Pu Gong Ying - 蒲公英 - Herba Taraxaci - Dandelion
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Herba Taraxaci |
| Common English: | Dandelion Mongolian Dandelion Taraxacum |
Category
Herbs That Clear Heat and Purge Fire: Herbs That Clear Heat and Detoxify; Target Warm and Heat DiseasesProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Bitter Sweet | Cold | Liver Stomach | 9-30g Tincture: 2-4ml |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Reduces abscesses and dissipates nodules | Internal abscesses and external sores particularly if they are firm and hard, especially breast and intestinal abscess, Chuang Yung (internally and topically) |
Clears the Liver and clears the eyes | Eye redness and swelling (alone as a steam) Liver Heat, cirrhosis |
Clears Heat, resolves Dampness and unblocks painful urinary dysfunction | Damp-Heat painful urinary dysfunction Damp-Heat jaundice |
Relieves Fire toxicity | Fire toxicity , swollen, painful throat, upper respiratory tract infection |
Promotes lactation | Insufficient lactation due to Heat |
Clears Heat in the Blood | Congested Fire of the Spleen and Stomach |
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. Trichosanthis | Fr. Trichosanthis | Flos Lonicerae |
Breast abscess, carbuncles, and furuncles. | Early-Stage breast abscesses with redness, pain and swelling. | All hot, painful, hard, and deep-rooted boils. |
| Flos Lonicerae | Flos Chrysanthemi | Hb. Houttuyniae |
Strengthens the effect of the previous combination. Heat Excess in the Stomach or Intestines. | Redness and swelling of the eyes due to Liver Fire. | Lung abscess with purulent sputum. |
| Sp. Prunellae | Hb. Lysimachiae | Hb. Violae |
Subcutaneous Phlegm nodules. | Painful urinary dysfunction. | Upper respiratory infection. |
| Rx. et Rz. Rhei | Rx. Scrophulariae | Hb. Artemisiae Scopariae |
Intestinal abscess. | Throat Bi. | Jaundice. |
| Spica Prunellae | Hb. Patriniae | Flos Lonicerae |
Swollen, sore throat, red, swollen eyes and deep-rooted sores. Early-stage breast abscesses. (internally and topically) Hepatitis and cholecystitis. | Disperses Stagnation due to Heat Toxin with abdominal pain and distention, abdominal masses and jaundice. Gynecological disorders involving vaginal discharge, pain and abdominal distention due to Heat Stasis. | Sores, lesions and ulcerations of the skin. |
Fr. Trichosanthis | Hb. Houttuyniae | Hb. Artemisiae Scopariae |
Breast lumps and abscesses. | Lung abscesses. | Damp-Heat jaundice. |
Notes
- This herb can be used alone or combined with other herbs in decoction.
- Locally grown dandelion may be used, provided it is at least two years old.
- It excels at draining, directing downward and dispersing Qi Stagnation and clumping.
- Traditionally it is used for breast abscesses and other sores, both internally and topically.
- For breast abscess and edema in women, boil it into a juice that is both drunk and applied. Results are immediate.
- It is excellent for eye diseases and quite effective for dysphagia.
- Research has shown that this herb inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
- It is a key herb for clearing pathogenic Heat and cooling the Blood.
- It is said to cure breast abscess and breast cancer in women.
- Fresh Taraxacum Xian Pu Gong Ying cools and detoxifies more strongly than the dried herb. Its scope of action is broader, and it works best when both drunk and applied topically.
- In smaller doses it is more stimulating and restorative, while in larger doses it clears and drains Heat more.
- Pu Gong Ying and Hb. Violae Zi Hua Di Ding both cool Heat, resolve toxicity, reduce swelling and disperse clumping. Pu Gong Ying is better at dredging constraint and dispersing clumping (with a focus on the Liver channel), whereas Zi Hua Di Ding is better at cooling the Blood and resolving toxicity (with a focus on the Heart and Liver channels).
- Pu Gong Ying and Hb. Patriniae Bai Jiang Cao both cool Heat, resolve toxicity and reduce swollen abscesses; the former is better at dredging constraint and dispersing clumping (with a focus on the Liver and Stomach channels), whereas Bai Jiang Cao is better at eliminating Stasis and expelling pus.
- Pu Gong Ying and Rz. Paridis Chong Lou both resolve toxicity, reduce swelling and relieve pain. Pu Gong Ying additionally promotes urination, unblocks painful urinary dysfunction and treats jaundice, whereas Chong Lou calms fright while cooling the Liver. It also counteracts snakebite toxins and treats many kinds of cancer.
- Pu Gong Ying and Flos Lonicerae Jin Yin Hua both effectively reduce swellings and ulcerations. Pu Gong Ying enters only the Liver and Stomach, whereas Jin Yin Hua enters every channel yet cannot reach its full effect unless combined with Pu Gong Ying.