Growing 黄芪 [huángqí]

Growing 黄芪/耆 [huángqí] – Astragalus membranaceus, milkvetch

If you scroll down you will find an excerpt on huangqi from 本草問答 Bencao wenda – Questions and Answers on Materia Medica – by Tang Rongchuan (a.k.a. Tang Zonghai).  Further down below I will add some additional information, including more excerpts from Chinese materiae medicae (work in progress).  There is a lot of information on huangqi available in books and on the web so here is just a short pictorial with some personal notes in between:

黃芪/耆 [huángqí] is not a difficult plant to grow from seed. The germination is reliable and fast – the fastest I’ve seen is four days for the first signs of life to appear. There is, however, one period where things can easily go wrong. The seedlings are rather fragile and you can kill them by too much water or too much heat (direct sunlight on particulary warm spring days). This is especially true in the first six weeks or so.

Scarification of the seeds – scratching the seed shells by rubbing them between sandpaper, for instance – is recommended but without it seeds will germinate too.  If you scarify with sandpaper, don’t rub too hard as the seed shells break easily and the seeds can be damaged that way. One source mentions bottom heat but since huangqi is a cool soil germinator I would not know why that would help. Maybe when you have an unheated greenhouse and it is still very cold outside…

When the seedling begins to grow in the center, it looks like a bird with wings spread out.  Once the center grows three leaves, one large and two tiny wings, the picture is very different.

I love the looks of this plant. The leaves grow out in a beautiful pattern. The flowers do not stand out but their shape and the form of the resulting seedpods are special as well.  The flowers always make me think of duck beaks.

I have had to move Nico’s Nerdy Nursery a couple of times over the last years, so I am unable to keep track of the plants that I have planted out at different locations. However, I’ve kept a few plants in large pots and hope to plant them in the poor ‘moondust’ soil of the Okanogan Highlands this year (2018). I am hopeful because huangqi likes poor, sandy and dryish soil, and we are up in the north here (see Tang Zonghai’s comments on that below).  The only concern I have is that critters like gophers love to eat the root. They seem to know how beneficial that root is, probably also because of the nice taste it has. Wiring for protection of the roots is a lot of work so I will consider to keep them in pots – this year to be filled with native soil.

As this plant is in the legume family, I am also playing with the idea of growing a large area as cover crop.

This photo shows the plant growing back from the root in its third year:

 

Tang Zonghai on huangqi

Excerpt from 本草問答 Bencao wenda – Questions and Answers on Materia Medica – by Tang Rongchuan (a.k.a. Tang Zonghai).  That text is introduced in: A Short Introduction to Tang Zonghai’s Běncǎo wèndá

問曰
黃芪或生漢中,或生甘肅,或生山西,或生北口外,今統以北方立論,有理否?

Question:
Huángqí grows in the center of China, in Gansu and Shanxi, and in the northern areas beyond the Great Wall. Nowadays the established view is [that the best huángqí grows in] the north. Is this justified?

答曰
雖不必截然在北,然其為性,實皆秉北方水中之陽氣以生,其主北方立論,則就乎得氣之優者而言,故黃芪以北口外產者為佳。蓋天地之陽氣,均由土下黃泉之水中透出於地面,上于天為雲霧,著于物為雨露,交于人為呼吸,只此水中之氣而已。

Answer:
Although it is does not have to be completely in the north, still, for the forming of its nature, [huángqí] indeed takes up the yang qi from water of the north in order to grow.
The argument that the north rules [in the growing of huángqí] is based on [wherefrom] it obtains the most excellent qi. Hence, the best huángqí is produced in the area(s) north of the Great Wall. For all the yang qi of heaven and earth penetrates the surface soil after emerging from the water of the subterranean yellow springs. When [that water] rises towards heaven it becomes clouds and mist, when it touches matter it becomes rain and dew, and when it interacts with humans it becomes breathing. It all is this water’s qi and nothing else.

人身之陽氣,則由腎與膀胱氣海之中發出。上循三焦油膜, 以達于肺, 而為呼吸, 布于皮毛而為衛氣, 亦只此水中之氣而已矣。 水在五行,以北方為盛,故補氣之藥皆以北方產者為良。

The yang qi of the human body emerges from within the kidney, the bladder, and the sea of qi (‘chest center’ or ‘chest cavity’; one of the four seas as described in Lingshu 33). It ascends and moves along the oily membranes of the triple burner to arrive at the lung where it becomes respiration and it spreads to the skin and [body] hair where it becomes defense qi. This as well refers to the qi from within water and nothing else. Because water in the five phases is exuberant in the north, all qi-supplementing medicinals are of the highest quality when they are produced in the north.

