Deng Xin Cao - 燈心草 - Medlla Junci - Bullrush Pith

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Medulla Junci
Common English:	Bulrush Pith Juncus Pith Rush Pit

Category

Herbs that Drain Dampness (Diuretics)

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Sweet Bland	Slightly Cold (Cool)	Heart Lungs Small Intestines	1.5-4.5g Tincture: 1-2ml

Actions And Indications

Actions	Indications/Syndromes
Promotes urination, leaches out Dampness and unblocks painful urinary dysfunction	Heat Excess Hot painful urinary dysfunction with dark, scanty urination
Clears Heat from the Heart channel by directing Fire downward and calms the Spirit	Pediatric sleep disorders with dark, scanty urine and irritability (especially at night) (can be used alone) Lack of Communication between the Heart and Kidneys with insomnia and restless sleep Heart Fire with Kidney Yin Deficiency Heart and Kidney Yin Deficiency Small Intestine Shi Heat
Clears Lung Heat	Sore throat (charred internally and topically relieves pain)
Cools the Blood and stops bleeding	Use charred to stop bleeding

Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions

Major Combinations

Hb. Lophatheri Dan Zhu Ye Hb. Plantaginis Che Qian Cao	Talcum Hua Shi	Hb. Plantaginis Che Qian Cao Rz. Imperatae Bai Mao Gen
Lin syndrome. Dysuria.	Damp-Heat in the Heart, Lung and Urinary Bladder channels causing incomplete, painful urination.	Edema due to nephritis.
Sm. Zizyphi Spinosae Suan Zao Ren Poria Fu Ling Cinnabaris Zhu Sha Or Cinnabaris Zhu Sha Sm. Zizyphi Spinosae Suan Zao Ren Poria Pararadicis Fu Shen	Hb. Lophatheri Dan Zhu Ye Cinnabaris Zhu Sha	Caul. Akebiae Mu Tong
Heart Fire causing insomnia, irritability and dark, painful urination.	Heart Fire causing insomnia, irritability and dark, painful urination.	Difficult, scanty and burning urination associated with Heart channel Heat shifting to the Large Intestine or Heat clumping in the Bladder or Damp-Heat lodging in the Lower Jiao.
Sm. Zizyphi Spinosae Suan Zao Ren Poria Pararadicis Fu Shen Fr. Tritici Levis Fu Xiao Mai
Infantile night crying.

Notes

1. It is particularly helpful for insomnia or restless sleep arising from Heart and Kidney not Communicating (its sedative effect is very good).
2. The stem pith served as lamp wicks in ancient times.
3. Now and then it is used for abdominal pain.
4. Its properties resemble those of Caulis Akebiae Mu Tong, and the two are frequently combined.
5. It is commonly given to infants and children who have restless Heat sensations in the chest, nightmares, night terrors, and dark, burning urine from Heat.
6. Dipped in oil, it can be used for cauterization.
7. For throat inflammation, it is applied topically.
8. Deng Xin Cao and Caul. Akebiae Mu Tong both clear and drain Heart Fire and send Small Intestine Heat out through the urine, and they are combined to treat Lin syndrome. Mu Tong is bitter and cold and stronger than Deng Xin Cao. It treats ulcers of the mouth and tongue as well as red, swollen eyes. It also unblocks the flow of Qi and Blood, treating amenorrhea, insufficient lactation and painful obstruction. Deng Xin Cao is gentler, and its action on the Heart is directed mainly at night terrors in children caused by Heart Heat. It also drains Lung Heat to relieve sore throat.
9. Deng Xin Cao and Hb. Phylostachys Zhu Ye both clear Heart Fire and promote diuresis. Deng Xin Cao is preferred for Lin syndrome with burning, painful urination, whereas Zhu Ye is more effective at sedating Heart Fire to relieve irritability and insomnia.
10. Charred Juncus Pith Deng Xin Tan cools the Blood, stops bleeding, clears Heat and checks sores.
11. Juncus Flower Deng Xin Hua is frequently used for dysuria from Lower Jiao Damp-Heat.