WH Acupuncture & Herbs Centre

 Xixin is the root and rhizome of Asarum heterotropoides Fr. Schmidt var. mandshuricum (Maxim) kitag.,Asarum sieboldii Miq.var.seoulense Nakai or Asarum sieboldii Miq., pertaining to Aristolochiaceae. It is collected in summer when the seed is mature or in early fall. After above ground part, earth and sand are removed, it is dried in the shade, and then cut into segments. The raw form is used.

[ Medicinal Properties ]: Pungent and warm. Slightly toxic; relate to heart, lung and kidney meridians.

[ Medicinal Efficacies ]: Dispel cold, release superficies; dispel wind, stop pain; open nose; warm lung and resolve retained fluid.

[ Usage and Dosage ]: 1-3g. As powder it is used 0.5-1g per time. Also it is used externally.

[ Precautions ]: Avoid with headache due to yin deficiency with yang hyperactivity, and dry cough due to lung dryness consuming yin. Mutual antagonistic with Lilu.

Clinical applications ]: 1. Wind-cold of exterior type     Xixin treats external contraction of wind-cold with severe headache and body pain, in combination with Qianghuo, Fangfang and Baizhi, in Jiuwei Qianghuo Decoction. It treats external contraction due to yang deficiency, which manifests as aversion to cold, fever, no sweat, deep pulse,, in combination with Fuzi and Mahuang; for example in Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Decoction.

2. Headache, toothache, wind-damp, and arthralgic pain   It treats headache along shaoyin meridians, cold feet , reversed flow of qi, deep and thin pulse, in combination with Duhuo and Chuanxiong. Also it treats external contraction of wind pathogen, manifestiong as migraine or headache, in combination with Chuanxiong, Baizhi and Qianghuo; for example in Chuanxiong Chatiao Powder. By itself, it treats headache due to wind-cold, or in combination with Baizhi and Biba to make decoction for gargel. It is indicated for arthralgic pain due to wind-cold, manifesting as cold pain in back and knees, in combination with Duhuo, Sangjisheng and Fangfeng, such as in Duhuo Jisheng Decoction.

3. Sinusitis   In combination with Baizhi, Cangerzi and Xinyi.

4. Lung cold, cough and dyspnea      It is indicated for external contraction of wind-cold and internal retention of water and rheum, which manifests as aversion to cold, fever, no sweat,cough, dyspnea, and profuse diluted sputum, in combination with Mahuang, Guizhi and Ganjiang; for example in Xiaoqinglong Decoction. For cold phlegm and retention of rheum, manifesting as cough, stuffy chest, reversed flow of qi, dyspnea, it is in combination with Fuling, Ganjiang and Wuweizi, such as in Linggan Wuwei Jiangxin Decoction.

细辛为马兜铃科植物北细辛Asarum heterotropoides Fr.Schmidt var.mandshuricum（Maxim.）kitag.、汉城细辛Asarum sieboldii Miq. Var. seoulense Nakai 或华细辛 Asarum sieboldii Miq. 的干燥全草。前两种习称“辽细辛”，主产于东北地区；华细辛主产于陕西、河南、山东、浙江等省。夏季果熟期或初秋采挖，除去泥沙, 阴干。切段，生用。