INDIVIDUAL HERBS

Pharmaceutical Latin: Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii
Rhizoma Acori Gramenei
Common English: Sweetflag Rhizome
Grassleaf Sweetflag Rhizome
Rock Sweetflag Root
Acorus
Aromatic Substances that Open the Orifices
Taste Temperature Entering Meridians Dosage
Acrid
Bitter
Warm
Aromatic
Heart
Stomach
(Liver)
(Spleen)
(Lung)
1.5-10g
For eye or throat complaints: 1.5-3g
For sensory disturbance or vexation: 4.5-7.5g
To facilitate bowel movements and urination: 9g
Fresh: 10-15g
Tincture: 1-3ml
Actions Indications/Syndromes

Opens the Orifices, vaporizes Phlegm, removes filth, calms the Spirit and disperses Wind

Phlegm-Dampness Veiling and Blocking the Sensory Orifices with deafness, dizziness, tinnitus, forgetfulness, dulled senses, and seizures or stupor

Wind-Phlegm with seizures or stupor

Transforms turbid Dampness, harmonizes the Middle Jiao, awakens the Spleen and promotes the movement of Qi

Dampness Distressing the Spleen and Stomach with chest and epigastric fullness and lumps, anorexia and abdominal fullness and pain due to Dampness and Turbidity Obstructing the Middle Jiao

Promotes Blood flow, reduces swelling and alleviates Wind-Damp Bi and sores (internally and topically)

Wind-Cold-Damp Bi

Sores (internally and topically)

Trauma

Benefits the throat

Hoarse voice due to laryngitis or inflammation of the vocal cords

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Use caution for those with Yin Deficiency with Heat signs or Blood Deficiency .
  • Use caution for those with irritability, excessive sweating, hematemesis, or spermatorrhea.
  • Avoid long-term use or overdose.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS
  • In combination with Rx. Ginseng Ren Shen, Rx. Polygalae Yuan Zhi and Poria Fu Ling, this herb may reduce ethanol-induced memory impairment and ameliorate scopolamine-induced memory registration deficit.

Rx. Curcumae
Yu Jin
Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum
Zhi
Ban Xia

Rx. Curcumae
Yu Jin
Fr. Gardeniae
Zhi Mu
Succus Bambusae
Zhu Li

Rz. Arisaematis
Zhi Tian Nan Xing
Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum
Zhi
Ban Xia

Disorientation, irritability, dizziness, and hearing problems due to Turbid Dampness Blocking the Orifices.

Phlegm-Heat Veiling the Pericardium with muddled consciousness and delirium.

Wind-Stroke from Phlegm Blocking the Heart Orifices with muddled consciousness and a stiff tongue with aphasia.

Rx. Polygalae
Yuan Zhi
Poria
Fu Ling

 

Frusta Ferri
Sheng Tie Luo
Rx. Polygalae
Yuan Zhi

Fr. Aurantii Immaturus
Zhi Shi
Caulis Bambusae in Taeniam
Zhu Ru
Rz. Coptidis
Huang Lian

Forgetfulness, tinnitus and impaired hearing.

Mania from Phlegm-Fire Agitating the Heart.

Seizures or spasms from Phlegm-Heat.

Rx. Ginseng
Ren Shen
Poria
Fu Ling

or

Poria Pararadicis
Fu Shen

or

Rx. Ginseng
Ren Shen
Rx. Polygalae
Yuan Zhi

Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu
Arillus Longan
Long Yan Rou
Poria Pararadicis
Fu Shen

Sm. Cuscutae
Tu Si Zi
Hb. Ecliptae
Mo Han Lian
Fr. Ligustri Lucidi
Nu Zhen Zi

Forgetfulness and dulled senses.

Overwork leading to insomnia or palpitations.

Diminished hearing and tinnitus from Heart and Kidney Deficiency.

Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis
Hou Po
Per. Citri Reticulatae
Chen Pi

or

Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis
Hou Po
Per. Citri Reticulatae
Chen Pi

Rz. Atractylodis
Cang Zhu
Hb. Agastaches
Huo Xiang
Poria
Fu Ling

Hb. Pogostemonis/Agastaches
Huo Xiang
Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis
Hou Po
Rz. Atractylodis
Cang Zhu

Rz. Coptidis
Huang Lian
Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis
Hou Po

Pain and distention of the chest and epigastrium due to Turbid dampness Obstructing the Middle Jiao.

Chest and abdominal distention and fullness, anorexia, feeling of focal distention and pain from Dampness and Turbidity Obstructing the Middle.

Sudden turmoil disorder from smoldering Damp-Heat.

