WH Acupuncture & Herbs Centre

Zicao is the dried root of Arnebia eufhroma ( Royle ) Johnst., Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb. et Zucc., and arnebia guttata Bunge, pertaining to Boraginaceae. It is collected in spring and fall. After the earth and sands are removed, it is dried. The raw form is used.

[ Medicinal Properties ]: Sweet, salty and cold; relate to heart and liver meridians.

[ Medicinal Efficacies ]: Cool blood, activate blood; relieve toxicity and promote eruption.

[ Usage and Dosage ]: 5-10g. Also it can be processed into paste or processed with plant oil to make extract for external application.

[ Precautions ]: For it can cause mild diarrhea, avoid with spleen deficiency with loose stool.

 

[ Clinical Applications ]: 1. Blood heat, prosperous toxin, macula of dark color, measles failing to erupt     Zicao treat echymosis due to warm toxinosis and macula of dark color due to blood heat with prosperous toxin, usually combined with Chishao, Chantui and Gancao; for example in zicao Kuaiban Decoction. It treats measles failing to erupt with dark color, sore and swollen throat, combined with Niubangzi, Shandougen and Lianqiao; for example in Zicao Xiaodu Decoction.

 

2. Sore and ulcers, eczema and burns    It treats abscess, swelling, sores and ulcers, combined with Jinyinhua, Lianqiao and Pugongying. For ulceration of long time, it is used in combinaiton with Danggui, Baizhi and Xuejie; for example in Shengji Yuhong Paste. In case of eczema, it is in combination with Huanglian and Huangbo. For burns, its plant oil extract is externally applied on the affected part, or in combination with Huangbo, Mudanpi and Dahuang, Mixed with sesame oil to make paste for external application.

紫草为紫草科植物新疆紫草Arnebia euchroma (Royle) Johnst.、紫草Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb. et Zucc.或内蒙紫草 A. guttata Bunge的干燥根，主产于辽宁，湖南，河北，新疆等地。春、秋二季采挖，除去泥沙，干燥。生用。