✵TCM herbalism is also known as the pharmaceutics of Traditional Chinese Medicine or Chinese pharmaceutics. It is the branch of health science dealing with the preparation, dispensing, and proper utilization of Chinese herbs. It is primarily composed of Introduction to Chinese Medicinals, Classification of Chinese Herbs, Formulas, and Patent Medicines.
Anthelmintics Herbs
Introduction: Anthelmintic herbs are agents that expel or kill parasitic worms.
Anthelmintic herbs possess functions including detoxification, promoting wound healing, killing parasites to relieve itching, etc. They are primarily used to counteract toxins, eliminate parasites, and alleviate pruritus, and are mainly indicated for eczema, sores and carbuncles, severe furuncles, acariasis, syphilis, snakebite and insect stings, and cancerous masses. Due to their inherent toxicity, these herbs must be used with caution.
Representative herbs in this category include Cortex Meliae (Kǔ Liàn Pí), Fructus Quisqualis (Shǐ Jūn Zǐ), Semen Arecae (Bīnɡ Lánɡ), as well as other other herbs include Semen Cucurbitae (Nán Guā Zǐ), Semen Torreyae (Fěi Zǐ), Omphalia (Léi Wán), Fructus Carpesii (Hè Shī), Fructus Carotae (Nán Hè Shī), and Gemma Agrimoniae (Hè Cǎo Yá).
✵As of January 1, 2024, this category includes a total of [9] commonly used TCM herbs, derived from [9] plant species and [1] fungal species. These anthelmintic herbs are briefly introduced individually below:
Cortex Meliae (Szechwan Chinaberry Bark)
Brief Introduction:Cortex Meliae is the dried stem bark or root bark of Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc. or Melia azedarach L., used internally as an antiparasitic agent for treating helminthiasis and externally for scabies. It is commonly known as Cortex Meliae, Szechwan Chinaberry Bark, or Kǔ Liàn Pí.
Fructus Quisqualis (Rangoon-creeper Fruit)
Brief Introduction:Fructus Quisqualis is the dried ripe fruit of the Rangoon creeper (Quisqualis indica L.), used as an anthelmintic to treat ascariasis, enterobiasis, and infantile malnutrition associated with intestinal parasitosis. It is commonly known as Fructus Quisqualis, Rangoon-Creeper Fruit, Shǐ Jūn Zǐ.
Semen Arecae (Areca Seed)
Brief Introduction:Semen Arecae is the dried ripe seed of the betel palm (Areca catechu L.), used: (1) as an anthelmintic to treat ascariasis, fasciolopsiasis, ancylostomiasis, enterobiasis (oxyuriasis), and especially taeniasis; (2) to promote digestion and relieve abdominal distension, diarrhea with tenesmus, and other symptoms of food stagnation; (3) as a diuretic for edema; and (4) to arrest malarial paroxysms. The herb is commonly known as Semen Arecae, Areca Seed, or Bīnɡ Lánɡ.
Semen Cucurbitae (Pumpkin Seed)
Brief Introduction:Semen Cucurbitae is the dried seed of Cucurbita moschata Duch., used clinically as an anthelmintic for the treatment of taeniasis, schistosomiasis, and clonorchiasis. It is commonly known as Semen Cucurbitae, Pumpkin Seed, Cushaw Seed, or Nán Guā Zǐ.
Semen Torreyae (Grand Torreya Seed)
Brief Introduction:Semen Torreyae is the dried, ripe seed of Torreya grandis Fort. (Chinese torreya), used clinically as an anthelmintic and mild laxative for taeniasis, enterobiasis, ancylostomiasis, ascariasis, and fasciolopsiasis. Common names include Semen Torreyae, Grand Torreya Seed, and Fěi Zǐ.
Omphalia (Thunder Ball)
Brief Introduction: Thunder Ball is the dried sclerotium of Omphalia lapidescens Schroet., used clinically as an anthelmintic for taeniasis, ancylostomiasis, and ascariasis. Common names include Omphalia, Thunder Ball, and Léi Wán.
Fructus Carpesii (Common Carpesium Fruit)
Brief Introduction:Fructus Carpesii is the dried, ripe fruit of Carpesium abrotanoides L., used as an anthelmintic to treat ascariasis, enterobiasis, and taeniasis. It is commonly known as Fructus Carpesii, Common Carpesium Fruit, or Hè Shī. Literally, “Hè Shī” means “lice on cranes.”
