Chuan Xin Lian穿心莲
Herba AndrographitisAndrographitis
Also known asGreen Chiretta · Kariat · Heart-Thread Lotus Leaf
- Category
- Herbs that Clear Heat and Eliminate Toxins
- Nature
- cold
- Taste
- bitter
- Channels entered
- Large Intestine, Lung, Small Intestine, Stomach
- Secondary channels
- Bladder, Liver
- Dosage
- 6–20 g
Usual doses
- Dosage
- 6–20 g
- Powder
- 0.6–1.5 g
- Tincture
- 2–5 ml
Actions & indications
- Clears Heat and resolves Fire toxicity (Benefits the throat)
- Heat in the Lungs and throat, asthma, encephalitis B
- Acute infection of the gastrointestinal tract
- Chuang Yung
- In its fresh form it can be applied topically for snake bite
- Dries Dampness and stops diarrhea
- Damp-Heat dysentery (Intestinal Damp-Heat)
- Gall Bladder Heat, viral hepatitis, herpes zoster
- Hot, painful urinary dysfunction, urinary tract infections
- Eczema (topically)
- Cools the Blood
- Epistaxis
- Resolves Phlegm
- Phlegm Heat with purulent sputum
Contraindications
- Avoid long-term use or high doses.
- Avoid in weak patients.
- Avoid in those without Fire Toxin.
- Use cautiously during pregnancy.
Combinations
- Chen Pi
Cough from Lung Heat.
Lung abscess; cough from Lung Heat (bronchitis or pneumonia); sore throat.
The early stage of a Warm-Heat pathogen presenting with fever and sore throat.
Used topically for toxic sores, swelling and snakebite.
Dysenteric disorder; diarrhea.
Hot, painful urinary dysfunction.
Notes
- It serves as an inexpensive substitute for Rz. Coptidis Huang Lian.
- It has recently been used to treat leptospirosis.
- It has become, in recent times, one of the most widely used herbs for clearing Heat and eliminating toxins.
- It reduces swelling, and as a topical powder it treats eczema, scalds, burns and snakebite.
- It functions as a broad-spectrum anti-infective, with immunostimulant, antibacterial and antiviral properties.
- It also acts as an antipyretic, and has anti-inflammatory, detoxicant and antivenom properties.
- It works as an expectorant, uterine stimulant with parturient and abortifacient effects, and as an anthelmintic.
- It is used to treat HIV.
- It exhibits an antitumor effect.
- It can be used as a substitute for Rz. Coptidis Huang Lian.
- Chuan Xin Lian and Rx. Scutellariae Barbatae Ban Zhi Lian share the ability to clear Heat, resolve toxicity, reduce swelling and relieve pain. Ban Zhi Lian, being acrid, bitter and cold, is superior at dispersing Stagnation, reducing swelling and relieving pain, and is used for Lung, Stomach and Intestinal abscesses (including cancers) and for Blood Stasis from trauma. Chuan Xin Lian, bitter and cold, is superior at clearing Heat and resolving toxicity; it also cools Blood Heat and reduces swelling, is considerably more bitter than Ban Zhi Lian, and ranks among the most frequently used anti-cancer herbs.
- Chuan Xin Lian and Rz. Paridis Chong Lou both clear Heat and Toxins and are indicated for any Toxic Heat pattern. Chuan Xin Lian is used for various infections, especially of the Intestinal and respiratory tracts, while Chong Lou treats venomous snakebite and cancer; it also clears Heat and stops convulsions, making it useful for infantile convulsions or any fever-induced seizure disorder.