Ying Su Ke - 罌粟殼 - Pericarpium Papaveris - Opium Poppy Husk

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Pericarpium Papaveris
Common English:	Opium Poppy Husk

Category

Obsolete Substances: Herbs that Stabilize and Bind (Astringents)

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Sour Astringent	Neutral Toxic	Kidney Large Intestine Lung (Spleen)	1.5-30g Tincture: 0.5-3ml 3-6g (Secondary source)

Actions And Indications

Actions	Indications/Syndromes
Astringes leakage of Lung Qi	Chronic cough
Astringes the Intestines	Chronic dysentery and diarrhea
Stabilizes the Lower Jiao	Lower Jiao Deficiency with polyuria. spermatorrhea or vaginal discharge
Alleviates pain	Pain (any kind, especially sinews, bones and epigastrium) Pain from tumors

Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions

Major Combinations

Fr. Mume Wu Mei Fr. Schisandrae Wu Wei Zi	Rx. Aucklandiae Mu Xiang Rz. Coptidis Huang Lian	Fr. Chebulae He Zi Fr. Amomi Sha Ren
Chronic, incessant cough	Chronic diarrhea and dysenteric disorders	Chronic unremitting diarrhea due to Spleen and Stomach Deficiencies and weakness
Fr. Mume Wu Mei	Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Bai Zhu Rz. Dioscoreae Shan Yao Rx. Glycyrrhizae Gan Cao	Fr. Chebulae He Zi Sm. Myristicae Rou Dou Kou
Chronic non-productive cough Floating dispersal of Lung Qi chronic cough, wheezing and exhaustion	Chronic cough	Diarrhea
Rx. Ginseng Ren Shen Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Bai Zhu Poria Fu Ling
Diarrhea with Spleen Deficiency

Notes

1. Morphine is extremely toxic. Its side effects include headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, urinary disorders, diaphoresis, somnolence, pinpoint pupils and biliary colic.
2. The most dangerous side effect is respiratory depression, which can lead to unconsciousness and death.
3. Both morphine and codeine are highly addictive.
4. On its own, this herb can provide symptomatic relief of cough.
5. Ying Su Ke and Fr. Mume Wu Mei are both astringents. Ying Su Ke enters the Lungs and Intestines more strongly to restrain and inhibit. It acts more readily on the upper burner and, above all, secures and stabilizes the Kidney Qi and powerfully relieves pain. Wu Mei is a strong astringent. It enters the Lungs to stop cough, the Intestines to stop diarrhea, the Qi level to restrain Deficiency Fire, and the Blood to contain Yin and Blood and stop bleeding.
6. Ying Su Ke and Galla Chinensis Wu Bei Zi both astringe the Lungs to relieve cough and the Intestines to stop diarrhea. Wu Bei Zi is sour, astringent and cold and is weaker at astringing the Lungs and Intestines; it is better suited to descending Fire, resolving toxicity, generating Yang fluids, stopping bleeding, securing Jing and astringing sweat. Ying Su Ke is the stronger astringent and relieves pain effectively.
7. Ying Su Ke, Limonitum Yu Yu Liang and Halloysitum Rubrum Chi Shi Zhi each bind the Intestines, stop diarrhea and stabilize to halt incessant uterine bleeding, and they are frequently combined to strengthen these actions. Yu Yu Liang is heavier than Chi Shi Zhi, and astringes the lower Jiao without tonifying or augmenting the Stomach, whereas Chi Shi Zhi, being sweet and warm, augments the Qi, generates flesh and adjusts the Middle. It is better for sores that will not heal because of Qi Deficiency, and for diarrhea or uterine bleeding caused by a failure to store securely. Ying Su Ke is light and slightly cold. It enters the Qi level and preserves the Lungs.
8. For patients in severe pain, Rz. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo can be substituted, since this herb may be hard to obtain.
9. Vinegar-fried Poppy Husk Cu Chao Ying Su Ke astringes the Intestines more strongly and is less likely to cause nausea. It is used for dysenteric disorders.
10. Honey-prepared Poppy Husk Mi Zhi Ying Su Ke is more effective at astringing the Lungs and is frequently used for chronic cough and wheezing.