Cang Zhu - 苍术 - Rhizoma Atractylodis
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Rhizoma Atractylodis |
| Common English: | Atractylodis Lancea Black Atractylodis Rhizome / Atractylodes rhizome Gray Atractylodis Red Atractylodis Sword-like Atractylodis Rhizome |
Category
Aromatic Herbs That Transform DampnessProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Acrid Bitter Aromatic | Warm | Spleen Stomach (Heart) | 3-10g Tincture: 2-4ml |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Strongly dries Dampness and tonifies the Spleen | Dampness Obstructing the Middle Jiao and blocking transformative and transportive functions of the Spleen with anorexia, diarrhea, epigastric distention and pressure, fatigue, nausea and vomiting and a thick, greasy tongue coat |
Induces sweating and expels Wind-Dampness | Wind-Cold Dampness and Wind-Dampness with chills and fever, headache, body aches and nasal congestion Painful extremities due to Wind-Damp Bi |
Clears Dampness from the Lower Jiao | Damp-Heat Pouring Downward with Leg Qi, some forms of atrophy disorders, vaginal discharge, swollen, sore joints |
Improves vision | Night blindness and diminished vision with a rough sensation in the eyes |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
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Major Combinations
| Cx. Magnoliae | Rz. Cyperi | Flos Lonicerae |
Epigastric fullness, fatigue and discomfort, anorexia, vomiting and/or diarrhea with a turbid, greasy tongue coat due to Dampness Obstructing the Middle Jiao. | Chest, epigastric and abdominal pain, distention and discomfort due to Dampness and Qi Obstruction. | Diarrhea, especially due to Summer Heat with Dampness. |
| Gypsum Fibrosum | Dry-fried and Powdered | Dry-fried and Powdered Talcum |
Warm-Damp febrile disease with fever, profuse sweating and generalized body aches. | Serves as a base for treating diarrhea in children. | Infantile diarrhea from Damp-Heat. |
| Dry-fried and Powdered Fr. Crataegi | Dry-fried and Powdered Rz. Zingiberis | Rz. Ligustici Chuanxiong |
Food Stagnation. Infantile diarrhea. | Infantile diarrhea due to Deficiency Cold. | Exterior Wind-Cold-Dampness. |
| Gypsum Fibrosum | Sm. Coicis | Cx. Phellodendri |
Early-Stage Damp-Heat when Dampness and Heat are of equal strength, marked by fevers that fail to recede, focal distention in the chest, heavy lethargy, and thirst with no desire to drink. | Damp-predominant Bi. | Pain, swelling, and weakness of the lower extremities or skin lesions due to Wind-Dampness. Used for atrophy disorder, vaginal discharge and Damp-sores. |
| Sm. Sesame Nigrum | Hb. Artemisiae Argyi | Cx. Magnoliae |
Cataracts, glaucoma, and night blindness. | Prevents influenza and treats bronchitis. | Dampness obstructing Spleen Yang with epigastric fullness, abdominal and epigastric distention, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, loss of taste and a thick, greasy tongue coat. |
Massa Fermentata | Fr. Jujube | Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae |
Diarrhea due to Dampness Accumulation. | Chronic accumulation of Dampness in the Spleen with hypochondriac pain, acid reflux and anorexia. | Musculoskeletal disorders of the arms and shoulders due to Phlegm Stagnation. |
White Tiger Decoction | ||
Febrile disorders with Dampness. |
Notes
- Drying Dampness is a particular strength of this herb, and it may be given on its own for that purpose. Despite its warm nature, it is used in combination with other herbs for Damp-Heat disorders.
- It is indicated wherever the Spleen fails to transform moisture properly.
- Because it contains a substantial amount of Vitamin A, it helps improve vision.
- For night blindness, it can be cooked with pig or goat liver and eaten daily as a food.
- Together with other herbs, it can assist with weight reduction.
- Dampness in all three Jiaos is treated by this herb.
- When the tongue coat is thick, white, turbid and greasy, this herb is the most essential choice.
- Combined with pig's or sheep's bladder, this herb is known for treating night blindness.
- It may be of benefit in managing food allergies.
- It frequently appears as an ingredient in moxa.
- This herb and Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis Hou Po both transform Dampness and are commonly paired to treat abdominal distention, vomiting, and diarrhea. Of the two, this herb is stronger at drying Dampness and expelling Wind-Dampness, whereas Hou Po is superior for dispelling fullness and distention.
- Maoshan Atractylodis Mao Shan Cang Zhu strengthens the Spleen and dries Dampness without injuring the Stomach, while still expelling Dampness.
- Prepared Atractylodis Zhi Cang Zhu is mild and harmonious, with almost no ability to release the Exterior. It is given to older or weaker patients who have Damp Spleens.
- The acrid, dispersing nature is diminished in Dry-fried Atractylodis Chao Cang Zhu.
- For stopping diarrhea and warming the Spleen, Scorched Atractylodis Jiao Cang Zhu is the best form.
- Earth-fried Atractylodis Tu Chao Cang Zhu tonifies the Spleen more strongly, relieves nausea and vomiting, and drives out Phlegm and pathogenic water.
- Cang Zhu excels at easing the Middle and inducing sweat, whereas Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Bai Zhu excels at tonifying the Middle and eliminating Dampness.
From Class
- Bai Zhu / Cang Zhu / E Zhu ('three zhu'): Counter magic: Cang Zhu fumigation for areas of electromagnetic disturbance (flickering lights, failing appliances). (Yuen)
- Cang Zhu (Atractylodes): Invigorates the Spleen, dries dampness, improves the ability to see in the dark. (Lewis)
- Damp strategies: Cang Zhu; Che Qian Zi/Ze Xie; San Huang (Huang Lian, Huang Qin, Huang Bai); Gan Jiang: Scalloped greasy tongue: Cang Zhu; swollen moist: drain with plantago or alisma; red sticky: three yellows; cold: dried ginger. (Yuen)
- 'Dr. Lee's hyperimmune formula' — a divergent-channel herbal strategy: Three yellows (Huang Lian, Huang Qin, Huang Bai) clear all three burners, Cang Zhu brings it to the joints, and Qing Hao, Zhi Mu, Di Gu Pi clear deficiency heat. (Rabinowitz)