Shengma Rhizorna Cimicifugae
Its source is from the rhizome of Cimicifuga heracleifolia kom., C. dahurica (Turcz.) Maxim. and C. foetida L., family Ranunculaceae. The producing areas are mainly in the provinces of Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Hunan, etc., and the medicinal material is collected in summer and autumn, dried in the sun and then cut into pieces. The crude or the one stir-baked with honey can be used for medication.
Medicinal Properties Pungent and sweet in flavor, slightly cold in nature and attributive to the spleen, stomach and large intestine meridians.
Actions Expel pathogenic factors from the superficies and promote eruption of measles, clear away heat and remove the toxic materials, and uplift yang-qi of the spleen.
Application
1. For exterior syndrome of wind-heat type manifested as fever, headache, or unsmooth eruption of measles, it can be used together with Gegen (Radix Puerariae), such as Gegen Shengma Tang (Decoction).
2. It is indicated for yangming-heat manifested as aphthae, toothache, sore and swollen throat. For toothache and aphthae due to stomach-fire, it can be combined with Huanglian ( Rhizoma Coptidis ), Shengdihuang (Radix Rehmannia ), and Mudanpi ( Cortex Moutan Radicis), etc. ,such as Qingwei San (Powder). For sore and swelling of throat due to wind and heat ascending, combined with Jiegeng (Radix Platycodi) and Xuanshen (Radix Scrophulariae ). For pyocutaneous disease of heat type, used with Jinyinhua (Flos Lonicerae), Lianqiao ( Fructus Forsythiae ), and Pugongying ( Herba Taraxaxi) , etc..
3. For prolapse due to qi deficiency manifested as shortness of breath, fatigue, prolapse of rectum due to chronic diarrhea, prolapse of uterus, uterine bleeding without stopping, it is usually combined with Chaihu (Radix Bupleuri ), Huangqi ( Radix Astragali ) and others that replenish qi for lifting and ascending, such as Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Decoction).
Usage and Dosage 3 -9 g is used in decoction for oral use. The crude is suitable for expelling pathogenic factors from the superficies and promoting eruption of measles, and the prepared form for uplifting yang-qi and treating prolapse.
Notes Contraindicated for syndrome of yin deficiency and yang floating, dyspnea, adverse rising of qi and smooth eruption of measles since it is uplifting and floating in property.
Explanation Chaihu (Radix Bupleuri), Gegen ( Radix Puerariae ) and Shengma ( Rhizoma Cimicifugae) can all expel pathogenic factors from the superficies and invigorate the spleen-yang, and are indicated for the disease due to exogenous pathogenic wind and heat with fever and headache. But Shengma (Rhizoma Cimicifugae) and Chaihu (Radix Bupleuri ) can invigorate the spleen-yang in sending qi and nutrients upward and are used for prolapse due to qi deficiency marked by prolapse of the rectum due to chronic diarrhea and prolapse of internal organs. Shengma (Rhizoma Cimicifugae ) and Gegen (Radix Puerariae) can let out eruption of measles as well, so they are indicated for early stage of measles with unsmooth eruption. In addition, Chaihu (Radix Bupleuri) can also mediate shaoyang meridian, soothe the liver and remove the stagnancy of liver-qi, so it is often used for syndrome of the shaoyang meridians manifested as alternate spells of fever and chills, fullness in the chest and hypochondrium, bitter taste in the mouth and dryness of throat, and also for stagnancy of liver-qi with irregular menstruation, pain in the chest and hypochondrium, and is effective in abating fever. Shengma (Rhizoma Cimicifugae) is good at clearing away heat and relieving toxic materials and often used for heat syndromes marked by toothache, aphthae, sore and swollen throat and erysipelas. Gegen (Radix Puerariae) can raise lucid yang, produce the body fluids and relieve thirst, diarrhea and dysentery and is indicated for febrile disease with excessive thirst, diabetes due to yin deficiency, diarrhea and dysentery due to heat, diarrhea due to spleen-deficiency. It can expel pathogenic factors in the muscles and relieve fever as well, so it can be used for exterior syndrome manifested as stiffness and pain of the nape and back.
