The Official Dragons List Herb Encyclopedia

As per multiple requests, the herb and acupoint threads have been separate. You can now post herb stuff right into this thread, and acupoint stuff here:

The Official Dragons List Acutherapy Encyclopedia

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PlumDragon Herbs: Dit Da Jow and Iron Palm Liniments

"When a handshake passes the elbow, it becomes Judo."

SAFFLOWER FLOWER (Hong Hua)



Safflower, or Carthamus, is acrid, bitter, and is warm in nature.

Class: Herbs That Regulate/Invigorate Blood
Family: Compositae
Pharmaceutical Name: Carthamus Tinctorius
Parts Used: Flower
Dosage: 3-9 grams

Safflower, a red oily flower, is an inexpensive alternative to Saffron, which is the flower found in the high plateaus of Tibet. While Saffron is probably slightly more concentrated in oils, its price tag is extremely high. Concurrently, safflower is also very similar to the Western herb Calendula, although several sources I have say that it is "decidedly" stronger.

Safflower has a variety of utilities. It has the action of moving stagnant blood and irregularity in the abdomen, and so coincidentally regulating the menses, and is often used in traumatic injury to clear blood and waste. It also has the effect of releiving pain caused by blood stasis, since stasis can be a direct problem creating pain. Safflower is perhaps the most basic and common of ingredients in dit da jow recipes and also in many patent formulas, used from the most simple of minor trauma recipes to the most complex of recipes, internal and external. It is the Safflower (as well as a couple other herbs) that gives some jow and other formulas a slightly reddish hue.

Safflower oil is also an oil sometimes used in massage therapy as a carrier oil, and is also available in the grocery store for use as a cooking oil.

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PlumDragon Herbs: Dit Da Jow and Iron Palm Liniments

"When a handshake passes the elbow, it becomes Judo."

LOTUS STEM AND GINSENG COMBINATION (Qing Shu Yi Qi Tang)
Classical Formula

We are fast approaching the official beginning of summer (atleast in my part of the world), a time when people are easily dehydrated. Most Americans dont drink enough water as it is; then summer comes along and people start dropping like flies with the start of summer outdoor activities, being struck by heat stroke, summer-heat, dehydration, etc.

This combination is one of the classicla formulas; it is one of the formulas that a student might study, along side certain formulas like qi li san, which is sometimes used in martial arts for traumatic injury and makes up the base of some school's dit da jow.

The textbook actions of this formula are:
- Clear Summer heat and nourish the Qi.
- Replenish bodily fluids, demulcify and cool

It is indicated for those who fall prey to summer-heat, heat stroke, dehydration, high fever due to, or with excessive perspiration, thirst, nervousness and restlessness, and exhaustion as indicated by a red or pale tongue and a "thin rapid pulse". It can also be used to treat summer colds and flus, heat stroke and sun stroke. The below recipe is contraindicated for those whose conditions are nto caused by excessive heat exposure.

The Formula:
Watermelon Rind (Xi Gua Cui Yi) -- 10 grams.
American Ginseng (Xi Yang Shen) -- 2 g.
Lotus Stem (He Geng) -- 3 g.
Dendrobium (Shi Hu) -- 4 g.
Ophiopogon (Mai Men Dong) -- 3 g.
Coptis (Huang Lian) -- 0.5 g.
Anemarrhea (Zhi Mu) -- 2 g.
Black Bamboo Leaf (Dan Zhu Ye) -- 2 g.
Licorice (Gan Cao) -- 3 g.
Rice Sprouts (Jing Mi) -- 5 g.

Notice the watermelon rind in this recipe. Watermelon rind (as well as the fruit) are *very* good at hydrating and cooling the body from heat and summer-heat. If youre not interested in making the entire recipe but are interested in staying well hydrated, make sure and bring some watermelon with you when you go out, and eat into some of the rind when you finish the fruit. Combining this with a small amount of ginseng will help nourish the qi.

Sorry this installment is in so late from the last one...If anyoen has any requests or suggestions, please feel free to speak up.

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PlumDragon Herbs: Dit Da Jow and Iron Palm Liniments

"When a handshake passes the elbow, it becomes Judo."

EPHEDRA (Ma Huang) and ROOT (Ma Huang Gen)



Ephedra is bitter, acrid, and warm in nature.