漢中甘肅所產黃芪,根體多實,氣不盛而孔道少;山西所產,體略虛鬆,以氣略盛,內有通氣之孔道,故略虛鬆。猶不及北口外所產者,其體極鬆,以內中行水氣之孔道更大,故知其氣為更盛。蓋黃芪根長數尺,深入土中,吸引土下黃泉之水,以上生其苗葉,氣即水也,引水即是引氣,根中虛鬆竅大者,所引水氣極多,故氣盛而補氣。

The body of the root of huángqí that is produced in Gansu, the center of China, is very solid; its qi is not exuberant and its hollow passageways are small. That body is slightly emptier and looser [in the huángqí that] is produced in Shanxi. Because [in the huángqí of Shanxi] the qi is slightly [more] exuberant and inside [the root] there are hollow passageways [wherein] qi flows, [those passageways] are slightly emptier and looser.

This is still inferior to the [huángqí] produced in the areas north of the Great Wall, whose form is extremely loose. Because the interior hollow passageways that transport water and qi are much larger, we know that the qi is more exuberant. For when the root of huángqí grows several chi (transl. note: one chi is about one third of a foot or ten centimeter) and deeply penetrates the soil, it sucks and draws up the subterranean water from the yellow springs to generate the shoots and leaves. Qi is water and to draw water is to draw qi; when the roots are empty, loose and with large openings there will be abundant water and qi drawn [through them]. Thus there is an exuberance of qi and [such huángqí has an even greater ability to] supplement qi.

人身氣生於腎,由氣海上循油膜而達口鼻,與黃芪之氣由鬆竅而上苗葉者無異。芪之鬆竅象人身油膜中亦有通水之鬆竅油膜者,三焦也,故謂黃芪為三焦油膜中藥。其能拓裡達表,皆取黃芪從油膜中,而上行外通之義也。

The qi of the human body is engendered in the kidney, travels upward from the sea of qi, and follows the oily membranes to reach the mouth and nose. This is not different from the qi of huángqí that ascends through the loose apertures to the shoots and leaves. [Huáng]‘s loose apertures resemble the loose apertures in the oily membranes of the human body wherethrough water flows as well: The triple burner. Therefore it is said that huángqí is the ‘triple burner oily membrane’ medicinal. Its ability to open up the interior and penetrate the exterior is completely derived from the idea that huángqí travels upward and connects with the exterior while it is coming from inside of the oily membranes.

且黃芪外皮紫黑水火之間色也,惟其秉水中之陽氣,故成此水火之間色。三焦相火水中之陽,名曰少陽。黃芪中通象三焦,引水泉之氣,以上生苗葉 是秉水中之陽而生者也,故有水火之間色,而為三焦之良藥,其氣類有如是者。

Moreover, huángqí‘s external skin is purple-black – the intermediate colour of water and fire. It is solely by its taking up the yang qi from water that it forms this intermediate colour of water and fire. The yang from within the triple burner’s ministerial fire and water is called lesser yang. The flow within huángqí resembles [the flow within] the triple burner. The qi of the water springs is drawn up to generate sprouts and leaves; it is engenderment by taking up the yang from within water. Therefore it has the intermediate colour of fire and water and is a good medicinal for the triple burner. Its type of qi is like this.

芪之肉理色黃味甘,土之色味也,黃芪入土最深又得土氣之濃,所以黃芪又大補脾。今人不知身中綱膜是三焦,又不知綱膜上之膏油 即是脾之物,不知膜與油相連,又安知黃芪補脾土,達三焦之理哉?能知綱膜是三焦,膏油屬脾土,則知黃芪歸脾經。達三焦之理矣。

The colour of [huáng]‘s flesh texture is yellow and its flavour is sweet – the colour and flavour of earth. Huángqí enters the earth deeply and then obtains the concentrates from earth qi. That is why huángqí also greatly supplements the spleen. Nowadays people do not know that the ropy membranes within the body constitute the triple burner; they also do not know that the fatty oil on top of these ropy membranes is an aspect of the spleen; and they do not know that the membranes and the oil are linked together. So how could they understand the principle of huángqí supplementing spleen-earth and penetrating the triple burner? If you are able to understand that the ropy membranes are the triple burner and that the fatty oil belongs to spleen-earth, then you will understand the principle of huángqí entering the spleen channel and penetrating the triple burner.

