Radix stellariae a.k.a Stellaria root (Yinchaihu) - TCM Materia Medica compiled by Raymond Cheng PhD DPA @ Traditional Chinese Medicine Basics (TCMBasics.com) - TCM theories, resources, herbs, materia medica

The information that is available at or through this site is not intended directly or by implication to either diagnose or treat any medical, emotional, or psychological condition or disorder. It is always recommended that consultation with local health care providers be obtained for specific health or medical concerns.

Pharmaceutical Name

Radix Stellariae

Botanical Name

Stellaria dichotoma L. var. lanceolata Bge.

Common Name

Stellaria root

Source of Earliest Record

Bencao Gangmu Shiyi

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations

The roots are dug in autumn or the Beginning of Spring (first solar term). After the fibrous roots are removed, the roots are cleaned in water, dried in the sun and cut into slices.

Properties & Taste

Sweet and slightly cold

Meridians

Liver and stomach

Functions

1. To reduce heat caused by deficient yin; 2. To clear heat in infants caused by malnutrition

Indications & Combinations

1. Heat signs due to deficiency of yin manifested as afternoon fever and night sweating. Stellaria root (Yinchaihu) is used with Sweet wormwood (Qinghao), Turtle shell (Biejia) and Wolfberry bark (Digupi) in the formula Qinggu San. 2. Infantile malnutrition manifested as swollen abdomen and emaciation. Stellaria root (Yinchaihu) is used with Capejasmine (Zhizi), Pilose asiabell root (Dangshen) and Scutellaria root (Huangqin) in the formula Chaihu Qinggan Tang.

Dosage

3-10 g

Cautions & Contraindications

This herb is contraindicated in fever due to invasion by exogenous pathogenic wind and cold, or in cases with deficient blood syndrome but no signs of heat.

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WHAT IS TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE?
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With over 3000 years of experience, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has remain one of the many fascinating areas in ancient Chinese culture. First known to be documented in the Yellow Emperor's Canon of Medicine, TCM is believed to have been practised in as early as 475 to 221 B.C. The field of working knowledge of TCM stretches from anything related to general healthcare practice to the philosophy of the mind, the logic of life, religion, and even to as far as cosmology and astronumerology. This is why in order to thoroughly understand the concepts behind TCM, one must be comprehensive in learning and embracing the Chinese culture as a whole.

Just as Douglas Hoff put it when he explained about accupuncture, "The systems of TCM uses the concepts of elements and meridians and are completely immersed in the Asian cosmology which takes shape through the religions." The meridian-brain mechanism, the fundamental working concept of acupuncture, in which the pain block from the message that the needle or burning cone of herbs gives to the point of stimulus, was only found centuries later by the West through science and technology.

MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR – MARCH 2020

Raymond Cheng, PhD DPA Thank you for visiting this TCM and acupuncture information website. If you have previously been to this website, you might have noticed that some of the pages on ancient historical ideas and holistic thinkings related to Chinese metaphysics are temporarily taken offline. This is because I will be revamping the whole website and be moving those information into a new \"Ancient Chinese Culture\" section so as to reflect a more current perspective on the interpretation of some of the fundamental concepts as well as to include some of the latest information in the area. But if you have just found this website for the very first time, I welcome you again and wish you could find what you require and, hopefully, you could also be benefitted from reading the articles I published on this website.

Please be patient and do come and check out this website frequently as it's being revamped.

Raymond Cheng, PhD DPA FRSA FRSPH

March 28, 2020.

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