✵The TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) herbalism is also known as pharmaceutics of Traditional Chinese Medicine, or Chinese pharmaceutics, is the branch of health science dealing with the preparation, dispensing, and proper utilization of Chinese herbs. It is majorly composed of Introduction of Chinese Medicinals, Classification of Chinese Herbs, Formulas, and Patent medicines.
Classifications of Herbs:Drastic Hydrogogue Herbs.
Introduction: Herbs Hydragogues or Drastic Purgatives: also known as diuretic hydragogue herbs, an agent or substance herbs that causes copious discharge of water through catharsis and at the same time increases urine excretion. Hydragogues herbs are also known as drastic hydrogogue herbs, a cathartic that causes copious water discharge for reducing accumulated fluid in anasarca, ascites and pleural effusion, mostly are cold in nature, bitter in flavor, and functions of diuretic is drastic and strong, lead to extensive diarrhea, and purging retained water and fluid quickly with defecation, some herbs also have diuretic function.
Hydragogues herbs mostly are cold in property, bitter in flavor, have drastic and strong purgative functions, etc., and these herbs are mainly used for edema (dropsy), syndrome of fluid retention in chest and hypochondrium, etc. These herbs have drastic purgative effects, and easily hurt the health Qi, should be stopped using as soon as symptoms are relieved, should not be used for long period. These herbs should be used cautiously for those with physical deficiency, and should not be used for pregnant woman. Representative herbs of this kind are Flos Genkwa (Yuán Huā), and other herbs including Semen Pharbitidis (Qiān Niú Zǐ), Radix Phytolaccae (Shānɡ Lù), Folium et Flos Wikstroemiae Chamaedephnis (Huáng Yuán Huā), etc.
✵Till January 1st, 2024, there are totally [7] kinds of common TCM herbs, [6] kinds of related plant species, are recorded in this category.These drastic hydrogogue herbs are briefly introduced separately:
Flos Genkwa (Lilac Daphne Flower Bud).
Brief Introduction: The herb Flos Genkwa is the dried flower-bud of Daphne genkwa Sieb.et Zucc.(family Thymelaeaceae), used as a hydragogue and purgative for treating severe edema, hydrothroax and ascites with oliguria and constipation, and externally for scabies and frostbite. The herb is commonly known as Flos Genkwa, Lilac Daphne Flower Bud, Yuán Huā.
Semen Pharbitidis (Pharbitis Seed).
Brief Introduction: The herb Semen Pharbitidis is the dried ripe seed of Pharbitis nil (L.) Choisy., or Pharbitis purpurea (L.) Voigt (family Convolvulaceae), used as a hydragogue for edema and oliguria, and an anthelmintic for ascariasis. The herb is commonly known as Semen Pharbitidis, Pharbitis Seed, Qiān Niú Zǐ.
Black Pharbitis Seed.
Brief Introduction: The herb Black Pharbitis Seed is the pharbitis seed with its surface colored grayish black.
✵The Black Pharbitis Seed is commonly known as Hēi Chǒu(Black Ugly), Hēi Qiān Niú Zǐ, the botanical origin was introduced in entry "Semen Pharbitidis(Pharbitis Seed)"
White Pharbitis Seed.
Brief Introduction: The herb White Pharbitis Seed is the pharbitis seed with its surface colored pale yellowish.
✵The White Pharbitis Seed is commonly known as Bái Chǒu(White Ugly), Bái Qiān Niú Zǐ, the botanical origin was introduced in entry "Semen Pharbitidis(Pharbitis Seed)"
Black and White Pharbitis Seed.
Brief Introduction: The herb Black and White Pharbitis Seed is the black and white pharbitis seeds mixed in equal quantities.
✵The Black and White Pharbitis Seed is commonly known as Hēi Bái Chǒu(Black Ugly and White Ugly), Hēi Bái Qiān Niú Zǐ, the botanical origin was introduced in entry "Semen Pharbitidis(Pharbitis Seed)"
Radix Phytolaccae (Pokeberry Root).