Rz. Coptidis
Huang Lian
Per. Citri Reticulatae
Chen Pi

Sm. Nelumbinis Nuciferae
Lian Zi
Rz. Coptidis
Huang Lian

Rx. Aucklandiae
Mu Xiang
Fr. Evodiae
Wu Zhu Yu
Rz. Cyperi
Xiang Fu

Dysenteric disorders where the patient is unable to eat or drink.

Dysenteric disorders with an inability to eat.

Epigastric and abdominal distention due to Dampness and Qi Obstruction.

Rx. Sophorae Tonkinensis
Shan Dou Gen
Lasiosphere/Calvatia
Ma Bo
Rz. Belamcandae
She Gan

Rx. Platycodi
Jie Geng
Hb. Dendrobii
Shi Hu

Succinum
Hu Po
Fr. Lycii
Gou Qi Zi
Flos Chrysanthemi
Ju Hua

Swollen, sore throat with difficulty swallowing and a raspy voice.

Hoarseness with Phlegm in the throat or swollen vocal cords.

Corneal ulcerations.

Rx. Aconiti Preparata
Zhi Chuan Wu
Rz. Zingiberis Recens
Sheng Jiang

Rx. Curcumae
Yu Jin

Arillus Longan
Long Yan Rou

Wind-Cold-Damp Bi with joint pain in the extremities.

Transforms Dampness, opens the Orifices, and awakens the brain to treat Warm-Damp febrile disease when Heat has entered the Pericardium or where turbid Dampness has blocked the clear Orifices, with loss of consciousness or confusion, tinnitus and forgetfulness.

With appropriate herbs to treat Qi, Blood or Phlegm Stagnation with palpitations, forgetfulness, moodiness or withdrawal-mania, hysteria, depression or reduced mental acuity as a sequela of brain concussion.

Forgetfulness, dizziness and fatigue due to Heart Qi and Blood Deficiency.

Rx. Curcumae
Yu Jin
Fr. Forsythiae
Lian Qiao
Hb. Phylostachys
Zhu Ye
Concretio Silicea Bambusae
Tian Zhu Huang

Rx. Polygalae
Yuan Zhi
Arisaema cum Bile
Dan Nan Xing
Poria Pararadicis
Fu Shen
Frusta Ferri
Sheng Tie Luo

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

High fever with coma or unconsciousness caused by Hot Phlegm.

Manic behavior with a greasy tongue coat and a slippery pulse.

Manic behavior with constipation.

Rx. Curcumae
Yu Jin
Alumen
Ming Fan
Cinnabaris
Zhu Sha

Magnetitum
Ci Shi

or

Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan

Hb. Sinocrassulae Indicae
Shi Lian Zi
Rz. Coptidis
Huang Lian

Per. Citri Reticulatae
Chen Pi
Fol. Nelumbinis
He Ye

Epilepsy.

Tinnitus or diarrhea due to Kidney Deficiency.

Damp-Heat diarrhea.

Rx. Codonopsis
Dang Shen
Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu

Hb. Sinocrassulae Indicae
Shi Lian Zi
Rx. Puerariae
Ge Gen
Rz. Coptidis
Huang Lian

Rx. Scutellariae
Huang Qin

Sm. Sterculae Lychnophorae
Pang Da Hai
Sm. Oroxyli
Gu Zhi Hua
Hb. Dendrobii
Shi Hu
Rx. Ophiopogonis
Mai Men Dong

Diarrhea with Spleen Deficiency.

Diarrhea accompanied by Exterior conditions.

Hoarse voice and dry mouth.

  1. This is considered the primary herb for Opening Orifices (usually used in combination with Rx. Polygalae Yuan Zhi).
  2. The ability of this herb to open Orifices is secondary, however, to its aromatic action of vaporizing Phlegm.
  3. Some sources say that this herb benefits wisdom and in addition kills worms.
  4. This herb is said to be effective in treating Heart Qi Deficiency.
  5. It is also said to nourish the Liver.
  6. This herb is said to strengthen the singing voice.
  7. The volatile oil of this herb has a remarkable sedative effect and is used to treat patients with restlessness and unconsciousness.
  8. This herb is said to cure nine types of Stomach diseases due to disorder of Qi and alleviate pain.
  9. It also promotes the functional activity of the Stomach and relieves epigastric distention.
  10. This herb has been shown to have an active effect on cancer cells.
  11. To treat cancer, decoct 10g of this herb in 200ml of water and drink three times a day.
  12. Both Shi Chang Pu and Rx. Polygalae Yuan Zhi enter the Heart, clear Phlegm and open the Orifices. Shi Chang Pu is acrid and war and relies on its aromatic fragrance to open the Orifices, disseminate Qi and Dampness and expel Phlegm. Yuan Zhi expels Phlegm, calms the Spirit and augments the mind and uses its bitterness to drain and descend the Phlegm that rebels upward to the Heart. Both herbs are often used together.