E Zhu - 莪术 - Rhizoma Curcumae - Zedoariae
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Rhizoma Curcumae (Zedoariae) |
| Common English: | Curcuma Rhizome Zedoaria Zedoary Root |
Category
Herbs That Invigorate Blood: Herbs that Invigorate the BloodProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Bitter Acrid | Warm | Liver Spleen | 3-10g Tincture: 1-4ml |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Dispels Blood Stasis, Invigorates Blood circulation, Regulates Qi and alleviates pain | Blood Stasis with abdominal pain, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, abdominal masses and epigastric masses |
Dissolves accumulations and alleviates pain | Food Stagnation with pain, distention, fullness and constriction in the chest and abdomen Childhood nutritional impairment |
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
| Rx. Aucklandiae | Rx. Aucklandiae | Per. Citri Reticulatae Viride |
| Food Stagnation with abdominal distention, fullness and pain. | Food Stagnation with abdominal distention, fullness, and pain with Qi Deficiency. | Stagnant Qi with chest and abdominal fullness and pain. |
| Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Or Rz. Sparganii | Rz. Sparganii | Rz. Sparganii |
Menstrual problems due to Qi and Blood Stagnation, especially depression, painful abdominal masses, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea and a wiry pulse. | Qi and Blood Stagnation with clumping and accumulations leading to pain with distending pain in the chest, epigastrium and abdomen, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, uterine myoma and ovarian cysts. Food Stagnation. Hepatosplenomegaly with distention, pain and immobile, palpable epigastric, sub costal and abdominal masses. (only for strong patients) | Hepatosplenomegaly with distention, pain, and immobile, palpable epigastric, sub costal, and abdominal masses with Heat. (only for strong patients) |
Rx. Salviae Miltiorrhizae | Lignum Sappan | Massa Medicata Fermentata |
Firm abdominal masses. | Harmonizes the Blood. (small doses) Breaks up Blood Stasis. (large doses) | Epigastric distention and hardness. |
Rx. Bupleuri | Rx. Bupleuri | Rz. Cyperi |
Epigastric distention and hardness of the right rib cage. | Epigastric distention and hardness of the left rib cage. | Periumbilical or lower abdominal masses. |
Rz. Corydalis | Rz. Sparganii | Rx. Codonopsis |
Palpable masses in the abdomen. | Abdominal pain due to Qi Stagnation. Indigestion. | Abdominal fullness and pain due to Qi Deficiency. |
Notes
- Some sources regard this herb chiefly as an anti-cancer agent and rank it among the most effective herbs of that kind.
- For cervical cancer it is combined with Rz. Sparganii San Leng.
- As a single herb, it is used for late stage cervical cancer during menses.
- It eases diaphragmatic pain.
- Compared with San Leng, it invigorates Blood less strongly but moves Qi more strongly.
- It acts mainly on the abdomen, flanks and hypochondrium.
- Delineated lumps are attacked by this herb.
- It regulates Qi, stimulates the appetite, breaks up Blood Stasis, eases pain and stops dysentery.
- It clears Phlegm and is used for globus hystericus.
- For Liver diseases this herb is dry-fried; for diseases of the Heart and Spleen channels it is simmered; and to regulate menstruation it is roasted with goat or chicken and combined with Four Substances Decoction Si Wu Tang.
- When the volatile oil is injected locally, it necrotizes the tumor so that it sloughs off, leaving the surrounding tissue unaffected.
- Dry-fried Rz. Curcumae Chao E Zhu is better suited to general use than to firm, stubborn accumulation.
- Vinegar Rz. Curcumae Cu E Zhu enters the blood level of the Liver channel more readily and has a stronger ability to disperse Stasis and relieve pain.
- E Zhu and Rz. Curcumae Longae Jiang Huang are both warm, acrid and bitter, and both break up Blood Stasis and move Qi to relieve pain. E Zhu is stronger at breaking Blood Stasis and reducing accumulations, whereas Jiang Huang moves through the Interior and Exterior to treat Wind Bi.
- Paired with San Leng as a Dui Yao for abdominal masses, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and severe Food Stagnation.
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)
- E Zhu (Curcuma zedoaria) + San Leng (Sparganium): E Zhu breaks blood and food stasis, is anti-angiogenic and treats fire/blood toxins; classically paired with San Leng; avoid Da Huang as too harsh on spleen. (Yuen)
- Fu zheng therapy (support upright qi): Fu zheng: tonify wei qi in strong patients or postnatal qi in weak ones, then clear fire toxins, then nourish fluids/stomach yin to flush toxins. (Yuen)