INDIVIDUAL HERBS

Pharmaceutical Latin: Radix Arnebiae/Lithospermi
Common English: Groomwell Root
Chinese Stoneseed
Purple Weed
Arnebia
Lithospermi
Lithospermum Root
Herbs That Clean Heat and Purge Fire: Herbs That Clean Heat and Cool Blood
Taste Temperature Entering Meridians Dosage
Sweet
(Salty)
(Bitter)
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 (eczema, 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 the healing of tissues)

Damp-Heat skin lesions or vaginal itching topically

Burns and wounds topically

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Contraindicated for those with Spleen and Stomach Deficiency with diarrhea or loose stools.
  • Contraindicated for those with Spleen Deficient pox or sores.
  • Contraindicated for those with measles if rash has already appeared.
  • Do not mix or store near urine, horse manure or smoke.
  • Long-term administration of high doses may cause liver cancer.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

Fr. Forsythiae
Lian Qiao
Periostracum Cicadae
Chan Tui
Rx. Paeoniae Rubra
Chi Shao

Fr. Forsythiae
Lian Qiao
Periostracum Cicadae
Chan Tui
Rx. Paeoniae Rubra
Chi Shao
Fr. Arctii
Niu Bang Zi
Rx. Sophorae Tonkinensis
Shan Dou Gen

Cornu Bubali
Shui Niu Jiao
Rx. Rehmanniae
Sheng Di Huang
Flos Lonicerae
Jin Yin Hua

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
Da Qing Ye

Sm. Trichosanthis
Gua Lou Ren

 

Rx. Rehmanniae
Sheng Di Huang
Hb. Cirsii
Xiao Ji
Rz. Imperatae
Bai Mao Gen

 

Dense purpuric rashes 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
Gan Cao

Cx. Phellodendri
Huang Bai

Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui
Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae
Bai Zhi

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 days. Begin within five days of contact.)

Heat in the skin disorders such as boils, eczema and burns.

Ointment for burns or sores.

Fr. Forsythiae
Lian Qiao
Rx. Sophorae Tonkinensis
Shan Dou Gen

Rx. Rehmanniae
Sheng Di Huang
Sm. Ginkgo
Bai Guo
Poria
Fu Ling
Rx. Ophiopogonis
Ma Men Dong

Sm. Plantaginis
Che Qian Zi
Fr. Forsythiae
Lian Qiao

Sore throat with swelling and pain.

Hematemesis or epistaxis.

Hematuria.

Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui
Sanguis Draconis
Xue Jie
Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae
Bai Zhi

Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui

Vinegar
Sesame Oil

Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui
Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae
Bai Zhi

Rx. Glycyrrhizae
Gan Cao
Sesame Oil

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
Da Huang

 

 

Constipation.

 

 

  1. Arnebia is soft and its root is called “soft purple herb”.
  2. Lithospermi is harder and is called “hard purple herb”.
  3. Most sources say Lithospermi is the proper herb for Zi Cao.
  4. This herb has been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
  5. It is used in the treatment of skin cancer and breast tumors.
  6. It is used as a preventative for measles - 91% effective.
  7. Treats most skin diseases and cuts and burns.
  8. It is said to cure malignant sores, eruptions, smallpox and tinea.
  9. This herb is reported to cure jaundice with flaming fever in the morning. It is not effective for those with red or black flecks on the body.
  10. For those with red or black flecks on the body, use this herb to fumigate the arches of the feet, palms and points DU-20 and LI-8.
  11. For smallpox, take a decoction of 3g Zi Cao, 1.5g Per. Citri Reticulatae Chen Pi and 4g Bul. Allii Macrostemi Xie Bai.
  12. Western relatives are borage for fevers and comfrey as a “cure all” including cancer.
  13. Facilitates the flow of urine.
  14. 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.