 

Nicolaas Herman Oving                                                            January 2018

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蓖麻 [bìmá] castor plant: bean, oil, leaf, root

 

蓖麻 [bìmá], castor plant – Ricinus communis

I first learned about castor oil as avid gardener in gopher-terrorized areas.  After finding my shining chard plants flattened by those garden monsters for the umptieth time, one of the methods I used was to spray the soil with a mixture of castor oil and water.  As gophers hate to crawl through the oily soil and also dislike the odor, it helped for a couple of weeks or until the next rain.

When I first grew castor from seed, I could not plant them out because I lived on a farm with goats and we were worried about the risk of poisoning those curious browsers.  On another farm where deer were a major problem I grew castor and tobacco plants in fencerows as extra deterrents.

Tick Hemp :  Some notes on names and history

Another name of the plant is Palma Christi, which means ‘the palm of Christ’ and could refer to the ability of castor oil to heal wounds.  The shape of the leaves resemble the palm of the hand.   The Latin word castor means beaver and that name derives from castoreum, a perfume base made from the dried perineal glands of that animal.  Castor oil replaced castoreum in that usage.  The older name, ricinus, is also Latin and means tick.  Some sources claim that it refers to a tick-like small outgrowth on one end of the seed, but others say that you can see the whole bean as the swollen body of the tick and the little outgrowth as its head.  I find the last the most likely.

Interestingly, the Chinese character variants [bī, pí, pī] ‘[ox] louse’ and [pí] ‘tick’ for the character  in 蓖麻 are found in several old texts.  Some authors indeed mention that the plant is named ‘tick’ because of the shape of the bean.  This could point to the way and time the castor plant was introduced in China.  The explanation for the use of in the name is that the leaves resemble those of the hemp plant – 大麻 [dàmá].

The earliest usage of castor seeds we know of was in ancient Egypt.  Seeds from around 4.000 B.C. have been found in tombs and it is documented (and translated) in the Ebers Papyrus.  The Greek travel-writer Herodotus mentions the castor plant and describes the usages of castor oil in Egypt in his Histories.  From that time and document stems the name sounding {kiki} or {kouki} (which is how the Egyptians called it).  In the Bible, kikayon (קִיקָיוֹן) is the Hebrew name of a plant mentioned in the Book of Jonah and that is believed to refer to the castor plant as well.  The Arabs called it {elkherod}.  Like in ancient Egypt, castor bean oil was used as lamp oil in India as well.  It also plays an important role in Ayurvedic medicine and India is currently by far the world’s largest producer of the substance.   

Medicinal usages: Chinese medicine

As I was admiring the colour, shape, flowers and the process of seed-forming of this plant that grew prolifically (and large!) around gardens I planted, I began to find out more about its medicinal uses.  My specialism is Chinese medicine and the following is an overview of what I learned from Chinese materiae medicae.

Four parts of the castor plant are used in Chinese medicine:

  • 蓖麻子 [bìmázǐ] castor bean (Ricini Semen)
    <alternate names: 蓖麻子肉 [bìmá zǐròu] and 蓖麻仁 [bìmárén]>
  • 蓖麻油 [bìmáyóu] castor oil (Ricini Oleum)
  • 蓖麻叶 [bìmáyè] castor plant leaf (Ricini Folium)
  • 蓖麻根 [bìmágēn] castor plant root (Ricini Radix)

First, the bean: the seed of the plant that is formed in this beautiful stage of its life:

The seeds are harvested after the capsules (spiky fruit shells also known as pericarp) turn brown in autumn and dried in the sun until they can be cracked open easily.  The bean-like seeds are then peeled out of the capsules and dried some more if necessary.  Then, they can be stored for a long time.  If dried thoroughly you can also store the seeds without taking them out of the capsules.

