eliminates toxins and treats common colds due to Invasion of Wind-Heat. It also reduces scrofula or other toxic swellings such as tonsillitis. It should be used with caution during pregnancy and in cases of Deficiency. The dosage is 3 to 12g.
  10. Hb. Xanthii Cang Er Cao, the entire plant, is acrid, bitter, cool and slightly toxic. It dispels Wind and clears Heat toxins. It is used for Bi syndrome, spasms, cramps, dermatological disorders, Yin sores rashes and pruritis. Do not use for deficient patients or take for an extended period. The dosage is 6 to 15g.
  11. Cang Er Zi and Rz. Gastrodiae Tian Ma both treat Wind. Cang Er Zi dispels External Wind and treats headaches and dizziness. Tian Ma extinguishes Internal Wind and relieves headaches, dizziness and vertigo.
  12. Cang Er Zi, Hb. Menthae Bo He, Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae Bai Zhi, and Flos Magnoliae Xin Yi Hua all treat acute allergic rhinitis. Fr. Chebulae He Zi and Per. Granati Shi Liu Pi resolve clear, white nasal discharge.