Gan Sui - 甘遂 - Radix Kansui

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Radix Kansui
Common English:	Euphorbia Kan-Sui Root Sweet Spurge Root

Category

Downward-Draining Herbs: Harsh Expellants (Cathartics)

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Bitter Sweet	Cold Toxic	Kidney Large Intestine Lung (Spleen)	0.5-1.5g Powder: 0.3-1g Tincture: 0.25-0.1ml (6-25 drops) Best taken in pill or powder form.

Actions And Indications

Actions	Indications/Syndromes
Drains water downward and eliminates congested fluids and thin mucus	Severe accumulation of fluid in the chest and abdomen Ascites, Facial edema and abdominal distention, Generalized edema, Hydrothorax
Expels Phlegm	Epilepsy due to Phlegm Blocking the Heart Orifices Seizures from Wind-Phlegm Withdrawal mania from recalcitrant Phlegm congealing and clumping
Clears Heat, reduces swelling and disperses hardenings	Swollen, painful, nodular Damp-Heat skin lesions (topical-appropriate for early stages, with oral ingestion of herbs that clear Heat and resolve toxicity)

Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions

Major Combinations

Rx. Euphorbiae Pekinensis Hong/Jing Da Ji Flos Genkwa Yuan Hua	Rx. et Rz. Rhei Da Huang Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis Hou Po Sm. Persicae Tao Ren	Rx. Phytolaccae Shang Lu
Suspended, thin mucus clogging up the chest and hypochondria with cough, shortness of breath, chest pain and hard focal distention in the epigastrium	Intestinal obstruction	Strongly expel water, eliminate plugged accumulation and unblock the water pathways to to treat edema in the Upper, Middle and Lower Jiaos, Edema in the abdomen or limbs and ascites (use very cautiously)
Rx. et Rz. Rhei Da Huang Haematitum Dai Zhe Shi Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum Zhi Ban Xia	Sm. Sinapis Bai Jie Zi Rx. Euphorbiae Pekinensis Hong/Jing Da Ji	Rx. et Rz. Rhei Da Huang
Withdrawal-mania from recalcitrant Phlegm congealing and clumping Seizures and epilepsy due to Phlegm Stagnation	Blockage of thin mucus and Phlegm in the chest and diaphragm with sudden excruciating pain in the thorax, neck and lower back	Topically for ulcerations, swellings, and mumps As a decoction for accumulation of fluids in the chest
Rx. Glycyrrhizae Gan Cao	Sm. Pharbitidis Qian Niu Zi	Rx. et Rz. Rhei Da Huang Natrii Sulfas Mang Xiao
Topically as a plaster applied to the navel for abdominal distention and ascites	Ascites	Water retention with Heat in the chest
Rx. et Rz. Rhei (60g) Da Huang Colla Corii Asini (30g) E Jiao
With 30g Gan Sui, for female Blood Stasis with fullness in the lower abdomen and mild urinary difficulty due to Blood and Fluid Accumulation in the uterus

Notes

1. A drastic cathartic, this herb causes water to be expelled through the bowels.
2. Its side effects can include nausea, vomiting, palpitations, abdominal pain, backache and hematuria.
3. It travels straight to sites where Body Fluid has collected and removes it rapidly.
4. Research has demonstrated that this herb can cause acute necrosis of cancer cells.
5. Its action is directed at the channels.
6. It treats abdominal fullness and masses, strangulated hernia, dyspepsia from Food Stagnation and epilepsy due to Phlegm.
7. It drains water and Dampness from the Kidney channel and its passages.
8. It is used for dysphagia and obstruction resulting from tumors.
9. In recalcitrant edema, apply the powdered herb around the umbilicus, then take a decoction of Rx. Glycyrrhizae Gan Cao by mouth.
10. Gan Sui, Flos Genkwa Yuan Hua and Rx. Knoxiae/Euphorbiae Pekinensis Hong/Jing Da Ji are all strong, harsh expellants used for severe edema and for accumulations in the chest and abdomen. Each is toxic and should be used only briefly. They are frequently combined to intensify their effect. Da Ji drains water and Dampness within the organs, Gan Sui mobilizes water and Dampness within the channels and collaterals, and Yuan Hua tends to drain Phlegm and thin mucus within the chest and Lungs. All three are markedly toxic, Hong Da Ji in particular, and none should be given to weak patients.
11. Powdered Kansui Gan Sui Mo is intended for external use. It can serve as a base for moxa at the umbilicus to treat constipation and urinary blockage. A decoction of Rx. Glycyrrhizae Gan Cao is usually taken internally at the same time to harmonize the Middle.
12. Roasted Kansui Wei Gan Sui is less toxic, which removes its tendency to provoke vomiting. Taken internally, it expels water and thin mucus without harming normal Qi.
13. Vinegar Kansui Cu Gan Sui is far less toxic and less descending, and it is the form in common use.
14. Boiled Kansui Zhu Gan Sui has reduced toxicity and a weaker descending action.