Heat-Clearing and Dampness-Drying Herbs
San Ke Zhen (Barberry Root)
Name
San Ke Zhen (Radix Berberidis)
The Effect of 三颗针
Property
Bitter, cold, toxic; liver, stomach and large intestine meridians entered.
Actions
Clear heat and eliminate dampness, purge fire and remove toxicity.
Indications
Jaundice, sores and boils, sore throat, eczema, red eyes, discharging ear, diarrhea due to dampness and heat.
Dosage and Administrations
Decoct 9~15 g, or soaked in wine. Proper dosage is for external application, pounded into powder for applying.
Cautions
It is contraindicated for deficiency-cold in spleen and stomach.
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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