Fructus Carotae (Carrot Fruit)
Brief Introduction:Fructus Carotae is the dried, ripe fruit of Daucus carota L., used (1) to expel parasitic worms in cases of ascariasis, oxyuriasis, and taeniasis, and (2) to resolve food retention for treating food stagnation. The herb is commonly known as Fructus Carotae, Carrot Fruit, or Nán Hè Shī.
Gemma Agrimoniae (Agrimonia Bud)
Brief Introduction:Gemma Agrimoniae (Agrimonia Bud) is the dried winter bud, with a short piece of rhizome attached, of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb., used as an anthelmintic for the treatment of taeniasis. The herb is commonly known as Gemma Agrimoniae, Agrimonia Bud, or Hè Cǎo Yá.
✵TCM herbalism is also known as the pharmaceutics of Traditional Chinese Medicine or Chinese pharmaceutics. It is the branch of health science dealing with the preparation, dispensing, and proper utilization of Chinese herbs. It is primarily composed of Introduction to Chinese Medicinals, Classification of Chinese Herbs, Formulas, and Patent Medicines.
Introduction: Anthelmintic herbs are agents that expel or kill parasitic worms.
Brief Introduction: Cortex Meliae is the dried stem bark or root bark of Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc. or Melia azedarach L., used internally as an antiparasitic agent for treating helminthiasis and externally for scabies. It is commonly known as Cortex Meliae, Szechwan Chinaberry Bark, or Kǔ Liàn Pí.
Brief Introduction: Fructus Quisqualis is the dried ripe fruit of the Rangoon creeper (Quisqualis indica L.), used as an anthelmintic to treat ascariasis, enterobiasis, and infantile malnutrition associated with intestinal parasitosis. It is commonly known as Fructus Quisqualis, Rangoon-Creeper Fruit, Shǐ Jūn Zǐ.
Brief Introduction: Semen Arecae is the dried ripe seed of the betel palm (Areca catechu L.), used: (1) as an anthelmintic to treat ascariasis, fasciolopsiasis, ancylostomiasis, enterobiasis (oxyuriasis), and especially taeniasis; (2) to promote digestion and relieve abdominal distension, diarrhea with tenesmus, and other symptoms of food stagnation; (3) as a diuretic for edema; and (4) to arrest malarial paroxysms. The herb is commonly known as Semen Arecae, Areca Seed, or Bīnɡ Lánɡ.
Brief Introduction: Semen Cucurbitae is the dried seed of Cucurbita moschata Duch., used clinically as an anthelmintic for the treatment of taeniasis, schistosomiasis, and clonorchiasis. It is commonly known as Semen Cucurbitae, Pumpkin Seed, Cushaw Seed, or Nán Guā Zǐ.
Brief Introduction: Semen Torreyae is the dried, ripe seed of Torreya grandis Fort. (Chinese torreya), used clinically as an anthelmintic and mild laxative for taeniasis, enterobiasis, ancylostomiasis, ascariasis, and fasciolopsiasis. Common names include Semen Torreyae, Grand Torreya Seed, and Fěi Zǐ.
Brief Introduction: Thunder Ball is the dried sclerotium of Omphalia lapidescens Schroet., used clinically as an anthelmintic for taeniasis, ancylostomiasis, and ascariasis. Common names include Omphalia, Thunder Ball, and Léi Wán.
Brief Introduction: Fructus Carpesii is the dried, ripe fruit of Carpesium abrotanoides L., used as an anthelmintic to treat ascariasis, enterobiasis, and taeniasis. It is commonly known as Fructus Carpesii, Common Carpesium Fruit, or Hè Shī. Literally, “Hè Shī” means “lice on cranes.”
Brief Introduction: Fructus Carotae is the dried, ripe fruit of Daucus carota L., used (1) to expel parasitic worms in cases of ascariasis, oxyuriasis, and taeniasis, and (2) to resolve food retention for treating food stagnation. The herb is commonly known as Fructus Carotae, Carrot Fruit, or Nán Hè Shī.
Brief Introduction: Gemma Agrimoniae (Agrimonia Bud) is the dried winter bud, with a short piece of rhizome attached, of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb., used as an anthelmintic for the treatment of taeniasis. The herb is commonly known as Gemma Agrimoniae, Agrimonia Bud, or Hè Cǎo Yá.