蓖麻子 [bìmázǐ], castor bean – Ricini Semen

Key information from the Chinese materia medica 中药大辞典 [Zhōngyào dà cídiǎn] with addenda from other Chinese materiae medicae:

Nature and flavour

  • sweet and acrid, balanced; toxic
  • one source has ‘slightly toxic’ and another notes the flavour as ‘bitter’

Actions and indications

  • disperses swelling and draws toxin
  • drains, precipitates and frees stagnation

and treats:

  • swelling and toxin of welling-abscess and flat-abscess (including mammary welling-abscess, the equivalent of acute mastitis in biomedicine)
  • knocks and falls (‘die da’, ‘dit da’ or ‘hit medicine’)
  • scrofula
  • hemiplegia (half-body paralysis): deviated eyes and mouth, clenched jaw with loss of speech (external use)
  • head wind with deafness; distended tongue with throat impediment
  • phlegm panting
  • leg qi
  • poison swelling and vermilion tumor (丹瘤 [dān liú])
  • water swelling and abdominal fullness
  • dry bound stool

Other indications are water concretion-illness (水癥) and generalized itching sores and puffy swelling.  For several of the indications listed above, the seeds are ground to powder.  Applications made with that powder can also be used for sores in general.  Doctors noted good results for sores from scab and lai < lài>, for instance.  The medical literature widely acknowledges the pus-expelling, toxin-drawing and pain-relieving power of the castor bean.

Since it has the ability to discharge stagnant matter, some sources mention its use to promote childbirth and afterbirth (in one source, application of ground castor seeds to the palm of the hands and sole of the feet ‘hastens delivery’), and to dislodge surplus bone matter, pus and blood [clots].

It is contraindicated in pregnancy and in diarrhoea or loose stools.

The Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards (香港中藥材標準) has a monograph on castor bean with microphotography, information about chemistry, quality testing, etc. in a  Chinese version  and an English version.

At the very end of this overview you can find lengthy excerpts from Chinese materiae medicae that contain information on chemistry as well.

Tang Zonghai writes in his Bencao wenda (see article for an introduction to that text):

巴豆、蓖麻子皆有油,皆滑利皆能下大便。
Bādòu and bìmázǐ (castor bean) both contain oil, and both are lubricating and can precipitate stool.

蓖麻子味辛氣溫,是有氣以行其油滑之性,故其行速。
The flavor of castor bean is acrid and its qi is warm. This means that it has qi to move its oily-slippery nature; therefore, its movement is rapid.

The context here is the oil derived from the beans.  There is some overlap in the medicinal usages of the bean and the oil as you will see from the following.

Image result for castor oil

 

蓖麻油 [bìmáyóu], castor oil – Ricini Oleum

Nature and flavor

  • sweet, acrid, balanced; toxic

Actions and indications

  • moistens the intestines and frees the stool and is used for intestinal dryness with constipation
  • sores, scab and burns
  • hemiplegia: internal use (see formula below)
  • see also the list under castor bean above

Tang Zonghai writes:

大便寒结者,用当归之温润,用巴豆之辛润,皆是治火不蒸水之燥。西医用蓖麻油通大肠,亦是温润之法,皆治寒燥者也。此证最少,惟火燥之证最多。

The use of both dāngguī’s warm moistening and bādòu’s acrid moistening [properties] in cold bound stool implies treating dryness that [results from] fire failing to steam water.  When western medicine employs bìmáyoú (castor oil) to free the large intestine this also is a method for warm moistening.  [These methods] all treat cold-dryness.  It is a rather rare pattern; the pattern of fire-dryness occurs more frequently.

Sun Simiao mentions a formula that contains castor oil in his Qian jin fang千金方, in the section on 偏風 [piānfēng], hemilateral wind.

蓖麻子脂一升 酒一斗 銅缽盛 脂著酒中 一日煮之令熟服之

Fill a copper bowl with one sheng of castor seed oil and one dou of liquor, adding the oil to the liquor.  Boil for one day and ingest after it is cooked.

Li Shizhen describes several formulae that include castor seed oil from various sources in his Bencao gangmu 本草綱目 (Chinese text of the entry on 蓖麻 is a the end of this post).

 

This website has a wealth of information on various uses and applications of castor oil in our world, with a focus on industry and economics, chemistry and chemical engineering, the extraction process, etc.:  castoroil.in

Another interesting webpage on the plant is The Castor Bean .

