Man Jing Zi - 蔓荊子 - Fructus Viticis
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Fructus Viticis |
| Common English: | Chastetree Fruit Three-leaf Chastetree Fruit Vitex Fruit |
Category
Herbs that Release the Exterior: Cool Acrid Hears that Release the Exterior (Wind-Heat Diaphoretics)Properties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Bitter Acrid | Cool | Bladder Liver Stomach | 6-12g Maximum dosage: 30g |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Disperses Wind and clears Heat | Wind-Heat with headache or eye pain |
Dispels Wind-Heat in the Liver channel and clears and benefits the head and eyes | Liver Channel Wind-Heat with excessive tearing, red, painful or swollen eyes or spots in front of the eyes Liver Yang Rising |
Drains Dampness, expels Wind and relieves pain | Wind-Dampness in the limbs (auxiliary) with stiffness, numbness, cramping or heaviness |
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
| Fr. Tribuli | Fr. Tribuli | Rx. Ginseng |
Headache mainly focused around the eyes and dizziness due to Wind-Heat. Liver Fire Rising with red, sore eyes. | Headache and dizziness due to Wind-Heat with a stronger effect. Eye disorders due to Wind-Heat Attacking the Liver channel. | Eye disease, tinnitus, dizziness, and deafness due to Deficiency. |
| Rx. Chuanxiong | Rx. Saposhnikoviae | Rx. Paeoniae Alba |
Back and shoulder pain, Generalized body, Wind-Damp headache. | Pain and spasms of the extremities due to Wind-Dampness. | Soothes the Liver. |
| Rz. seu Rx. Notopterygii | Rx. Saposhnikoviae | Hb. Menthae |
Superficial Wind-Dampness with a heavy and painful head and generalized heaviness. | Headache due to Wind-Heat. | Headache, facial swelling and pain due to Wind-Heat. |
Flos Chrysanthemi | Rx. Saposhnikoviae | Rz. seu Rx. Notopterygii |
Frontal or migraine headache. | Temporal headache due to Wind-Heat. | Headache from Internal Wind due to Blood Deficiency. |
Hb. Schizonepetae |
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Eye disorders due to Wind-Cold. |
Notes
- Given to a patient with Qi Deficiency, it produces paranoia and agoraphobia (an imbalance of bladder energy).
- Its effect resembles that of aspirin.
- It is generally used for pain in the upper body.
- Wind-Heat affecting the face and eyes is its particular target, but it is also helpful for stiff, painful joints from Wind-Damp Bi.
- Swollen, painful gums and teeth can also be treated with it.
- It is reputed to treat some parasites.
- In addition to Wind-Damp Bi, it treats cold bulging disorders and leg Qi.
- Many regard it as the best herb for tinnitus and deafness.
- Man Jing Zi and Rz. Gastrodiae Tian Ma are both used for headaches: Man Jing Zi for those caused by Wind-Heat, and Tian Ma for those caused by Internal Liver Wind.
- Unprepared Vitex Fruit Sheng Man Jing Zi disperses more strongly and is indicated to expel Wind-Heat, disperse Wind and stop pain.
- Dry-fried Vitex Fruit Chao Man Jing Zi is less acrid and less dispersing, but clears the head and eyes better. It treats headaches around the eyes, watery eyes or blurred vision, and it is the form most often used.