Wind-Heat-Dispersing Herbs
Sheng Ma (Black Cohosh Rhizome)
Name
Sheng Ma (cimicifuga / bugbane rhizome, Rhizoma Cimicifugae), recorded in the Shennong Bencao Jing. This is the Chinese medicinal species group, not a substitute for every Western “black cohosh” product.
Source and quality
Plant
The rhizome of Cimicifuga heracleifolia Kom., C. dahurica (Turcz.) Maxim., or C. foetida L., family Ranunculaceae.
Where it is grown
Mainly Liaoning, Heilongjiang and Qinghai.
Harvest
Autumn.
Smell and taste
Slight smell; slightly bitter and astringent.
Better grade
Large, firm pieces, dark or brown skin, yellow-green cut face, little fiber.
Processing
Sliced; used raw or honey-fried.
Nature and action
Acrid, slightly bitter, slightly cold; enters lung, spleen, stomach and large intestine. Releases the exterior and reduces fever; vents rashes; clears heat toxin; raises yang qi.
When it is used
Exterior fever
It expels wind from the surface. For wind-cold that has moved into yangming with a climbing fever, it is paired with Bai Zhi and Zi Su Ye. For wind-heat or early warm disease, with Sang Ye, Ju Hua and Bo He.
Early measles when the rash is stuck
It vents the rash, releases the exterior and clears toxin, usually with Niu Bang Zi, Bo He and Ge Gen. Do not use it to “force” a rash that has already come out fully.
Heat toxin, especially yangming
Epidemic toxin, mumps, sore throat, swollen gums, mouth ulcers and sores from stomach heat turning to toxin. Toothache or aphtha: with Huang Lian and gypsum (Qing Wei San). Sore throat and mumps: with Niu Bang Zi, Ban Lan Gen, Huang Lian, Huang Qin. Sores: with Jin Yin Hua, Lian Qiao, Chi Shao, or in Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin with Xuan Shen and Ban Lan Gen.
Sinking of middle qi
Like Chai Hu, it can raise spleen-stomach clear yang. For lingering diarrhea with a bearing-down distension, or the old categories of rectal, uterine or stomach prolapse, it is used with Chai Hu and often Huang Qi — small amounts, in a qi-tonic formula.
Dose
Decoction 3–10 g. Raw: exterior, rash, heat toxin. Processed: raising yang and lifting a prolapse.
Cautions
Do not use once measles have fully erupted, or in yin deficiency with exuberant heat, or yin deficiency with yang rising.
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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