They are mostly bitter, cold and toxic and will elicit the body's response to excrete water, sometimes in a violent manner and can cause diarrhea, and some are accompanied with inducing diuresis to reduce swelling and distension. They are indicated for general edema, abdominal fullness and water retention but the healthy qi is not weakened. Since they have violent effect in purging water and severe side effects, when used, they are usually combined with tonics to protect healthy qi. Preparing, dosage, administration and contraindication, etc. must be seriously controlled so as to ensure the safety of medicinal application.

Gansui  Radix Euphorbiae Kansui

The source is from the root tuber of Euphorbia Kansui T.N. liou ex T. P. Wang, family Euphorbiaceae. The medicinal material is mainly produced in the areas of Shanxi, Shanxi, and Henan, etc., dug and collected in the end of autumn or at the early stage of spring, skirted, then dried in the sun and prepared with vinegar for being used.

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

Actions  Purge the bowels to eliminate the retention of phlegm, induce diuresis to relieve edema.

Application

It can be used for edema, tympanites and localized fluids in the chest and hypochondrium but the healthy qi is not weakened since it has violent effect in purging and eliminating the retention of phlegm. It can be powdered singly for oral use or used together with Daji (Radix Euporbiae Pekinensis ) , Yuanhua ( Flos Genkwa ), etc., such as Shizao Tang (Decoction) ; for the syndrome resulting from water retention and heat accumulating in the thorax, it is used together with Dahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei ) and Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas), such as Da Xianxiong Tang (Decoction). Now it is mostly used for ascites due to cirrhosis, exudative pleurisy and intestinal obstruction, etc..

For epilepsy of wind-phlegm type, it can be pounded into powder that is added to a pork heart to be stewed, and then it is prepared with Zhusha (Cinnabaris) into pills for oral use, such as Suixin Dan (Pill).

For pyocutaneous disease, the powder is mixed with water for external application.

Usage and Dosage  0.5 - 1.5 g is added to pill or powder form for oral use, just right amount of the raw is for external use and it must be prepared with vinegar for oral use so as to decrease the toxicity.

Notes  Contraindicated in pregnant women or the weak, it is incompatible with Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae).

Daji  Radix Euphorbiae Pekinensis

The source is from the root of Euphorbia pekinensis Rupr., family Euphorbiaceae. The medicinal material is maily produced in Jiangsu, Sichuan,Jiangxi and Guangxi provinces, dug and collected in the end of autumn or the early stage of spring. The roots without fibrous stems and hair are dried in the sun and prepared with vinegar to 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 to eliminate the retention of phlegm, relieve swelling and dissipate the masses.

Application

It is used for edema, tympanites and localized fluids in the chest and hypochondrium. It has violent effects in purging and eliminating the retention of phlegm. It can be used alone, or used together with Gansui (Radix Euphorbiae Kansui) and Yuanhua (Flos Genkwa), such as Shizao Tang (Decoction) to treat edema and tympanites without exhaustion of the healthy qi; For retention of phlegm and dampness in the chest and hypochondrium manifested as pain in the chest and hypochondrium, sticky and thick sputum, it can be used together with Gansui (Radix Euphorbiae Kansui ) and Baijiezi ( Semen Sinapis Albae), etc. to resolve phlegm and eliminate the retention of phlegm.

For carbuncle, sore, scrofula and subcutaneous nodule, it can be used orally or by external application.

Usage and Dosage  1.5 - 3 g is used in decoction for oral use; 1 g is added to pill or powder form and just right amount for external use. If taken orally, it must be prepared with vinegar to decrease the toxicity.

Notes  Contraindicated in pregnant women and the weak. It is incompatible with Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae).

Yuanhua  Flos Genkwa

The source is from the flower bud of Daphne genkwa sieb. et Zucc, family Thymelaeaceae. The medicinal material is mainly produced in Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Sichuan provinces, collected in spring before the flower blossoms, dried in the sun or by fire, the crude one or the one prepared with vinegar is used for medication.

Medicinal Properties  Pungent and bitter in flavor, cold in nature, toxic and attributive to the lung, kidney and large intestine meridians.

Actions  Purge the bowels to eliminate the retention of phlegm, resolve phlegm to relieve cough, kill worms and treat sore.

Application

It is used for retention of phlegm in the chest and hypochondrium, edema and tympanites. As it has similar action of purging and eliminating the retention of phlegm to Gansui (Radix Euphorbiae Kansui) and Daji (Radix Euphorbiae Pekinensis), the three kinds are often combined with each other, such as Shizao Tang (Decoction) and Zhouche Wan (Pill).

For cough and dyspnea due to phlegm, it can be used alone or together with others that resolve phlegm, relieve cough and dyspnea. Recently, it is also used for chronic bronchitis.

For eczema on the head, tinea tonsure and hard tinea, it can be used alone or together with Xionghuang (Realgar), which are pounded together into powder that are mixed with pork fat for exteranl application.

Usage and Dosage  1.5 - 3 g is used in decoction for oral use; 0.6 - 1 g is added to powder form; just right amount for external use; if taken orally, it must be prepared with vinegar to decrease its toxicity.

Notes  Contraindicated in the weak and pregnant women. It is incompatible with Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae ) .

Qianniuzi  Semen Pharbitidis