Zhu Ru - 竹茹 - Caulis Bambusae In Taeniam - Bamboo Shavings
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Caulis Bambusae in Taeniam |
| Common English: | Bamboo Shavings |
Category
Herbs that Transform Phlegm and Stop Cough: Herbs that Cool and Transform Phlegm-HeatProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Sweet | Slightly Cold (Cool) | Lung Stomach Gallbladder | 4.5-10g |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Clears Heat and transforms Hot Phlegm | Lung Heat with viscous sputum a stifling sensation in the chest or hemoptysis (Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs) Gallbladder Fire harboring Phlegm and Phlegm-Heat |
Clears Heat and stops vomiting | Stomach Heat with bad breath, vomiting bitter or sour fluid, aversion to Heat, a greasy, yellow tongue coat (due to either Excess or Deficiency) |
Cools the Blood and stops bleeding | Blood Heat bleeding |
Calms the fetus | Restless fetus |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Major Combinations
| Fr. Trichosanthis | Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum | Rz. Coptidis |
Cough due to Heat in the Lungs. | Insomnia, palpitations and irritability due to Phlegm Heat leading to disharmony between the Gallbladder and Stomach with a stifling sensation in the chest and restlessness. | Phlegm-Heat in the Stomach with a stifling feeling in the epigastrium and vomiting. |
| Hb. Dendrobii | Rz. Phragmitis | Per. Citri Reticulatae |
Harmonizes the Stomach by descending Qi and replenishing Yin Fluids to treat hunger with no desire to eat with recurrent nausea, vomiting or dry heaves, thirst and dry mouth due to Stomach Yin Deficiency. | Irritability, thirst and vomiting due to depletion of fluids caused by Heat. | Vomiting or hiccup due to Stomach Deficiency Heat. |
| Succus Zingiberis Rhizomatis | Succus Zingiberis Rhizomatis | Rx. Codonopsis |
Mitigates its Cold properties and enhances its ability to stop vomiting to treat morning sickness. | Morning sickness. | Hiccup due to Stomach Qi Deficiency with Heat symptoms. |
Rz. Coptidis | Fr. Aurantii Immaturus | Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum |
Nausea, vomiting, hiccup or dry retching due to Stomach Fire. Vomiting of mucus or acid regurgitation due to Phlegm-Heat Obstructing the Stomach. | Phlegm-Heat obstructing the flow of Qi with focal distention in the chest and epigastrium, hiccup, dry retching, nausea and acid regurgitation. Palpitations, irritability, insomnia and emotional problems due to Gallbladder constraint with Phlegm Disturbing the Heart. | Gallbladder Fire with Phlegm. |
Notes
- Highly effective for stopping vomiting, this herb may be joined with others for different kinds of vomiting, morning sickness included.
- It is the herb of choice whenever Hot Phlegm produces restlessness and agitation.
- Coughing, asthma, restlessness and unease are among its indications.
- Gallbladder Heat caused by nuts and dairy products is also treated with it.
- It helps when a person feels overworked and has trouble making decisions.
- Opinions differ on the use of this herb versus Succus Bambusae Zhu Li, which comes from the sap of the same plant. Their effects overlap and Zhu Ru is chosen in most cases; the sap, Zhu Li, is colder and dissolves Phlegm more strongly, whereas Zhu Ru is better at purging Fire and stopping vomiting.
- It cools Lung Heat and is valued for calming the Spirit and relieving constraint.
- It is also reported to unblock urination and ease its flow. It cools Heat in the Intestines and removes the tenesmus and abdominal pain of dysenteric disorders.
- Through its cooling and unblocking actions, it relieves swelling and pain from trauma and Blood Stasis.
- A mouth rinse made by boiling it in vinegar can stop bleeding gums.
- Zhu Ru and Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum Zhi Ban Xia both relieve nausea and calm the Spirit, and they are frequently paired to strengthen these effects. Zhu Ru moistens and cools, leaning toward Phlegm-Heat and nausea from Stomach Heat; it further relieves constraint and breaks up clumped Phlegm-Heat affecting the Gallbladder. Zhi Ban Xia is acrid, warm and drying, leaning toward Cold-Phlegm, Damp-Phlegm and thin mucus affecting the Spleen, Stomach and epigastrium.
- Fresh Bamboo Shavings Xian Zhu Ru are very cold and strongly clear Heat, transform Phlegm and eliminate irritability. They are used when Phlegm and Heat disturb the Spirit, producing restless irritability, and also for Lung Heat cough with sticky yellow Phlegm.
- Dry-fried Bamboo Shavings Chao Zhu Ru are less cold and suit reflux and rebellious Qi arising from Stomach Deficiency.
- Ginger Bamboo Shavings Jiang Zhu Ru are slightly warm and more effective at descending rebellious Qi and easing nausea. They treat nausea and reflux from either Stomach Cold or Stomach Heat.
From Class
- Hot-phlegm herb groups: Fritillaria, Trichosanthes, bamboo, seaweed: Hot-phlegm herbs: Chuan Bei Mu nourishes yin (Zhe Bei Mu doesn't), Gua Lou unbinds the chest, bamboos quiet the heart, seaweeds soften phlegm masses (goiter, scrofula). (Yuen)