WH Acupuncture & Herbs Centre

 Dan nan xing       It is processed from the powder of Zhitiannanxing( processed Jack-in-the-pulpit tuber) with goat or pig bile, or fermented from the powder of Shengtiannanxing with goat or pig bile. It is bitter, slightly pungent,cool and relates to lung, liver and spleen merdians. it can clear and resolve heat-phlegm, extinguish wind and control convulsions. It mainly treats phlegm-heat causing cough with thick and yellowish sputum, apoplexy with phlegm accumulation, mania and epilepsy. The dosage is 3-6g.

It is the dried tuber of Arisaema erubescens (wall.)Schott, Arisaema amurense Maxim. or Arisaema  heterophyllum BI.,family Araceae. The tubers are dug and collected in atutumn and winter when the stem and leaves wither. They are washed clean and dried in the sunshine to get Shengtiannanxing ( raw jack-in-the-pulpit tuber)after the fibrous roots and the skin are removed. It is usually processed with fresh ginger and alum for using.

[ Medicial Properties ]: Bitter, pungent, warm and toxic; relate to lung, liver and spleen meridians.

[ Medicinal Efficacies ]: Dry dampness and resolve phlegm; expel wind and relieve convulsions; relieve swelling and pain.

[ Clinical Applications ]: 1. Damp-phlegm syndrome, cold-phlegm syndrome      For stubborn phlegm obstructing lung manifested as cough and chest distension and oppression, it is usually used together with Banxia, Fuling, Zhishi in Decoction. It treats lung-heat causing cough with thick and yellowish sputum in combination with Huangqin and Gualou.

2. Wind-phlegm syndrome       For dizziness, apoplexy with phlegm accumulation, wry mouth and eyes, epilepsy and tetanus, it is used with Banxia and Tianma in Yuhu Pills. Combined with Banxia, Baifuzi and Chuanwu, it treats numbness of extremities, hemiplegia, wry mouth and eyes due to stagnation of wind-phlegm in meridians. For tetanus, it is combined with Fangfeng, Baizhi and Tianma in Yuzhen Powder.

3. Large carbuncle, subcutaneous nodule, bite by poisonous snake    It is ground to powder and mixed with vinegar to apply on the affected parts of large carbuncle and subcutneous nodule. For bite by poisonous snake, it is mixed with Xionghuang to apply externally.

With its anti-tumor function discovered in recent years, it mainly treats cancer of uterine cervix.

[ Usage and Dosage ]: 3-9g. It is usually used after processing. The appropriate amount of raw medicinal is ground into powder to apply on the affected parts.

[Precaution]:It is Mecontraindicated for pregnant women.

[Medicinal Comparison]: Similarities: Banxia and Tiannanxing are pungent, warm, toxic, and effective for drying dampness and resolving phlegm, so they treat damp-phlegm and cold-phlegm syndromes. when used externally, they are effective for subcutaneous nodule, large carbuncle and bite by poisonous snake with their functions of dispersing swelling and relieving pain.

Differences: Banxia mainly relates to spleen and lung meridians, and it is especially effictive for resolving damp-phlegm in viscera and dissipating stuffiness and nodulation. It also treats accumulation of phlegm-heat in chest and subcutaneous nodule, and also suppresses adverse rise of qi and stops vomiting. Tiannanxing mainly relates to liver meridian, it usually treats wind-phlegm syndrome with its effects of resolving wind-phlegm and controlling convulsions, and it is more effective for dispersing swelling and relieving pain.

[ Side Effects ]: Since Shengnaxing (raw jack-in-the-pulpit tuber)is toxic, it causes ithching and swellig of skin and mucosa.

[ Annotation] : Dan nan xing       It is processed from the powder of Zhitiannanxing( processed Jack-in-the-pulpit tuber) with goat or pig bile, or fermented from the powder of Shengtiannanxing with goat or pig bile. It is bitter, slightly pungent,cool and relates to lung, liver and spleen merdians. it can clear and resolve heat-phlegm, extinguish wind and control convulsions. It mainly treats phlegm-heat causing cough with thick and yellowish sputum, apoplexy with phlegm accumulation, mania and epilepsy. The dosage is 3-6g.

胆南星        为天南星用牛胆汁拌制而成的加工品。性味苦、微辛，凉。归肝、胆经。功能清热化痰，息风定惊。适用于中风、癫痫、惊风、头风眩晕、痰火喘咳等证。煎服，1.5～6g。

天南星为天南星科植物天南星Arisaema erubcscens （Wall．） Schott、异叶天南星A. heterophyllum Bl．或东北天南星A.amurense Maxim.的块茎。天南星主产于河南、河北、四川等地；异叶天南星主产于江苏、浙江等地；东北天南星主产于辽宁、吉林等地。秋、冬二季采挖，除去须根及外皮，晒干，即生南星；用姜汁、明矾制过用，为制南星。