Semen Sinapis Albae
Naming
Bai Jie Zi (Semen brassicae) ——Ming Yi Bie Lu (Miscellaneous Records of Famous physicians)
Origin
The dry ripe seed of annual or over annual herbaceous plant Sinapis alba L. or Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. et Coss. of family Cruciferae.
Location
Anhui, Henan and Sichuan provinces in China.
Harvest
Collected in the end of summer and beginning of autumn when the fruit ripened.
The actual smell and taste
Light smell, pungent taste.
Best quality
Regular and full.
Processing
Unprocessed or stir-baked.
Property
Pungent, warm; lung and stomach meridians entered.
Actions
Warm lung and dispel phlegm, promote qi flow and dissipate nodulation, resolve swelling and alleviate pain.
Indications
A. Cough and dyspnea due to cold-phlegm, chest fullness and hypochondriac pain
This herb can dispel cold of lung, promote qi flow and resolve cold-phlegm. For cough, dyspnea and profuse and clear expectoration caused by cold-phlegm accumulation of lung and unsmooth qi flow, it is usually combined with qi-descending and phlegm-resolving herbs and antasthmatics. For instance it is combined with Su Zi and Lai Fu Zi in San Zi Yang Qin Tang from Han Shi Yi Tong (Han's Experience Collection). For cough, dyspnea, chest fullness and hvpochondriac pain as well as strong body structure and abundant qi, it is combined with phlegm-eliminating and accumulated water-driven herbs such as Gan Sui and Da Ji. For clod-wheezing, it is combined with Xi Xin, Gan Sui and She Xiang and made powder applied on the acupoint of Feishu (B13)and Gaohuang (B43) and so on.
B. Deep rooted carbuncle of yin type and multiple abscess, numbness of body, swollen and painful joint
This herb is capable of warming and dredging meridians and collaterals, resolving swelling, dissipating nodulation and alleviating pain. It is also ground into powder singly and mixed with vinegar for external application it can warm and dredges meridians and vessels, eliminate phlegm and dispel cold indicated for deep rooted carbuncle of yin type and multiple abscess caused by damp-phlegm obstruction of meridians and collaterals. It is usually combined with blood-activating and meridian-dredging herbs and flow of qi-promoting analgesics to enhance the action when treating body numbness and swelling and pain of joint caused by phlegm and damp accumulation and obstruction of meridians and collaterals. For instance it is combined with Mu Bie Zi, Mo Yao, Rou Gui and Mu Xiang and made powder taken with wine in Bai Jie Zi San from Fu Ren Da Quan Liang Fang. It is commonly combined with yang-warming, cold-dispelling and blood-nourishing herbs. For instance in order to warm yang, remove stagnation, resolve phlegm and dissipate nodulation, it is combined with Lu Jiao Jiao, Rou Gui, Pao Jiang and Shu Di in Yang He Tang from Wai Ke Quan Sheng Ji (Life-Saving Manual of Diagnosis and Treatment of External Diseases).
Dosage and Administrations
Decoct 3~6 g. Make powder; proper dose for external application.
Cautions
This herb has strong stimulation to the skin mucosa and will easily cause red and swollen and blister, so it is prohibited for those with digestive tract ulcer and bleeding, skin allergy as well. Do not use overdose.