Pei Lan - 佩兰 - Herba Eupatorii
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Herba Eupatorii |
| Common English: | Eupatorium Fortune Eupatorium Orchid-Grass Herb |
Category
Aromatic Herbs that Transform Dampness / Aromatics for DampProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Acrid | Neutral Aromatic | Spleen Stomach (Lung) | 3-10g Fresh: 6-20g Tincture: 2-4ml |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Aromatically transforms Dampness, awakens the Spleen and regulates the Middle | Dampness Obstructing the Middle Jiao Stifling sensation in the chest, lack of appetite, nausea and a white, moist tongue coat Damp-Heat in the Spleen channel with a sweet, sticky taste in the mouth, excessive saliva, vomiting and bad breath |
Transforms Dampness and releases Summerheat | Summerheat with Dampness with nausea and early-stage Warm-Damp febrile disease |
Aromatically dispels Middle Jiao turbid filth to unbind the Stomach Harmonizes the Middle | Internal accumulation of increasingly thickened dampness in the Middle Jiao binding Stomach Qi (lethargy, nausea, anorexia, epigastric and abdominal distention and pain with a very thick, greasy tongue coat |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Major Combinations
| Hb. Agastaches/Pogostemonis | Rz. Coptidis | Hb. Agastaches/Pogostemonis |
Dampness Obstructing the Middle Jiao | Indigestion due to either Heat or overindulgence in fat, greasy foods with regurgitation of thick, turbid fluid, an unpleasant sticky sensation in the mouth, belching, and a white, greasy tongue coat | Damp Summerheat |
| Talcum | Hb. Agastaches/Pogostemonis | Hb. Agastaches/Pogostemonis |
Early-stage Damp-Warm febrile disease | Internal accumulation of increasingly thickened Dampness in the Middle Jiao binding Stomach Qi, leading to lethargy, nausea, anorexia, epigastric and abdominal distention and pain and a particularly thick and greasy tongue coating Eliminate any turbid Yin pathogen in the body, whether located in the Exterior or Interior and serves as a base for many formulas that treat turbid Dampness Taken as a tea in the summertime to prevent Summerheat with Dampness as well as the common cold | Turbid filth combined with Damp-Heat to bind Stomach Qi, with fever, jaundice, darkish urine and a yellowish tinge to the greasy tongue coat |
| Hb. Agastaches/Pogostemonis | Rz. Atractylodis | Talcum Hua Shi Rx. Scutellariae Huang Qin Sm. Coicis Yi Yi Ren |
Turbid combined with Cold-Dampness to bind Stomach Qi with chills, fever, nausea, dry-retching and a greasy, white tongue coat with a grayish tinge | Summer-Dampness | Summerheat and Dampness |
Rx. Trichosanthis | ||
Chronic Damp-Heat Accumulation |
Notes
- Being neutral, it does not cause Dryness, so it can be used for Damp-Heat in the Spleen channel with a sweet, sticky taste in the mouth, excess saliva and bad breath.
- It is slightly toxic: it inhibits respiration, slows the heart beat, lowers body temperature, and raises both blood sugar and urine sugar.
- It is frequently paired with Agastaches/Pogostemonis Huo Xiang, which is best at releasing the exterior and stopping vomiting, whereas Pei Lan works better for excess salivation and an unpleasant sticky feeling in the mouth.
- Topically, the herb can be used for dandruff.
- Early-stage Damp-Heat Accumulation can be treated with this herb alone.
- Pei Lan, Hb. Pogostemonis/Agastaches Huo Xiang and Hb. Moslae Xiang Ru all transform Dampness and release the Exterior, and they are often combined for turbid Dampness with chills, thirst for cold drinks, epigastric discomfort, vomiting and diarrhea. Pei Lan has a clear aroma that eliminates long-standing putrefaction and clears away filth, and in this respect it surpasses Huo Xiang. Its Exterior-releasing action is the weakest of the three. Huo Xiang excels at stopping nausea and is important for nausea and rebellious Qi caused by constrained Dampness; its Exterior-releasing power ranks second of the three. Xiang Ru transforms Dampness, harmonizes the Middle and eases urination, and it is the strongest Exterior-releasing herb of the three.
- Eupatorium Leaf Pei Lan Ye has a clear aroma and gentler properties; it clears Summerheat and eradicates filth.
- Eupatorium Stalk Pei Lan Geng awakens the Spleen, transforms Dampness, frees the flow of Qi and eases the Middle. It is used when Dampness obstruction causes focal distention, a stifling feeling in the chest and epigastrium, a sweet taste and nausea.
- Fresh Eupatorium Xian Pei Lan has a full flavor and strong properties, notably an acrid flavor that releases the Exterior and an aroma that transforms Dampness. It works especially well for externally-contracted Summerheat-Dampness with chills, fever, a distended feeling in the head and a stifling feeling in the chest. It is also used for bad breath with a sticky, sweet taste in the mouth.