The source is from the seed of Pharbitis nil (L.) Choisy or P. purpurea (L.) voight, family Convolvulaceae. Spermoderm grey-dark or yellow-white is separately called Heichou or Baichou. The medicinal material is produced in all parts of China, cut in autumn when the fruits are ripe and the fruit shell does not split open, and dried in the sun. The seeds are gathered without impurity and then dried in the sun. The crude or stir-haked one can be used. Medicinal Properties Bitter and pungent in flavor, cold in nature, toxic and attributive to the lung, kidney and large intestine meridians. Actions Purge the bowels, promote diuresis, eliminate stagnated accumulation and kill worms. Application 1. It is used in a case with edema or tympanites but with healthy qi, it can be used alone or combined with Gansui ( Radix Euphorbiae Kansui ), Daji ( Radix Euphorbiae Pekinensis ), etc. such as Zhouche Wan (Pill). 2. For dyspnea and cough due to phlegm retention, it can be used together with Tinglizi ( Semen Lepidii seu Descurainiae ), Xingren ( Semen Armeniacae Amarum), etc.. 3. For stagnation of dampness-heat with constipation, stagnation of dampness-heat in the stomach and intestine with constipation and abdominal distention or dysentery with tenesmus, it is used together with Muxiang (Radix Aucklandiae ), Binglang ( Semen Arecae ), and Zhishi (Fructus Aurantii Immaturus), etc.; for constipation, it is also used together with Taoren (Semen Persicae), which are pounded into powder and prepared into pill for administration. 4. For abdominal pain due to accumulation of worms, and for abdominal pain and indigestion due to ascariasis and taeniasis, etc., it is used together with Binglang ( Semen Arecae ), Shijunzi ( Fructus Quiqualis), etc.. Usage and Dosage 3 - 6 g is used in decoction for oral use; 1.5- 3g is added to pill or powder form. The fried one can make the medicinal property moderate. Notes Contraindicated in pregnant women and a case with edema due to spleen-deficiency.
