Intestine-Astringing and Diarrhea-Checking Herbs
Shi Liu Pi (Pomegranate Rind)
Naming
Shi Liu Pi (Pericarpium Granati) ——Ming Yi Bie Lu (Miscellaneous Records of Famous physicians)
The Processing of Pericarpium Granati
Origin
The peel of the perennial woody plants Punica granatum L. of the Pomegranate family.
Location
Most parts in China.
Harvest
Taken the peel of the ripe fruit in autumn.
The actual smell and taste
Bitter and astringent.
Best quality
Brown, thick peel.
Processing
Cut into small chunk, sun baked; unprocessed or stir-baked to charcoal.
The Effect of Pericarpium Granati
Actions
Astringe intestines to check diarrhea, check bleeding through astringency.
Indications
A. Chronic diarrhea and dysentery
It is a common used herb for chronic diarrhea and dysentery, because it enters large intestine meridian, and it can astringe intestines to stop diarrhea. It could be decocted or smashed into powder singly or combined with other intestine-astringing and diarrhea-checking herbs such as Rou Dou Kou, He Zi. For chronic diarrhea and dysentery due to deficiency cold, it is combined with the middle-warming and diarrhea-checking herbs, for instance, it is used with Gan Jiang and Fu Zi. For sinking of qi and anal prolapse due to long-term diarrhea or dysentery, is combined with yang-lifting and qi-tonifying herbs. For instance, it is used with Ren Shen, Huang Qi and Sheng Ma. For diarrhea and dysentery of damp-heat, it is combined with heat-clearing and damp-drying herbs. For instance, it is used with Huang Lian, Huang Bai.
B. Hematochezia, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis
It is indicated for hematochezia, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis because it can astringe to check bleeding. For hematochezia, it could be decocted singly or combined with hemostatic herbs. For instance, it is used with Di Yu and Huai Hua. For bleeding in pregnancy, it is combined with herbs of tonifying blood, hemostasis and preventing abortion. For instance, it is used with Dang Gui, E Jiao and Ai Ye in the formula Shi Liu Pi Tang from Chan Jing Fang (Prescription of Gynecology and Obstetrics).
Besides, it is indicated for seminal emission and leukorrhagia because it has the action of astringing essence and stopping leukorrhagia.
Dosage and Administrations
Dccoct 3~10 g. Raw material for decoction, stir-baked for pill or powder, stir-baked to charcoal for hemostasis.
Sources and further reading
We cite classical materia medica and modern reference works. This article is health education, not medical advice.
- Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), Han dynasty.
- Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), Li Shizhen, 1578.
- Chinese Pharmacopoeia, current edition — identity, quality and safety monographs.
- NCCIH and WHO reference material on traditional medicine safety.
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