Class: Herbs that Release The Exterior
Family: Ephedraceae
Pharmaceutical Name: Ephedra Sinica
Parts Used: Herb
Dosage: 3-9 grams

I chose to do a quick write-up on Ma Huang because I have seen a variety of threads here and there about the herb (and topic) recently. Ma Huang is debatedly one of the most scrutinized and misunderstood Chinese herbs to date. It has continued to receive a good deal of publicity recently as some herbal suppliers carry it and others do not. As of 2006, the FDA is still pursuing against products that use the herb, and more specifically, isolated compounds and analogs of those found in the herb.

Chinese Ma Huang herb, originating in Mongolia, is one of a variety of species of this herb around the world. It operates on the lung and urinary bladder meridians, and like other herbs in this category, is often used to treat the eyes, ears, nose, and throat. It has the action of releasing the surface (exterior) by increasing surface cappilary circulation which induces perspiration. It also promotes the circulation of lung qi and promotes urination. Ma Huang is often used to relieve coughing, wheezing, and asthma, as well as clear edema. It is also indicated for what is called Tai Yang (Greater Yang) stage with chills, fever, and headache where there is a lack of sweating.

Ma Huang is often combined into traditional recipes such as Ephedra Tea Combination (Ma Huang Tang) to remedy chills, fever, headache, general aches, upper respiratory congestion, lack of sweating, or in TCM, a "thin and white" tongue with a "floating and tight" pulse. It is also combined with a variety of other herbs for the common cold, cough, asthma, or edema. Interestingly, ma huang is also an herb that is on occasion found in dit da jow recipes as well.

Of interesting note, the root of Ma Huang (Ma Huang Gen) works in exactly the opposite way from the herb, stopping sweating as a result of a yin deficiency (although herbs in the category of ma huang gen generally treat symptoms and dont address the specific deficiency) and to remedy spontaneous sweating, to include night sweats and postpartum sweating. The seemingly opposing actions in the same plant is a common theme among herbs of high potency and is a great illustration of yin and yang.

As can be seen from the above info, the ma huang herb is not supposed to be used as a diet aid. It was extracted and concentrated, and then packaged as a "stimulant" by the drug companies, which is where the abuse set in. Unfortunately, this has ruined it for the rest of us...

Ma Huang is contraindicated for those with high blood pressure, insomnia, or night sweating. It is not recommended for extended long term use.

Some info from the FDA: http://www.fda.gov/oc/initiatives/ephedra/february2004/
A quick article addressing the active compound ehpedrine: http://www.nycacupuncture.com/ephedra.html

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PlumDragon Herbs: Dit Da Jow and Iron Palm Liniments

"When a handshake passes the elbow, it becomes Judo."

Wow, its been a long time since this thread has been updated...here we go:

Theres been talk about the following "herb", both here and other places. Hopefully this will serve as a way for people to read about what is considered a dangerous herb that should not be used in modern day. WARNING: The following herb is TOXIC, do NOT consider using this herb under any circumstances. The information below is presented so you can know what it is and how to recognize it so you can avoid it.

CINNIBAR (Zhu Sha)



Cinnibar is sweet, cool, and TOXIC.

Class: Substances that Anchor, Settle, and Calm the Spirit
Parts Used: Mineral of Red Mercuric Oxide

Cinnibar is a mineral of significant toxicity, and as a result, is not sold by any major herbal manufacturer, and for good reason as there are other herbs to substitute in the rare case that a health practicioner might want to prescribe this.

Having its effect directly on the heart meridian, it was traditionally said to act in calming the spirit and the heart, stop convlusions, and clear heat and toxins. This lead to its use in treating restlessness, convulsions, and epilepsy. It was also applied for boils and sores of the mouth, as well as snakebites.

Traditionally, it was contraindicated by those without signs of heat, and even in more ancient times was only used for short periods of time in very small doses, and only in powdered form, due to its level of toxicity. Cooking this herb increases its toxicity. Today, it only has mention in the Materia medica for academic mention.

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PlumDragon Herbs: Dit Da Jow and Iron Palm Liniments

"When a handshake passes the elbow, it becomes Judo."

This thread is just a hugely wonderful resource of information PlumDragon, great job bro!

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Oh THAT'S how that works!

Thanks Mei! Liekwise with the Acupressure thread, they compliment perfectly!

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PlumDragon Herbs: Dit Da Jow and Iron Palm Liniments

"When a handshake passes the elbow, it becomes Judo."

