San Leng - 三棱 - Rhizoma Sparganii - Scirpus - Bulrush Rhizome
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Rhizoma Sparganii |
| Common English: | Bulrush Rhizome Burr-Reed Rhizome / Bur‐reed rhizome Common Burr-Reed Scirpus Sparganium |
Category
Herbs that Regulate the Blood: Herbs that Invigorate the BloodProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Bitter Acrid | Neutral (Cold) | Liver Spleen | 3-10g Tincture: 2-4ml |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Forcefully breaks up Blood Stasis, regulates Qi and alleviates pain | Blood Stasis with amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, postpartum abdominal pain and abdominal masses |
Dissolves accumulations | Food Stagnation and Qi Stagnation with severe abdominal pain and distention |
Regulates menstruation | Menstrual irregularities |
Promotes lactation | Agalactia |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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Major Combinations
| Rz. Curcumae | Rz. Corydalis | Rx. Aucklandiae |
Blood Stasis with immobile abdominal masses and postpartum abdominal pain. | Pain due to Blood Stasis. | Pain due to Food Stagnation. |
| Rx. Aucklandiae | Rz. Curcumae | Rz. Curcumae |
Pain due to Food Stagnation with Spleen Deficiency. | Qi and Blood Stagnation with clumping and accumulation leading to pain with distending pain in the chest, epigastrium and abdomen, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, uterine myoma and ovarian cysts. Food Stagnation. Hepatosplenomegaly with distention, pain and immobile, palpable epigastric, sub-costal and abdominal masses. (only for strong patients) | Abdominal pain, amenorrhea or abdominal masses due to Blood Stasis. |
Rz. Curcumae | Rx. Codonopsis | Rz. Curcumae |
Epigastric and abdominal pain and distention and pain due to Qi Stagnation and indigestion. | Epigastric and abdominal pain from Spleen Deficiency. | Splenomegaly or hepatomegaly. |
Notes
- Combining this herb with Rz. Curcumae E Zhu is the most common pairing, particularly in cancer treatment.
- Studies have demonstrated that it inhibits cancer cell growth.
- It is well suited to severe Qi and Blood Stagnation.
- Old, accumulated, firm masses are eliminated by this herb.
- Its primary use is for masses in the hypochondriac and abdominal regions.
- Cardio-diaphragmatic pain is an indication for it.
- According to one source, this herb reduces vital energy, so it is always paired with Rx. Ginseng Ren Shen.
- Compared with Rz. Curcumae E Zhu, this herb invigorates Blood more strongly, while E Zhu moves Qi more strongly.
- San Leng and Hirudo Shui Zhi both break up blood Stasis and enter the Blood level of the Liver channel. Bitter and neutral, San Leng additionally enters the Spleen and the Qi Level. It attacks and breaks up accumulation more quickly and forcefully, yet readily injures normal Qi. It also relieves Food Stagnation.
- When Sparganium is dry-fried Chao San Leng, its breaking-up action is moderated and its capacity to reduce Food Stagnation is enhanced. It is suitable for epigastric and abdominal distention and pain from blockage caused by over-eating.
- Wine-fried Sparganium Jiu Chao San Leng moves Qi and breaks up Blood Stasis more effectively. It is applied to Qi and Blood Stagnation producing abdominal masses and accumulations.
- Preparing Sparganium with vinegar Cu San Leng moderates its violent, drying nature and directs it into the Liver channel, reinforcing its capacity to reduce Blood Stasis and stop pain.
- Paired with E Zhu as a Dui Yao for abdominal masses, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and severe Food Stagnation.
From Class
- E Zhu (Curcuma zedoaria) + San Leng (Sparganium): E Zhu breaks blood and food stasis, is anti-angiogenic and treats fire/blood toxins; classically paired with San Leng; avoid Da Huang as too harsh on spleen. (Yuen)