 

蓖麻叶 [bìmáyè], castor plant leaf – Ricini Folium

Nature and flavor

  • bitter, acrid, balanced; slightly toxic / toxic

Actions and indications

  • dispels wind and eliminates dampness
  • draws toxin and disperses swelling

and treats:

  • leg qi
  • wind swelling numbness
  • nosebleed (smear with oil, heat up, place on fontanel)
  • scrotal swelling and pain
  • phlegm panting and cough
  • malign sores

蓖麻根 [bìmágēn], castor plant root – Ricini Radix

Nature and flavor

  • bland, slightly warm
  • other sources have: acrid, balanced; slightly toxic

Actions and indications

  • dispels wind and dissipates stasis
  • settles and resolves tetany
  • quickens blood and dispels swelling

and treats:

  • epilepsy
  • welling-abscess swelling and sore-toxin
  • stasis pain from knocks and falls
  • scrofula
  • prolapse of the uterus and of the rectum

 

 

Chinese language sources

Extracts from Chinese materiae medicae in order of appearance:

  • 1. Bencao gangmu entry: 1.A. seed and 1.B. leaf
  • 2. Other materiae medicae:  A. seed   B. oil   C. leaf  and D. root

With my apologies for remaining typos or other errors in the texts.

1. 本草纲目: 蓖麻

(蓖音卑。《唐本草》)
【释名】颂曰∶叶似大麻,子形宛如牛蜱,故名。
时珍曰∶蓖亦作螕。螕 [bī, pí, pī] 蜱 [pí],牛虱也。其子有麻点,故名蓖麻。
【集解】恭曰∶此人间所种者,叶似大麻 [dàmá] 叶而甚大,结子如牛蜱。今胡中来者,茎赤,高丈余,子大如皂荚核,用之亦良。
颂曰∶今在处有之。夏生苗,叶似 草而大浓。茎赤有节如甘蔗,高丈余。秋生细花,随便 时珍曰∶其茎有赤有白,中空。其叶大如瓠叶,每叶凡五尖。夏秋间丫里抽出花穗,累累黄色。每枝结实数十颗,上有刺,攒簇如 毛而软。凡三、四子合成一颗,枯时劈开,状如巴豆,壳内有子,大如豆。壳有斑点,状如牛 。再去斑壳,中有仁,娇白如续随子仁,有油可作印色及油纸。子无刺者,良;子有刺者,毒
1.A.  子
【修治】 曰∶凡使勿用黑夭赤利子,缘在地蒌上生,是颗两头尖有毒。其蓖麻子,节节有黄黑斑。凡使以盐汤煮半日,去皮取子研用。