Interesting thread. I'm learning quite a bit.

Jeez, its cold out there!!

Some Herbs That Warm The Interior/Expel Cold

Fu Zi (Aconite) -- Yang collapse, extreme cold and weakness. This herb is toxic.
Gan Jiang (Dry Ginger) -- Coldness in the spleen ans tomach; nausea and diarrhea.
Rou Gui (Connamon Bark) -- Very hot, warms the spleen and kidney, cold extremities, circulates Qi and Blood.
Wu Zhu Yu (Evodia) -- Headaches caused by Cold Damp obstruction of the spleen and Liver meridians. This herb is toxic.
Xiao Hui Xiang (Fennel) -- Releives pain in the Lower Warmer, regulates Stomach Qi.
Bi Ba (Long Pepper) -- Expel Cold from Middle and Lower Warmer and for pain.
Gao Liang Jiang (Galangal) -- Warms the Stomach and Spleen, relieves pain.

These herbs represent a portion fo a group of herbs used for internal coldness, usually with Qi and Yang deficiency and as such are usually combined with Qi tonics. In the West, herbs like Ginger and Black Pepper are usually used in place of the above herbs. Many of these herbs enter the Spleen and Kidney channels--Not surprisingly, Deficient Qi and Yang commonly indicate a Spleen or Kidney Deficiency.

The above is for academic and informational purposes. Being educated about herbal supplements you might buy at the store, or that your Doc tells you to take are the key to posts like this. Dont attempt to take any of these herbs just because you feel cold in the winter, without the proper go-ahead from a Doctor. That was just my segway into the topic!

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PlumDragon Herbs: Dit Da Jow and Iron Palm Liniments

"When a handshake passes the elbow, it becomes Judo."

Tangering Peel (Chen Pi)



Tangerine, or Citrus, Peel is acrid and bitter, warming in nature, and aromatic.

Class: Herbs that Regualte Qi
Family: Rutacaea
Parts used: The peel of the fruit (pericarpium)
Dosage: 3-9 grams

There are serveral types of fruit peels used in Chinese herbalism, most being in the same class of qi regulators. This particular peel is usually that of the tangerine although in dire circumstances ripe orange peels are also an aceptable substitution.

Entering the Spleen and Lung meridians, Tangerine Peels warming nature warms and regulates the funcitons of the spleen and middle burner. It breaks stagnation associated with plegm or dampness and returns the body to a normal flow and is often used as an addition for the mid-region portions of the body. Tangerine Peel is also often utilized in tonifying recipes. Tonics tend to be heavy and sticky and can become a source of stagnation. Tangerine Peel acts to minimize the nature of these tonifying herbs to cloy up the body.

An interesting sidenote about Tangerine Peel is that while most herbs are better the fresher they are, Tangerine Peel tends to increase in quality and potency of its actions as it is aged. Just another example of youth not always having the upper-hand I suppose... =)

Some additional info:
http://www.herbalists.on.ca/resource...an/CITRUS.html

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PlumDragon Herbs: Dit Da Jow and Iron Palm Liniments

"When a handshake passes the elbow, it becomes Judo."

I've read that aconite, which is included in many dit da formulas, is quite toxic. What makes it so toxic, and how much of the toxicity is removed when prepared?

The Aconites are extremely toxic in their raw state. The primary organic chemical giving the root its toxicity is Aconotine, and a bunch of derivatives, hypoaconotine, hypa-, iso-, etc etc, which are fairly complex molecules.

Aconite is a really really important herb in herbology though as it basicly defines the most Yang herb of the Materia Medica. Aconite is only available in its processed form and even then is usually cooked for atleast an hour if used internally as there is still some residual toxicity. The LD50 for for one type of Aconite when cooked for 6 hours when given to mice is 41.59 g/kg via IV. So this is definitely an herb you want to *not* be using internally unless specifically directed by your healthcare practitioner. Its usually used with other herbs that help to reduce its toxicity and potentiate its effects and rarely used by itself. Of course, in dit da jow, it is used externally and is less of an issue.

I need to replace this picture with a better one, but here is a pic of Chuan Wu:

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PlumDragon Herbs: Dit Da Jow and Iron Palm Liniments

"When a handshake passes the elbow, it becomes Judo."

cool. this is a wonderful thread!

Great

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HC!

Almost a year to the day and no new additions?