Ma Qian Zi - 马钱子 - Semen Strychni

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Semen Strychni Strychnos
Common English:	Horse Money Seeds Nux-Vomica Seeds Prepared Vomit Nut

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Bitter	Cold (Cool) Extremely Toxic	Liver Spleen (Kidney) (Heart)	Internally: .02-.09g Topically: .1-.3g Tincture: 3-18 drops/day Zhi Ma Qian Zi Powder or pill: .6-1.2g Tincture: 3-18 drops/day

Actions

Indications/Syndromes

Alleviates pain, Cools Blood Heat to reduce swelling, Disperses clumps, Unblocks the channels and collaterals

Abscess, sores and Yin type ulcers

Swelling and pain due to trauma

Very stubborn Wind-Damp Bi with pain, paresthesias, numbness and spasms

Tumors

Phlegm-Damp Obstructs Heart

Liver and Kidney Deficiencies

Wind-Cold-Damp Bi

Liver and Gallbladder Qi Stagnation

Stomach Qi Stagnation

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Contraindicated for children.
Contraindicated during pregnancy and breast feeding.
Contraindicated for weakness.
Contraindicated for those with Heat conditions.
Contraindicated for those with hypertension.
Contraindicated for those with severe Liver and Kidney lesions.
Contraindicated for those with cerebral or medullar hyperactivity.
Contraindicated for those with paralysis with contractions or spasms.
This substance causes tissue irritation in acute conditions.
Use extreme caution for internal use.
Use caution externally as the toxin is absorbed through the skin.
Overdoses with as little as 50mg presents with crawling sensation in neck area, difficulty swallowing and irritability.
The unprepared form should never be used.
Do not use long term.
Use caution: 1.5-3g is a toxic dose and 4-12g is a lethal dose.

INCOMPATIBILITIES

HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

Olibanum Ru Xiang Pyritum Zi Ran Tong Rz. Drynariae Gu Sui Bu Myrrh Mo Yao	Rx. Sophorae Tonkinensis Shan Dou Gen Rx. Isatidis Ban Lan Gen	Realgar Xiong Huang Olibanum Ru Xiang Squama Manitis Chuan Shan Jia
Topically for pain due to trauma, swelling, sprain and fractures.	Severe pain and swelling of the throat.	Sores, abscess and painful swellings.
Rx. Aconiti Preparata Zhi Chuan Wu Rx. Clematidis Wei Ling Xian	Hb. Ephedrae Ma Huang Rz. Atractylodis Cang Zhu Scorpio Quan Xie	Hb. Ephedrae Ma Huang Olibanum Ru Xiang Myrrh Mo Yao Grain-Based Alcohol
Wind-Damp Bi with spasms, numbness or weakness.	Intense Wind-Cold Bi.	Muscle aches and pains. Reduces swelling relieves pain topically.
Hb. Ephedrae Ma Huang Olibanum Ru Xiang Rz. Atractylodis Cang Zhu Scorpio Quan Xie Rx. Achyranthis Bidentatae Niu Xi	Rx. Glycyrrhizae Gan Cao	Rx. Ginseng Ren Shen Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui Olibanum Ru Xiang Squama Manitis Chuan Shan Jia
Wind-Damp Bi.	Numbness and paralysis of the extremities.	Facial paralysis. Myasthenia gravis. Atrophy and numbness of the extremities.

Some sources also classify this as an anti-cancer herb.
Toxicity shows up as dizziness, headache, dry mouth, indigestion, irritability and apprehension.
Atony is the key indication for using this herb.
It is indicated for Deficiency conditions of the musculoskeletal, nervous and digestive systems.
Leukemia cell activity is inhibited by this herb.
For pharyngitis, it can be ground together with Rx. Aucklandiae Mu Xiang and Rx. Sophorae Tonkinensis Shan Dou Gen and blown into the throat.
It is reported to be violently toxic to dogs, birds and humans.
It has been found effective for esophageal cancer.
Processing is required to reduce the toxicity of this herb.
Sucking on the fruit is reputed to cure exogenous febrile disease, pharyngitis and abdominal mass.
Its toxicity is reduced by decocting it with a dose equal to or larger than the dose of Ma Qian Zi.
Sand-fried Nux-Vomica Seed Sha Chao Ma Qian Zi is less toxic and easier to pulverize.
For a sore, inflamed throat, grind it into powder, mix with sesame oil and apply topically.
When properly prepared, it can be applied topically for female genital lesions or ulcerations.