Skip to content
Neijing
pldeesfr

Knowledge baseHerbs

Man Jing Zi蔓荊子

Fructus ViticisVitex Fruit

Also known asChastetree Fruit · Three-leaf Chastetree Fruit

Category
Cool Acrid Hears that Release the Exterior (Wind-Heat Diaphoretics)
Nature
cool
Taste
bitter, pungent
Channels entered
Bladder, Liver, Stomach
Dosage
6–12 g

Usual doses

Dosage
6–12 g
Maximum dosage
30 g

Actions & indications

Disperses Wind and clears Heat
Wind-Heat with headache or eye pain
Dispels Wind-Heat in the Liver channel and clears and benefits the head and eyes
  • Liver Channel Wind-Heat with excessive tearing, red, painful or swollen eyes or spots in front of the eyes
  • Liver Yang Rising
Drains Dampness, expels Wind and relieves pain
Wind-Dampness in the limbs (auxiliary) with stiffness, numbness, cramping or heaviness

Contraindications

  • Use caution with headaches or eye problems from Yin or Blood Deficiency.
  • Use caution in those with Spleen and Stomach Qi Deficiencies.
  • Use caution for those with dizziness or headache from Blood Deficiency.

Incompatibilities

  • Antagonistic with the Rx. Aconiti Wu Tou family.
  • Antagonistic with Gypsum Shi Gao.

Combinations

Notes

  • Given to a Qi Deficient patient, it can provoke paranoia and agoraphobia (an imbalance of bladder energy).
  • Its effect resembles that of aspirin.
  • It is typically used for pain in the upper body.
  • It particularly addresses Wind-Heat affecting the face and eyes, but is also useful for stiff, painful joints from Wind-Damp Bi.
  • It can also be used for swollen, painful gums and teeth.
  • It is reported to be effective against certain parasites.
  • Besides Wind-Damp Bi, it also treats cold bulging disorders and leg Qi.
  • Many regard it as the best herb for tinnitus and deafness.
  • Man Jing Zi and Rz. Gastrodiae Tian Ma both treat headaches, but Man Jing Zi addresses headache from Wind-Heat while Tian Ma addresses headache from Internal Liver Wind.
  • Unprepared Vitex Fruit Sheng Man Jing Zi has a stronger dispersing action and is indicated for expelling Wind-Heat, dispersing Wind, and relieving pain.
  • Dry-fried Vitex Fruit Chao Man Jing Zi is less acrid and disperses less strongly, but is better at clearing the head and eyes; it treats headache around the eyes, watery eyes or blurred vision, and is the form generally used.

Appears in