Xu Duan - 续断 - Radix Dipsaci
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Radix Dipsaci |
| Common English: | Dipsacus Himalayan Teasel Root Japanese Teasel Root |
Category
Herbs that Tonify the YangProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Bitter Sweet Acrid | Slightly Warm | Kidney Liver | 6-21g Tincture:1-4ml 9-18g (Secondary source) |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys and strengthens the sinews and bones | Liver and Kidney Deficiency with sore and painful lower back and knees, stiffness in the joints and weakness in the legs Urinary dribbling from Kidney Deficiency |
Stops uterine bleeding, calms the fetus and prevents miscarriage | Bleeding during pregnancy Restless fetus Threatened miscarriage Ren channel Deficiency related uterine bleeding and vaginal discharge |
Alleviates pain, Generates flesh and reconnects the sinews and bones, Promotes the movement of Blood | Trauma (topical and internal) especially pain and swelling in the lower back and limbs External sores (topical) Bi pain |
Reduces swellings, abscesses and sores | Toxic abscesses and sores |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Major Combinations
| Blood Invigorating Herbs | Cx. Eucommiae | Cx. Eucommiae |
Restricted blood flow leading to amenorrhea and other conditions. | Deficient Kidneys or Cold-Damp Bi causing low back and leg pain and weakness and contracture of the leg muscles. Threatened miscarriage. | Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys, strengthens the lower back and secures the Chong and Ren channels to treat aching in the lower back and knees, weakness of the legs which makes walking difficult and especially threatened miscarriage due to instability of the Chong and Ren channels. Restless fetus or bleeding during pregnancy accompanied by lower back pain and a sense of dropping in the lower trunk. |
| Fol. Artemisiae Argyi | Fol. Artemisiae Argyi | Hb. Taxilli |
Excessive uterine bleeding with abdominal pain. | Excessive uterine bleeding with abdominal pain. (stronger effect) | Habitual miscarriage. Uterine bleeding from Kidney Deficiency. |
| Rz. Drynariae | Hb. Taraxaci | Cx. Eucommiae |
Fractures or severe sprains. | Breast sores and abscesses. | Lower back and knee soreness and pain. |
Cx. Eucommiae | Rz. Drynariae | Rx. Angelicae Sinensis |
Restless fetus or habitual miscarriage in the first trimester with uterine bleeding and severe low back pain. | Topically for traumatic injuries with severe pain, swelling or fractures. | Traumatic injuries. |
Notes
- It is frequently used for pain in the lower body.
- It repairs tissue damaged by trauma or by internal degeneration.
- Because it tonifies without causing stagnation, it is very useful for arthritic conditions from Deficiency.
- For trauma with swelling and pain of the lower back and extremities, it is commonly applied topically and taken internally.
- It is well suited to low back pain with marked Kidney Deficiency and Wind-Dampness.
- By itself, it can treat polyuria and spermatorrhea.
- Xu Duan and Hb. Taxilli Sang Ji Sheng share the same therapeutic action while differing in nature and flavor. They may be combined, or one may replace the other when it is unavailable. Both tonify the Liver and Kidneys, strengthen sinews and bones and augment Blood to calm the fetus. Sang Ji Sheng expels Wind- Dampness and is better suited when pain of the lower back, sinews and bones arises from Liver and Kidney Deficiency with Wind-Damp Bi. Xu Duan disseminates and unblocks all the channels and is outstanding at connecting sinews and bones.
- Dry-fried Dipsacus Chao Xu Duan tonifies more strongly, with tempered acrid and dispersing qualities, which directs it to the Chong and Ren channels to stabilize them. It is also the best form for calming the fetus, except when bleeding is present, in which case the charred form should be used.
- Charred Dipsacus Xu Duan Tan stops bleeding and calms the fetus and is used for bleeding in pregnancy, threatened miscarriage and continuous uterine bleeding.
- Salt-prepared Dipsacus Yan Xu Duan enters the Kidney channel and fortifies the bones more effectively. It is commonly used when Kidney Deficiency causes weakness of the lower back and knees, urinary frequency and leakage of Jing.
- Wine-fried Dipsacus Jiu Xu Duan is stronger at reconnecting sinews and bones and regulating the blood vessels. It is used for traumatic injury, localized swelling, sprains, dislocations and fractures, as well as for Wind-Cold-Damp Bi, and for muscle cramps and spasms.
From Class
- Month 6: moxa GB-34; Xu Duan; Spleen points SP-4, 8, 12, 17, 18: Bind things (Shan Yao), nourish Stomach/Lung yin for Wei qi; Liver blood for the sinews; Spleen points rectify qi. (Lewis)
- Month 7 (Lung, bones): KI-9, BL-11; Long Gu, Mu Li, Xu Duan, Du Zhong: Month 7: warm the interior, rid damp-cold, strengthen bones with KI-9, BL-11, Long Gu, Mu Li, Xu Duan, Du Zhong; restless fetus: Zhong Ru Shi. (Lewis)
- Xu Duan (Dipsacus): Goes to sinews and bone; name means 'mend what is broken'. (Yuen)
- Tai Shan Pan Shi San (Stable as Mount Tai): The most common early-pregnancy formula; Bai Zhu stabilizes, Xu Duan knits the fetus and Huang Qin clears heart heat to prevent miscarriage. (Lewis)