The source is from rhizome of a perennial herbaceous plant, Anemarrhena asphodegoides Bunge, family Liliaceae. The producing areas are mainly in the provinces of Hebei, Shanxi, and Northeast China, etc.. The medicinal material is collected in spring and autumn, the crude without hair or external skin is dried in the sun and cut into pieces or stir-baked with a salt solution for use.

Medicinal Properties Bitter and sweet in flavor, cold in nature and attributive to the lung, stomach and kidney meridians.

Actions Clear away heat and purge fire, nourish yin and moisturize dryness.

Application
1. For overabundance of pathogenic heat due to seasonal febrile disease with symptoms of high fever and excessive thirst, it is usually combined with Shigao ( Gypsum Fibrosum), such as Baihu Tang (Decoction).

2. The medicinal herb is used for symptoms of cough due to lung-heat, dry cough due to yin deficiency, since it can nourish yin and moisten the lung as well as clear away heat and purge fire from the lung. For cough with yellow sputum due to lung-heat, it is used together with Huangqin ( Radix Seutellariae ), Beimu ( Bulbus Fritillariae), Sangbaipi ( Cortex Mori Radicis ) and others that can clear away heat from the lung and resolve phlegm. For dry cough and dryness of throat due to dryness of the lung and yin-deficiency, it is combined with Shashen (Radix Glehniae), Maimendong (Radix Ophiogonis) and others that can nourish yin and moisten the lung.

3. For the hyperactivity of fire due to yin deficiency marked by hectic fever, night sweat and restlessness, it is often combined with Huangbai (Cortex Phellodendri ) that is added to yin nourishing medicinal herbs so as to strengthen the action of nourishing yin to reduce fire, such as Zhi Bai Dihuang Wan (Pill).

4. For Diabetes due to yin deficiency manifested as thirst due to consumption of body fluids, constipation due to dryness of intestine, it can be combined with Tianhuafen (Radix Trichosanthis ), Gegen ( Radix Puerariae ) and others that can clear away heat and promote the regeneration of body fluids.

Usage and Dosage 6 - 12 g is used in decoction for oral use. The crude is suitable for clearing away heat and purging fire; the stir-baked form with salt solution for nourishing yin and reducing fire.

Notes Contraindicated in the patient with diarrhea due to spleen-deficiency since the drug is cold in nature and moistening in property, and can lubricate the intestine.

Zhizi Fructus Gardeniae

The source is from a fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis var. radicans (Thunb.) Makino, family Rubiaceae. The producing areas are maily in all provinces to the south of the Yangtze River. The medicinal material is collected in autumn and the crude or the one stir-baked to brown or the carbonized can be used.

Medicinal Properties Bitter in flavor, cold in nature and attributive to the heart, liver and triple energizer meridians.

Actions Purge sthenic fire to relieve vexation, clear away heat and remove dampness, cool blood and remove toxic materials, subside swelling to alleviate pain.

1. It is used for febrile disease with irritability and can clear away fire from the triple energizer and heart, and relieve vexation. For febrile diseases with irritability, it is often combined with Dandouchi (Semen Sojae Praeparata), such as Zhizi Chi Tang (Decoction) ; for overabundance of heart-heat with high fever, irritability, coma and delirium, usually used together with Huanglian (Rhizoma Coptidis ) , Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae ) , Huangbai (Cortex Phellodendri ) and others that can clear away heat and purge fire, such as Huanglian Jiedu Tang (Decoction).

2. For stagnation of dampness and heat in the liver and gallbladder manifested as jaundice, fever and oliguria with brownish urine, it is often combined with Yinchen ( Herba Artemisiae Scopariae ), Dahuang ( Radix et Rhizoma Rhei), etc., such as Yinchenhao Tang (Decoction).

3. For bleeding due to blood-heat manifested as hematemesis, epistaxis, and hematuria, etc.. It is often combined with Baimaogen (Rhizoma Imperatae), Shengdihuang ( Radix Rehmanniae ), and Huangqin ( Radix Scutellariae ) , etc..

4. It is used for pyocutaneous disease with swelling and trauma. For the former due to heat-toxin with reddish swelling and heat pain, it is often combined with Jinyinhua ( Flos Lonicerae ) , Lianqiao ( Fructus Forsythiae ), and Pugongying (Herba Taraxaci); for the latter, or trauma with local swelling and pain, the crude one can be ground into powder, which is mixed with egg white for local application.

Usage and Dosage 6 - 9 g is used in decoction for oral use, the crude one is used for purging fire, the carbonized one for stopping bleeding.

Notes It is not suitable for loose stool due to spleen- deficiency.