时珍曰∶取蓖麻油法∶用蓖麻仁五升捣烂,以水一斗煮之,有沫撇起,待沫尽乃止。去水,以沫煎至点灯不炸、滴水不散为度。
【气味】甘、辛,平,有小毒。
时珍曰∶凡服蓖麻者,一生不得食炒豆,犯之必胀死。其油能伏丹砂、粉霜。
【主治】水症(癥)。以水研二十枚服之,吐恶沫,加至三十枚,三日一服,瘥则止。
又主风虚寒热,身体疮痒浮肿,尸疰恶气,榨取油涂之(《唐本》)。研敷疮痍疥癞。涂手足心,催生(大明)。治瘰 。取子炒熟去皮,每卧时嚼服二三枚,渐加至十数枚,有效(宗 )。主偏风不遂,口眼 斜,失音口噤,头风耳聋,舌胀喉痹,痰喘脚气,毒肿丹瘤 [dān liú],汤火伤,针刺入肉,毒(时珍)。
【发明】震亨曰∶蓖麻属阴,其性善收,能追脓取毒,亦外科要药。
之滞物,故取胎产胞衣、剩骨胶血者用之。
时珍曰∶蓖麻仁甘辛有毒热,气味颇近巴豆,亦能利人,故下水气。其性善走,能开通诸窍经络,故能治偏风、失音口噤、口目 斜、头风七窍诸病,不止于出有形之物而已。盖鹈鹕油能引药气入内,蓖麻油能拔病气出外,故诸膏多用之。一人病偏风,手足不举。时珍用此油同羊脂、麝香、鲮鲤甲等药,煎作摩膏,日摩数次,一月余渐复。兼服搜风化痰养血之剂,三月而愈。一人病手臂一块肿痛,亦用蓖麻捣膏贴之,一夜而愈。一人病气郁偏头痛,用此同乳香、食盐捣 太阳穴,一夜痛止。一妇产后子肠不收,捣仁贴其丹田,一夜而上。
此药外用屡奏奇勋,但内服不可轻率尔。或言捣膏以箸点于鹅马六畜舌根下,即不能食,或点肛内,即下血死,其毒可知矣。
【附方】旧九,新三十二。
半身不遂,失音不语∶取蓖麻子油一升,酒一斗,铜锅盛油,着酒中一日,煮之令熟。
细细服之。(《外台秘要》)
口目 斜∶蓖麻子仁捣膏,左贴右,右贴左,即正。《妇人良方》∶用蓖麻子仁七七粒,研作 饼,右 安在左手心;左 ,安在右手心,却以铜盂盛热水坐药上,冷即换,五一方∶用蓖麻子仁七七粒,巴豆十九粒,麝香五分,作饼如上用。
风气头痛不可忍者∶乳香、蓖麻仁等分,捣饼随左右贴太阳穴,解发出气,甚验。《德生堂 方》∶用蓖麻油纸剪花,贴太阳亦效。又方∶蓖麻仁半两,枣肉十五枚,捣涂纸上,卷筒插入鼻中,下清涕即止。
八种头风∶蓖麻子、刚子各四十九粒(去壳),雀脑芎一大块。捣如泥,糊丸弹子大,线穿挂 风处阴干。用时先将好末茶调成膏子涂盏内,后将炭火烧前药烟起,以盏覆之。待烟尽,以百沸葱汤点盏内茶药服之。后以绵被裹头卧,汗出避风。(《袖珍方》)
鼻窒不通∶蓖麻子仁(去皮)三百粒,大枣(去皮核)十五枚。捣匀,绵裹塞之。一日一易,三十余日闻香臭也。(《普济方》)
天柱骨倒,小儿疳疾及诸病后,天柱骨倒,乃体虚所致,宜生筋散贴之∶木鳖子六个(去壳),蓖麻子六十粒(去壳)。研匀。先包头擦项上令热,以津调药贴之。(《郑氏小儿方》)
五种风痫,不问年月远近∶用蓖麻子仁二两,黄连一两,用银石器纳水一大碗,文武火煮之。
干即添水,三日两夜取出黄连,只用蓖麻风干,勿令见日,以竹刀每个切作四段。每服二十段,食后荆芥汤下,日二服。终身忌食豆,犯之必腹胀死。(《卫生宝鉴》)
舌上出血∶蓖麻子油纸燃,烧烟熏鼻中,自止。(《摘玄方》)
舌胀塞口∶蓖麻仁四十粒,去壳研油涂纸上,作燃烧烟熏之。未退再熏,以愈为度。有人舌 肿退场门外,一村人用此法而愈。(《经验良方》)
急喉痹塞,牙关紧急不通,用此即破∶以蓖麻子仁研烂,纸卷作筒,烧烟熏吸即通。或只取油作捻尤妙。名圣烟筒。
咽中疮肿∶《杜壬方》∶用蓖麻子仁一枚,朴硝一钱,同研,新汲水服之,连进二、三服效。
《三因方》∶用蓖麻仁、荆芥穗等分。为末,蜜丸。绵包噙,咽之。
