Tian Nan Xing (Pedate Pinallia Jackinthepulpit Rhizome)

Name

Tian Nan Xing (Rhizoma Arisaematis), from Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shen Nong's Herbal)

Source and quality

The dry tuber of the perennial herbaceous plants Arisaema erubescens (Wall.) Schott, A. heterophyllum Bl. or A. amurense Maxim. of the family Araceae. It is produced in Henan and Sichuan provinces and in northeast China, and is collected in autumn and winter once the stems and leaves have withered.

It has a slightly pungent odor and a spicy taste. The best grade is large, white and powder-like. It is processed with ginger juice and alum.

Nature and action

Bitter, pungent, warm and toxic. It enters the lung, liver and spleen meridians.

It dries dampness and resolves phlegm, extinguishes wind and stops spasms. Used externally it resolves swelling and dissipates nodulation.

Indications

Damp-phlegm and cold-phlegm

Its action of drying dampness and resolving phlegm is slightly weaker than that of Ban Xia, while it is warmer, dryer and more toxic. It is therefore not used as commonly as Ban Xia when treating damp-phlegm and cold-phlegm.

• For damp-phlegm obstruction of the lung, with cough and profuse expectoration and distension and oppression of the chest and diaphragm, it is usually combined with herbs that dry dampness and resolve phlegm, such as Ban Xia, Zhi Shi and Ju Hong in Daotan Tang from Chuan Xin Shi Yong Fang (Practical Prescription of Message Delivery).
• For cough due to phlegm-heat, it is combined with herbs that clear the lung and resolve phlegm, such as Huang Qin and Ban Xia in Xiao Huang Wan from Bao Ming Ji written by Zhang Jiegu.

Wind-phlegm syndromes

This herb is good at dispelling wind-phlegm from the meridians and collaterals to stop spasms, so it is usually indicated for the syndromes of wind-phlegm.

• For hemiplegia, stubborn numbness of the hands and limbs, and deviation of the mouth and eyes resulting from wind-phlegm accumulating in the meridians and collaterals, it is usually combined with herbs that dry dampness and resolve phlegm, such as Ban Xia, Bai Fu Zi and Chuan Wu in Qing Zhou Bai Wan Zi from Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang.
• For vertigo due to wind-phlegm, it is usually combined with herbs that dry dampness and resolve phlegm and herbs that pacify the liver and extinguish wind, such as Ban Xia, Tian Ma and Gou Teng.
• For epilepsy caused by phlegm and turbidity obstructing upward the clear orifice, it is combined with herbs that resolve phlegm for resuscitation and herbs that extinguish wind and stop spasms, such as Ban Xia, Quan Xie, Jiang Can and She Xiang in Wu Xian Wan from Yang Shi Jia Chang Fang (Yang's Family Recorded Prescriptions).

Abscess, deep-rooted carbuncle, swelling and pain, snake and insect bite

Used externally this herb attacks toxin, dissipates nodulation and resolves swelling. It is ground with vinegar on its own for external application.

• For exuberant accumulation of heat-toxin, it is better combined with other herbs that clear heat and relieve toxicity and herbs that resolve abscess and swelling, such as Da Huang, Tian Hua Fen and Huang Bai in Ruyi Jinhuang San from Wai Ke Zheng Zong.
• For phlegm nodules and scrofula, it is ground and mixed with vinegar for external application, or combined with other herbs that resolve phlegm and dissipate nodulation.
• For poisonous snake bite, it is combined with Xiong Huang and applied externally.

Dosage and administration

Decoct 3~10 g. It is mostly used processed. A proper dose is used for external application.

Cautions

Prohibited in yin deficiency with dry phlegm, and in pregnant women.