WH Acupuncture & Herbs Centre

It is the dried root of Achyranthes bidentata Bl. and Cyathula officinalis Kuan, family Amaranthaceae. The former one is better produced in Wuzhi, Wenxian, Bo'ai, Qinyang, Huixian of Henan Province. While the latter one is better produced in Sichuan and Yunan. It is harvested and collected during winter, when the plant has withered. It is washed clean, cut into segments and dried in the sunshine. It can be utilized in its raw or stir-baked with liquor form.

[ Medicinal Properties ]: Bitter, sour and neutral; relate to liver and kidney meridians.

[ Medicinal Efficacies ]: Activate blood and remove blood stasis; nourish the liver and kidney; strengthen bones and muscles; alleviate edema and relieve stranguria; conduct blood-fire to go downward.

[ Clinical Applications ]: 1.Blood-stasis causing irregular menstruatin, dysmenorrheal, amonorrhea, postpartum abdominal pain and trauma pain      To treat the above mentioned women's syndromes and conditions, it is usually combined with Honghua, Taoren and Danggui. In cases of physical trauma of the waist, knee and foot, it is used together with Danggui, Chuanxiong and Xuduan.

2. Pain in the loins and knees and weakness of lower limbs       For pain in the loins and knees due to asthenia of the liver and the kidney , it can be combined with Duzhong and Xuduan. Yet , for weakness caused by heavy insufficiency and impairment, it is often combined with Shudihuang and Suoyang, such as in the Huqian Pill. If there is swollen-heat pain in waist and knee or tinea pedis pain caused by down-pouring of damp-heat, it is usually combined with Cangzhu, Huangbai and Yiyiren, such as , in the Simiao Pill. In cases of joint pain of the lower limbs caused by rheumatism, it is used together with Fangji, Beixie and Duhuo.

3. Hematuria, dysuria and urethralgia        To treat hematuria, dysuria and trethralgia, it can be sued combined with Danggui, Qumai and Tongcao, as in the Niuxi Decoction.

4. Haematemesis, epistaxis, toothache, aphthae, headache and dizziness     For bleeding due to blood-heat of upper part of the body, it is combined with Baimaogen, Xiaoji and Zhizi. In cases of toothache and aphthae caused by fire due to deficiency of yin, it is usually combined with Shengdihuang, Shengshigao and Zhimu, such as, in the Yunu Decoction. In cases of headache and dizziness caused by yin deficiency with yang hyperactivity and stirring of liver-wind, it is usually combined with Daizheshi, Shengmuli, Shenglonggu and Baishao, for example in the Zhegan XIfeng Decoction.

[ Usage and Dosage ]: 4.5-9g. To activate blood and remove blood-stasis, alleviate edema, relieve stranguria, and conduct fire to go downward, the raw form is superior. In order to nourish the liver and kidney and strengthen the bones and muscles, it is better to be stir-baked with liquor. Achyranthes bidentata BI. is efficacious in nourishing the liver and the kindey and in strengthening the bone and muscles. Yet, Cyathula officinalis Kuan is efficacious in activating blood and meridians.

[ Precautions ]: Contraindicated in Pregnant women and women with Profuse menstruation.

 牛膝为苋科植物牛膝（怀牛膝）Achyranthes bidentata Blume.和川牛膝(甜牛膝)Cyathula officinalis Kuan的根。以栽培品为主，也有野生者。怀牛膝主产河南；川牛膝主产四川、云南、贵州等地。冬季苗枯时采挖。洗净，晒干。生用或酒炙用。