Qi-Moving Herbs
Li Zhi He (Lychee Seed) in TCM
Naming
Li Zhi He (Semen Litchi)——Ben Cao Yan Yi (Augmented Materia Medica)
The Processing of Semen Litchi
Origin
The mature seed of Litchi chinensis Sonn.
Location
Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi provinces in China.
Harvest
Collected in summer.
The true smell and taste
Slight smell, bland and astringent.
Best quality
Dry, big and full.
Processing
Unprocessed or prepared with salt water.
Properties
Pungent, slightly bitter, warm; liver and stomach meridians entered.
The Effect of Semen Litchi
Actions
Move qi, dispel cold and alleviate pain.
Indications
A. Hernia and distending pain in testicle
It enters liver meridian and has the actions of moving qi and dissipating nodulation, dispersing cold and alleviating pain. For hernia of cold type, it is usually combined with the cold-dispersing, pain-alleviating and nodulation-dissipating herbs such as Xiao Hui Xiang, Wu Zhu Yu and Ju He. For distending pain in testicle, it is usually combined with the qi-moving and pain-alleviating herbs. For instance it is combined with Mu Xiang, Chuan Lian Zi and Xiao Hui Xiang in Li Zhi San from Zheng Zhi Zhun Sheng.
B. Abdominal pain due to qi stagnation
It has the actions of soothing liver and harmonizing stomach, moving qi and alleviating pain. For disharmony of liver and stomach due to liver qi stagnation manifested as gastric pain, it is usually combined with the qi-moving, middle-energizer-regulating and pain-alleviating herbs. For instance it is combined with Mu Xiang in Li Xiang San from Jing Yue Quan Shu. For dysmenorrhea and postpartum abdominal pain due to liver qi stagnation and blood stasis, it is combined with the liver-soothing and qi-regulating herbs. For instance it is combined with Xiang Fu in Juan Tong San from Fu Ren Da Quan Liang Fang; or combined with the herbs of activating blood and regulating rnenorrhea, soothing liver and regulating qi such as Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong and Chai Hu.
Dosage and Administrations
Decoct 5～10 g.
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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