五倍子

Wu Bei Zi

Name

Wu Bei Zi (Galla Chinensis)

Property

Sour, pungent, cold; lung , large intestine and kidney meridians entered.

Actions

Activate lung, clear fire, relieve cough and sweating, astringe intestine to relieve diarrhea, astringe essence to relieve emission, astringe to stop bleeding, dry dampness, cure ulcer.

Indications

Chronic diarrhea and dysentery, cough and hemoptysis, spontaneous sweating and night sweat, seminal emission and spermatorrhea, hematochezia, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis, ulcer and edema.

Dosage and administration

Decoct 3~9 g; pills or powder 0.5~1 g daily. Appropriate dosage for external use.

Cations

Use with caution for diarrhea or dysentery of damp-heat type.