Xuan Shen (Ningpo Figwort Root)

Herb 9 of 11 in Herbs that Cool the Blood

Channels:

KI, LU, ST

Properties:

Salty, Sweet, Bitter, Cold

Latin:

Radix Scrophulariae Ningpoensis

Chinese:

玄参

Tone Marks:

xuán shēn

Alt Names:

Yuan Shen

Translation:

Dark Root

Chinese Herb Actions

• Clears Heat, Cools the Blood, and Nourishes the Yin
  Use when heat has entered the Blood level causing fever, bleeding, dry mouth, and a red-purple tongue color. Also for Yin Deficiency heat, especially following a fever with dryness, constipation, irritability, and dry cough.
• Relieves Fire Toxicity and Inflammation
  For red or swollen eyes and severe sore throat.
• Resolves Nodules and Lumps
  For neck lumps, swollen tonsils, scrofula, and swollen throat from phlegm fire.

Chinese Herb Contraindications & Cautions

• Contraindicated in patients with diarrhea, or dampness in the spleen or stomach. This herb has been noted to antagonize Rhizoma Zingiberis Officinalis (gan jiang), Radix Astragali Membranacei (huang qi), Fructus Zizyphi Jujubae (da zao), Frucutus Corni Officinalis (shan zhu yu), and is incompatible with Rhizoma et Radix Veratri (li lu).

Herb-Drug Interactions

• May interfere with Anti-Diabetic drugs.

Chinese Herb Toxicity & Overdose

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Chinese Herb Dosage

• 9-30 grams.
• Part used: root.

Chinese Herb Notes

• To benefit the yin, this herb is often dry-fried in salt.

This Herb Appears in the Following Formulas:

• Bai He Gu Jin Tang (Lily Bulb Decoction to Preserve the Metal)
  Category: Formulas that Enrich the Yin and Moisten Dryness
• Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin (Universal Benefit Decoction to Eliminate Toxins)
  Category: Formulas that Clear Heat and Relieve Toxicity
• Qing Wen Bai Du Yin (Clear Epidemics and Overcome Toxins Decoction)
  Category: Formulas that Clear Heat and Relieve Toxicity
• Qing Ying Tang (Clear the Nutritive Level Decoction)
  Category: Formulas that Clear Heat from the Nutritive Level and Cool the Blood
• Sheng Tie Luo Yin (Iron Filings Decoction)
  Category: Formulas that Sedate and Calm the Spirit
• Si Miao Yong an Tang (Four Valiant Decoction for Well Being)
  Category: Formulas that Clear Heat and Relieve Toxicity
• Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan (Emperor of Heaven's Special Pill to Tonify the Heart)
  Category: Formulas that Nourish the Heart and Calm the Spirit
• Xiao Luo Wan (Reduce Scrofula Pill)
  Category: Formulas that Transform Phlegm and Dissipate Nodules
• Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang (Nourish the Yin and Clear the Lungs Decoction)
  Category: Formulas that Enrich the Yin and Moisten Dryness
• Zeng Ye Tang (Increase the Fluids Decoction)
  Category: Formulas that Enrich the Yin and Moisten Dryness
• Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang (Sedate the Liver and Extinguish Wind Decoction)
  Category: Formulas that Extinguish Internal Wind
• Zi Xue Dan (Purple Snow Special Pill)
  Category: Formulas that Clear Heat and Open the Orifices

• Li Lu (Radix Et Rhizoma Veratri)