Zhi Chuan Wu - 製川烏 - Radix Aconiti Preparata - Prepared Aconite
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Radix Aconiti Preparata |
| Common English: | Aconite Wutou Mother Root of the Common Monks' Hood Prepared Aconite Processed Sichuan Aconite Main Root |
Category
Herbs that Warm the Interior and Expel ColdProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Acrid Bitter | Hot Very Toxic | Liver Spleen (Heart) | 1.5-9g Boil for 30-60 min. before adding to the decoction Tincture: 0.5-2ml 1.5-4.5g; boil 30-60 min longer (Secondary source) |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Disperses Cold, Expels Wind-Dampness, Stops pain, Warms and activates the channels | Wind-Damp Painful Obstruction (Bi) with Severe sub-cardiac and abdominal pain from Wind-Cold-Dampness Headache Trauma Anesthesia (Can be applied topically) |
Reduces swellings, induces ulceration and dispels putrefication | Topically for Yin flat abscesses Used when hard abscesses do not soften and ulcerate or do not heal |
Treats unconsciousness caused by Phlegm Stagnation | Unprocessed can treat unconsciousness, deviation of the mouth and eyes and a roaring sound of Phlegm in the throat (very rare usage) |
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
| Hb. Ephedrae | Pheretima | Scorpio |
Generalized joint pain with restrictions in range of motion. | Wind-Cold-Dampness or Phlegm- Dampness and Blood Stasis lingering and stagnating in the channels and collaterals. | Warms the channels and collaterals, disperses Cold, expels Wind and Dampness, unblocks the collaterals and stops pain to treat stubborn painful obstruction with severe symptoms due to Wind, Dampness and/or Cold. |
| Unprepared Rz. Arisaematis | Rx. Lateralis Aconiti Preparata | Unprepared Rz. Arisaematis |
Powder and apply to Tai Yang for severe headaches. | Severe Cold leading to pain that goes right through the chest from front to back or vice versa. Angina. | Topically, as a powder for Yin flat abscesses. |
| Unprepared Rz. Arisaematis | Concentrated Vinegar | Rx. Aconiti Kusnezoffi |
Topically, for any type of toxic sore. | As a wash for ulcerations that do not heal. Ingested or used topically for Coldness and pain in the low back and legs. | Topically for aching and pain in the joints and muscles. |
Rx. Aconiti Kusnezoffi | Arisaema cum Bile | Arisaema cum Bile |
Muscle spasms and pain with difficulty in movement due to Cold-Dampness or Blood Stagnation. | Headache. | Crush, mix and apply topically to Taiyang for headaches. |
Fr. Foeniculi | Bul. Fritillariae Cirrhosae | |
Hernia due to Cold. | Abscess and ulceration. |
Notes
- An overdose produces numbness of the lips, tongue and extremities, vomiting, facial pallor, irritability, a fall in pulse rate and blood pressure, breathing difficulty and coma.
- Certain sources place this herb in the "Expel Wind and Dampness" category.
- It also enters and tonifies the Ming Men.
- Its tincture is employed as a surgical anesthetic.
- It expels Cold, eliminates firm, painless epigastric lumps, warms and nourishes the Zang Fu, treats every type of Wind, breaks up stagnant Qi, and treats abdominal pain from externally-contracted Wind-Cold.
- It inhibits the growth of live, proliferating Stomach cancer cells.
- Research has shown it to be effective against cancers of the Stomach, esophagus, Liver, Colon and rectum.
- According to one major source, this herb has six functions: 1: remove Cold; 2: relieve epigastric mass; 3: warm and nourish the viscera; 4: heal diverse Wind conditions; 5: alleviate Qi Stagnation; 6: stop abdominal pain due to Cold.
- For polyps, steep 5 pieces in wine for three days, then wash the polyp with the liquid three to four times daily.
- Zhi Chuan Wu, Rx. Aconiti Kusnezoffi Preparata Zhi Cao Wu and Sm. Strychni Ma Qian Zi form the base of many plasters for musculoskeletal pain from rheumatism or trauma.
- For internal use, this herb should be taken as Processed Sichuan Aconite Main Root Zhi Chuan Wu.
- Dry-fried Sichuan Aconite Main Root Chao Chuan Wu is less toxic but is seldom used today.
- Unprepared Sichuan Aconite Main Root Sheng Chuan Wu is for external application only.
- It works mainly at the channel level (compare Fu Zi, which acts on both the organs and the channels).
- Aconite toxicity may show in the nervous system (burning sensation and numbness of the tongue and limbs), the digestive tract (salivation, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain) and the circulation (palpitations, low blood pressure, shock).