WH Acupuncture & Herbs Centre

 It is the dried tuberous root of Curcuma wenyujin Y. H. Chen et C. Ling, Curcuma longa L., Curcuma Kwangsiensis S. G. Lee C. F. Liang or Curdcuma Phaeocaulis Val., family Zingiberaceae. It is harvested during autumn and winter, when the plant has withered away. After the earthnut is selected, the fibrous root removed, it is washed clean, and dried in the sunshine. It is boiled thoroughly , cut into pieces, after which it is ready to be utilized as a medicine.

[ Medicinal Properties ]: Pungent, bitter , cold; relate to liver, heart , lung and gallbladder meridians.

[ Medicinal Efficacies ]: Activate blood and relieve pain; promote qi and disperse the stagnated qi; clear heart and cool blood; excrete bile and disperse jaundice.

[ Usage and Dosage ]: 3-9g.

[ Precautions ]: It is traditionally considered incompatible with Dingxiang.

[ Clinical Applications ]: 1. Liver qi stagnation and blood stasis causing blockage      For distention and pain in the chest and hypochondrium, it can be combined with Danshen, Chaihu and Xiangfu. If there is depression of liver qi, with fever and abdominal pain before menstruation, it should be combined with Chaihu, Xiangfu and Danggui, such as in the Xuanyutongjing Decoction. Also for mass in the hypochondriu, it is used with Danshen, Biejia and Qingpi.

2. Phlegm-heat clouding the heart     For clouding of heart by turbid phlegm, resulting from damp-febrile disease, it is usually combined with Shichangpu, Zhuli and Zhizi, such as in the Changpuyujing Decoction. In addition, for blockage of heart due to phlegm-heat, usually it is combined together with Mingfan, for example , in the Baijin Pill.

3. Blood heat causing bleeding as haematemesis, epistaxis, hematuria and unsmooth menstruation     In the case of blood-heat with various types of bleeding, as listed above, and vicarious menstruation, it may be used together with Shengdihuang, Zhizi and Niuxi.

4. Damp-heat jaundice and gallstone    To treat syndromes of damp-heat jaundice and gallstone, it is  usually combined with Yinchen and Zhizi.

郁金为姜科植物温郁金Curcuma wenyujin Y.H.Chen et C.Ling、姜黄C.longa L.、广西莪术C.kwangsiensis S.Lee et C.F.Liang或蓬莪术C.phaeocaulis Val.的块根。温郁金主产于浙江，以温州地区最有名，为道地药材；黄郁金（植物郁金）及绿丝郁金（蓬莪术）主产于四川；广西莪术主产于广西。野生或栽培。冬季茎叶枯萎后采挖，摘取块根，除去细根，蒸或煮至透心，干燥。切片或打碎，生用，或矾水炙用。