Da Ji (Japanese Thistle Herb or Root)

Naming

Da Ji (Herba seu Radix Cirsii Japonici)——Ming Yi Bie Lu (Miscellaneous Records of Famous physicians)

The Processing of Herba seu Radix Cirsii Japonici

Origin

The aerial part or root of perennial herbaceous plant Cirsium japonicum DC. of family Compositae.

Location

In most areas of China, and in the North China, more using its aerial part; in the South and southwest China, more using the root; in the East, both aerial part and root.

Harvest

The aerial part is harvested in summer or autumn when blossom, and the root harvested in the end of autumn.

The actual smell and taste

Light smell and bland taste of the aerial part, light smell and sweet taste of the root.

Best quality

Green and flourishing leaves, big without fibrous roots.

Processing

Purified and dried in the sun; unprocessed or stir-baked into charcoal.

The Effect of Herba seu Radix Cirsii Japonici

Property

Sweet, bitter, cool; heart and liver meridians entered.

Actions

Cool blood to stop bleeding, eliminate blood stasis, relieve toxicity, cure abscess

Indications

A. syndrome of Heat-induced bleeding

This herb is cool and cold in nature entering blood system and has the actions of cooling blood and stop bleeding. Therefore, it is indicated for bleeding due to recklessly blood flow resulted from blood heat, especially for hemoptysis, hematemesis, and metrorrhagia and metrostaxis. For bleeding of the nine orifices, it is reinforced by the combination with Xiao Ji recorded in Bu Ju Ji (Records of Buju). For hemoptysis, hematemesis, and metrorrhagia and metrostaxis, the juice of its fresh root or leaves are extracted and orally taken recorded in Ben Cao Hui Yan (Speeches Collection on Materia Medica). For traumatic bleeding, it is ground into powder and applied externally.

B. Heat toxin swollen abscess

It has similar action to Xiao Ji, not only cooling blood and relieving toxicity, but eliminating blood stasis and swelling. Its action is stronger than that of Xiao ji. For both internal and external abscess, it is singly taken orally or applied externally. And fresh is better.

Dosage and Administrations

Decoct 10~15g, 30~60g of the fresh. Proper dose for external application and smashed.