Bai (Ci) Ji Li - 白蒺藜 - Fructus Tribuli
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Fructus Tribuli |
| Common English: | Caltrop Fruit Puncture-Vine Fruit Tribulus |
Category
Substances that Extinguish Wind and Stop TremorsProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Acrid Bitter | Neutral (Warm) (Cool) | Liver (Lung) (Bladder) | 6-15g Tincture: 2-4ml |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Calms the Liver and anchors Yang | Liver Yang Rising with headache, vertigo or dizziness |
Dredges Liver Qi and disperses Stagnation and clumping | Liver Qi Stagnation with pain and distention in the flanks, irregular menstruation or insufficient lactation |
Dispels Wind-Heat and brightens the eyes | Red, swollen and painful eyes Excess tearing |
Dispels Wind and stops itching | Any kind of skin lesion with significant itching, such as hives Vitiligo (can be used as a stand-alone herb) |
| Extinguishes Liver Wind | Liver Wind |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
|
| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
| |
| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
|
Major Combinations
| Testa Glycinis | Ram. cum Uncis Uncariae | Rx. Bupleuri |
Dizziness and unclear vision due to Liver Yang Rising. | Headache, dizziness and vertigo from hypertension due to Liver Yang Rising. | Pain and distention in the chest and hypochondria. |
| Fr. Foeniculi | Squama Manitis | Rz. Cyperi |
Running piglet disorder. Bulging disorders. Mobile abdominal masses. | Swollen and painful breast masses. | Pain and swelling of the chest and flanks, or insufficient lactation due to Liver Qi Stagnation. |
| Sm. Cassiae | Hb. Equiseti Hiemalis | Rx. Asparagi |
Pain, redness, and swelling of the eyes with extensive tearing due to Wind-Heat Invading the Liver Channel. Hypertension. | Corneal opacities. | Visual disturbance due to Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiencies. |
Periostracum Cicadae | Cx. Dictamni | Rx. Angelicae Sinensis |
Itchy skin due to Wind-Heat. | As an external wash for eczema. | Excruciating itching from ascendant Liver Yang and Blood Deficiencies. |
Sm. Astragali Complanati | Ram. cum Uncis Uncariae | Rx. Bupleuri |
Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys to ensure that the eyes are nourished, anchors Liver Yang and expels Wind-Heat to treat many eye disorders, especially when there is Liver and Kidney Deficiencies with either Liver Qi Stagnation with Liver Yang Rising or External Wind-Heat affecting the eyes. | Hypertension with vertigo. | Chest and hypochondriac pain. |
Spina Gleditsiae | Carapax Trionycis | Sm. Cassiae |
Hypochondriac pain related to hepatitis. | Palpable masses associated with Liver Qi Stagnation. | Red, painful eyes, with increased tearing and photophobia. |
Flos Chrysanthemi | Rx. Angelicae Sinensis | Rx. Angelicae Sinensis |
Superficial visual obstruction. | Skin lesions, chronic eczema, or neurodermatitis. | Eczema with itching. |
Notes
- Its main use is for Liver Yang Rising that produces headache, eye problems and nervousness. It is also specific for the eyes and for itching skin.
- Its action is concentrated almost exclusively on the Liver.
- For vitiligo, decoct 15g of this herb alone and take it twice a day.
- Bai Ji Li and Hb. Equiseti Hiemalis Mu Zei both dredge and disperse Wind-Heat, brighten the eyes and stop itching, and they may be combined to treat these conditions. Bai Ji Li calms and extinguishes Internal Wind and dredges the Liver to move stagnant Qi and Blood. Mu Zei releases the muscle layer, expels Wind-Dampness and is stronger at eliminating superficial visual obstruction.
- Apart from their use for the eyes, Bai Ji Li and Sm. Astragali Complanati Sha Yuan Zi differ entirely in appearance and actions. Bai Ji Li brightens the eyes by dredging the Liver and expelling Wind, and has no tonifying effect. Sha Yuan Zi brightens the eyes by tonifying the Liver and Kidneys. The two are frequently combined for eye diseases.
- Dry-fried Fructus Tribuli Chao Bai Ji Li is more effective at calming the Liver, anchoring Yang and releasing constraint. It is used for Liver Yang headaches and dizziness, chest and flank pain and insufficient lactation.
- According to some sources, this herb treats urinary pain and urge incontinence caused by spastic Bladder or metabolic acidosis.
From Class
- Gou Teng (hook), shells & insects for wind: Gou Teng's hook shape hooks back what moves too fast; shells, minerals and insects are heavy hitters for wind; Bai Ji Li is gentler for long-term use. (Gioioso)
- Wind herbs: Gou Teng, Tian Ma, Bai Ji Li, Shi Jue Ming, Fang Feng, Chan Tui, insects: Thorny vines hook out hidden wind; abalone anchors yang; Fang Feng treats internal and external wind; Chan Tui for itching; insects indispensable for some (stroke). (Shea)