Liu Ji Nu劉寄奴
Herba Artemisiae AnomalaeAnomalous Artemisia
Also known asAnomala
- Category
- Herbs that Invigorate the Blood
- Nature
- warm
- Taste
- bitter
- Channels entered
- Heart, Spleen
- Dosage
- 6–15 g
Actions & indications
- Dispels Blood Stasis, unblocks menstruation and alleviates pain
- Amenorrhea or postpartum abdominal pain due to Blood Stasis
- Falls, fractures, contusions and sprains
- Reduces Food Stagnation and transforms accumulations
- Abdominal pain due to accumulation from Food Stagnation
- Topically as a powder for contusion, burns and bleeding wounds
- Contusion, burns and bleeding wounds
Contraindications
- Contraindicated in pregnancy.
- Overuse can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
- Reserve for Excess disorders only.
Combinations
- Dang Gui
- Chi Shao
Amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea caused by Blood Stasis.
Uterine bleeding accompanied by abdominal pain from Qi Deficiency.
Severe pain, swelling, sprain and fracture resulting from trauma.
Abdominal distention, fullness and pain from Food Stagnation (may be used as a single herb for this).
Amenorrhea, and postpartum abdominal pain.
External and traumatic injury.
Notes
- It is frequently applied to postpartum disorders.
- It also addresses distention from Fluid retention, whether caused by Blood Stasis or Food Stagnation.
- It is effective for metal-wound bleeding that will not stop.
- As a powder applied alone topically, it controls bleeding.
- Taken alone internally, it treats indigestion.
- Both Liu Ji Nu and Ophicalcitum Hua Rui Shi invigorate the Blood, transform Blood Stasis, and can be applied topically to stop bleeding, with both used for postpartum disorders. Liu Ji Nu, bitter to drain downward and warm to unblock, mainly breaks up Blood Stasis and arrests bleeding caused by obstruction, whereas Hua Rui Shi, sour and astringent, restrains bleeding while clearing Stagnation.
- Southern Liu Ji Nu (Nan Liu Ji Nu) is considered the standard form.
- Northern Liu Ji Nu (Bei Liu Ji Nu) is a Yin-moving herb, often substituted for Hb. Artemisiae Scopariae Yin Chen. Its action falls somewhere between Liu Ji Nu and Yin Chen — invigorating the Blood, reducing swelling and relieving pain, while also clearing Heat and promoting urination for Damp-Heat disorders with Blood Stasis, amenorrhea from fluid retention, or topical use for trauma.