Brief Introduction: The herb Radix Phytolaccae is the dried root of Phytolacca acinosa Roxb., or Phytolacca americana L (family Phytolaccaceae), used as a diuretic and hydragogue for treating edema and ascites, also used externally for treating boils and sores. The herb is commonly known as Radix Phytolaccae, Pokeberry Root, Shānɡ Lù.
Folium et Flos Wikstroemiae Chamaedephnis (Chamaedaphne Leaf and Flower,Yellow Genkwa Leaf and Flower).
Brief Introduction: The herb Folium et Flos Wikstroemiae Chamaedephnis is the leaf and flower-bud of Wikstroemia chamaedaphne Meissn (family Thymeleaceae), used in a similar way to Flos Genkwa, and also for treating acute and chronic hepatitis, schizophrenia, and epilepsy. The herb is commonly known as Folium et Flos Wikstroemiae Chamaedephnis, Chamaedaphne Leaf and Flower, Yellow Genkwa Leaf and Flower, Huáng Yuán Huā.
✵The TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) herbalism is also known as pharmaceutics of Traditional Chinese Medicine, or Chinese pharmaceutics, is the branch of health science dealing with the preparation, dispensing, and proper utilization of Chinese herbs. It is majorly composed of Introduction of Chinese Medicinals, Classification of Chinese Herbs, Formulas, and Patent medicines.
Introduction: Herbs Hydragogues or Drastic Purgatives: also known as diuretic hydragogue herbs, an agent or substance herbs that causes copious discharge of water through catharsis and at the same time increases urine excretion. Hydragogues herbs are also known as drastic hydrogogue herbs, a cathartic that causes copious water discharge for reducing accumulated fluid in anasarca, ascites and pleural effusion, mostly are cold in nature, bitter in flavor, and functions of diuretic is drastic and strong, lead to extensive diarrhea, and purging retained water and fluid quickly with defecation, some herbs also have diuretic function.
Brief Introduction: The herb Flos Genkwa is the dried flower-bud of Daphne genkwa Sieb.et Zucc.(family Thymelaeaceae), used as a hydragogue and purgative for treating severe edema, hydrothroax and ascites with oliguria and constipation, and externally for scabies and frostbite. The herb is commonly known as Flos Genkwa, Lilac Daphne Flower Bud, Yuán Huā.
Brief Introduction: The herb Semen Pharbitidis is the dried ripe seed of Pharbitis nil (L.) Choisy., or Pharbitis purpurea (L.) Voigt (family Convolvulaceae), used as a hydragogue for edema and oliguria, and an anthelmintic for ascariasis. The herb is commonly known as Semen Pharbitidis, Pharbitis Seed, Qiān Niú Zǐ.
Brief Introduction: The herb Black Pharbitis Seed is the pharbitis seed with its surface colored grayish black.
Brief Introduction: The herb White Pharbitis Seed is the pharbitis seed with its surface colored pale yellowish.
Brief Introduction: The herb Black and White Pharbitis Seed is the black and white pharbitis seeds mixed in equal quantities.
Brief Introduction: The herb Radix Phytolaccae is the dried root of Phytolacca acinosa Roxb., or Phytolacca americana L (family Phytolaccaceae), used as a diuretic and hydragogue for treating edema and ascites, also used externally for treating boils and sores. The herb is commonly known as Radix Phytolaccae, Pokeberry Root, Shānɡ Lù.
Brief Introduction: The herb Folium et Flos Wikstroemiae Chamaedephnis is the leaf and flower-bud of Wikstroemia chamaedaphne Meissn (family Thymeleaceae), used in a similar way to Flos Genkwa, and also for treating acute and chronic hepatitis, schizophrenia, and epilepsy. The herb is commonly known as Folium et Flos Wikstroemiae Chamaedephnis, Chamaedaphne Leaf and Flower, Yellow Genkwa Leaf and Flower, Huáng Yuán Huā.
