Traditional Chinese Medicine/Xia Ku Cao
Name Means:
- Xia-Summer
- Ku-Withered
- Cao-Grass/Weed
English Name:
- prunella
- selfheal spike
Chinese Name:
- 夏枯草 (Pinyin: xià kū căo)
Latin Name:
- Spica Prunellae Vulgaris [1]
Modern Research[2]
- Xia Ku Cao is "one of the most important herbal medicines in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, mastitis, infectious hepatitis, and hypertension". [3]
- It contains several active components including "triterpenic acids and their glycosidic derivatives, phenolic acids, and saponins". Among these components, triterpenic acids "have demonstrated antiinflammatory, diuretic, antitumor, hepatoprotective, and anti-HIV properties". [4]
Taste & Temperature:
Channels:
- Foot Shao Yang of Gall Bladder
- Foot Jue Yin of Liver
Actions & Indications:
- Clear Heat & Drain Fire
- Clear Liver Heat, brighten eyes
- clear Heat and dissipate nodules
- treat hypertension due to Liver Fire, Liver Yang Rising
- treat hypertension
Contraindications:
- Spleen/Stomach Deficient Cold
Caution:
- Spleen/Stomach deficiency
Dosage:
- 2-5 qian (9-15 grams)
back to:
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ Hong-Xiang Sun, Feng Qin, Yuan-Jiang Pan, "In vitro and in vivo immunosuppressive activity of Spica Prunellae ethanol extract on the immune responses in mice", Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 101, Issues 1-3, 3 October 2005, Pages 31-36
- ↑ Mi Kyoung Lee, Young Min Ahn, Kang Ro Lee, Jee H. Jung, Ok-Sang Jung, Jongki Hong: "Development of a validated liquid chromatographic method for the quality control of Prunellae Spica: Determination of triterpenic acids", Analytica Chimica Acta, Volume 633, Issue 2, 9 February 2009, Pages 271-277.
- ↑ Y.P. Zhu, "Chinese Materia Medica: Chemistry, Pharmacology and Applications", Harwood Academic Publishers, Amsterdam, 1998, pp668.
- ↑ M.E. Alvarez, A.E. Rotelli, L.E. Pelzer, J.R. Saad, O. Giordano, Il. Farmaco 55 (2000) pp502.