Er Cha - 儿茶 - Catechu - Pasta Acaciae Seu Catechu
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Catechu Pasta Acaciae seu Uncariae |
| Common English: | Black Catechu Black Cutch Brown Cutch Catechu Catechu seu Gambir White Cutch |
Category
Substances for Topical ApplicationProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Bitter Astringent | Slightly Cold (Cool) | Lung | 1-3g Pills and Powders: 0.1-0.9g Wrap in a cheesecloth bag when decocting. |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Drains Dampness and absorbs suppuration | Sores that are filled with purulent fluid, chronic, syphilitic sores, non-healing sores and sores of the oral cavity |
Stops bleeding and generates flesh | Topically for bleeding due to external trauma Internal bleeding with epistaxis, hematemesis, hemafecia and irregular uterine bleeding |
Clears Heat, Clears the Lungs, Generates fluids, Stops diarrhea, Transforms Phlegm | Cough due to Lung Heat Thirst due to Summerheat Bloody diarrhea, dysenteric disorders These uses are now rare |
| Relieves Food Stagnation in children and promotes digestion | Indigestion or Food Stagnation in children |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
|
| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
| |
| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Major Combinations
| Fossilia Ossis Mastodi | Borneolum Bing Pian Gecko Ge Jie | Flos Lonicerae |
Eczema, weeping ulcers, and other Damp skin lesions. | Topically for burns. | Redness, swelling, Heat and pain of the mouth and throat. |
| Indigo Naturalis | Rz. Picrorhizae | Fr. Cnidii |
Ulcerations of the mouth and gums. | Syphilitic sores. | As an external wash for vaginal discharge. |
| Hb. Ephedrae | Rx. Notoginseng | Rx. Notoginseng |
Cough with yellow Phlegm. | Bleeding from the upper digestive tract. | Bleeding. |
Daemonoropis | Hb. Asari | Rx. Scutellariae |
Bruising, swelling and pain from trauma. | Phlegm-Heat cough. | Phlegm-Heat cough. |
Calomelas | Borax | Moschus |
Topically for ulcers with necrosis of tissue. | Topically for oral ulcers. | Topically for hemorrhoids. |
Fossilia Ossis Mastodi Or Rx. Notoginseng Or Lignum Dalbergiae Odoriferae | Daemonoropis | Fol. Nelumbinis |
Topically for traumatic hemorrhage. | Topically as a powder for non-healing oozing sores. | Thirst. |
Rx. Puerariae | Endothelium Corneum Gigeriae Galli | |
Diarrhea and dysenteric disorders with tenesmus or burning sensations. | Indigestion or food Stagnation. |
Notes
- Taken internally, it clears Upper Jiao Heat, transforms Phlegm and generates Fluids, though it is rarely used this way today.
- Externally, it restrains Dampness, closes non-healing sores, moderates pain and stops bleeding.
- It is also reputed to stimulate the growth of new muscle.
- Er Cha and Alumen Ming Fan both drain Dampness and absorb seepage. Ming Fan resolves toxicity, kills parasites, dries Dampness and relieves itching, and it is used mainly for Dampness. Er Cha is more transformational and suits sores filled with purulent fluid as well as chronic non-healing sores. It also stops bleeding from external trauma.