Sundance Acupuncture

Herb & Acupuncture Database

(This is my own personal database of teachers, teachings and notes that I use in my practice. I’ve decided to share it freely with anyone who would like to reference it.)

Tou Gu Cao - 透骨草 - Caulis Impatientis

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Caulis Impatientis Speranskia
Common English:	Garden Balsam Stem

Category

Herbs that Dispel Wind-Dampness and Reduce Pain (Anti-Rheumatics)

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Bitter Slightly Sweet Acrid	Cool (Warm) (Slightly Toxic)	Liver Spleen Kidney	9-20g

Actions And Indications

Actions	Indications/Syndromes
Breaks up Blood Stasis, Generates flesh, Invigorates Blood circulation, Reduces swelling	External and traumatic injuries with bruising, swelling, inflammation and pain
Clears Heat, Cools the Blood, Eliminates toxins, Relieves pain	Burns, Carbuncles and swellings (topical), Toxic sores
Drains Damp-Heat	Acute jaundice Hepatitis
Dispels Wind and Dampness and relaxes the muscles and sinews	Arthritis and arthralgia Muscle and bone contracture Beriberi due to Cold-Dampness Tinea

Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Contraindicated during pregnancy.

INCOMPATIBILITIES

HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

Major Combinations

Olibanum Ru Xiang Myrrh Mo Yao Rx. Paeoniae Rubra Chi Shao	Fr. Gardeniae Zhi Zi Pollen Typhae Pu Huang Rx. Scutellariae Huang Qin Flos Sophorae Huai Hua	Rz. Atractylodis Cang Zhu Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis Hou Po Cx. Phellodendri Huang Bai Rx. Gentianae Long Dan Cao SP. Prunellae Xia Ku Cao
Trauma-related pain and bleeding.	Hematemesis, abnormal uterine bleeding, epistaxis and hematuria due to Heat.	Acute jaundice with hepatitis, fever anorexia and hepatomegaly.

Notes

Two other herbs share the Pinyin name Tou Gu Cao: Caulis Speranskiae Tuberculata and Caulis Leptostachya.

For educational reference only; not a substitute for care from a qualified practitioner.