水气胀满∶蓖麻子仁研,水解得三合。清旦一顿服尽,日中当下青黄水也。或云壮人止可服 五粒。(《外台秘要》)
脚气作痛∶蓖麻子七粒,去壳研烂,同苏合香丸贴足心,痛即止也。(《外台秘要》)
小便不通∶蓖麻仁三粒,研细,入纸捻内,插入茎中即通。(《摘玄方》)
喘咳嗽∶蓖麻子去壳炒熟,拣甜者食之。须多服见效。终身不可食炒豆。(《卫生易简方》)
催生下胞∶崔元亮《海上集验方》∶取蓖麻子七粒,去壳研膏,涂脚心。若胎及衣下,便速 洗去。不尔则子肠出,即以此膏涂顶,则肠自入也。《肘后方》云∶产难,取蓖麻子十四枚,每手各把七枚,须臾立下也。
子宫脱下∶蓖麻子仁、枯矾等分,为末,安纸上托入。仍以蓖麻子仁十四枚,研膏涂顶心 即入。(《摘玄》)
盘肠生产∶涂顶方同上。
催生下胎,不拘生胎死胎∶蓖麻二个,巴豆一个,麝香一分,研贴脐中并足心。又下生胎,一月一粒,温酒吞下。(《集简方》)一切毒肿,痛不可忍∶蓖麻子仁捣敷,即止也。(《肘后方》)疠风鼻塌,手指挛曲,节间痛不可忍,渐至断落∶用蓖麻子一两(去皮),黄连一两(锉 豆大)。以小瓶子入水一升,同浸。春夏三日,秋冬五日后,取蓖麻子一枚劈破,面东以浸药水吞之。渐加至四、五枚,微利不妨。瓶中水尽更添。两月后吃大蒜、猪肉试之,如不发是 小儿丹瘤∶蓖麻子五个,去皮研。入面一匙,水调涂之,甚效。(《修真秘旨》)
瘰 结核∶蓖麻子炒去皮,每睡时服二三枚,取效。一生不可吃炒豆。(《阮氏经验方》)
瘰 恶疮及软疖∶用白胶香一两,瓦器溶化,去滓,以蓖麻子六十四个,去壳研膏,溶胶投 之,搅匀,入油半匙头,柱点水中试软硬,添减胶油得所,以绯帛量疮大小摊贴,一膏可治三五疖也 肺风面疮起白屑,或微有赤疮∶用蓖麻子仁四十九粒,白果、胶枣各三粒,瓦松三钱,肥皂 一个,捣为丸。洗面用之良。(吴 《面上雀斑∶蓖麻子仁、密陀僧、硫黄各一钱,为末。用羊髓和匀,夜夜敷之。(《摘玄方》)
发黄不黑∶蓖麻子仁,香油煎焦,去滓。三日后频刷之。(《摘玄方》)
耳卒聋闭∶蓖麻子一百个(去壳),与大枣十五枚捣烂,入乳小儿乳汁,和丸作铤。每以绵裹一枚塞之,觉耳中热为度。一日一易,二十日瘥。(《千金方》)
汤火灼伤∶蓖麻子仁、蛤粉等分。研膏。汤伤,以油调;火灼,以水调,涂之。(《古今录验》)
针刺入肉∶蓖麻子(去壳烂研),先以帛衬伤处,敷之。频看,若见刺出,即拔去,恐药紧弩出好肉。或加白梅肉同研尤好。(《卫生易简方》)
竹木骨哽∶蓖麻子仁一两,凝水石二两。研匀。每以一捻置舌根,噙咽,自然不见。又方∶蓖麻油、红曲等分。研细,沙糖丸皂子大,绵裹含咽,痰出大良。
鸡鱼骨哽∶蓖麻子仁研烂,入百药煎研,丸弹子大。井花水化下半丸,即下。恶犬咬伤∶蓖麻子五十粒(去壳)。以井花研膏。先以盐水洗、吹痛处,乃贴此膏。(《袖珍方》)
1.B.   叶
【气味】有毒。
【主治】脚气风肿不仁,蒸捣裹之,日二、三易即消。又油涂炙热,熨囟上,止鼻衄,大验(苏恭)。治痰喘咳嗽(时珍)。
【附方】新二。
喘痰嗽∶《儒门事亲》方∶用九尖蓖麻叶三钱,入飞过白矾二钱。以猪肉四两薄批,掺药 在内,荷叶裹之,文武火煨熟。细嚼,以白汤送下。名九仙散。《普济方》∶治咳嗽涎喘,不问年深日近。用经霜蓖麻叶、经霜桑叶、御米壳(蜜炒)各一两。为末,蜜丸弹子大。每服一丸,白汤化下,日一服,名无忧丸。
【附录】博落回(《拾遗》) 藏器曰∶有大毒。主恶疮瘿根,瘤赘息肉,白癜风,蛊毒精魅,溪毒疮 。和百丈青、鸡桑灰等分,为末敷之。蛊毒精魅当别有法。生江南山谷。茎叶如蓖麻。茎中空,吹之作声如博落回。折之有黄汁,药人立死,不可轻用入口。

2. other materiae medicae:

A. seed
《中国药典》
【拼音名】bì má zi
【英文名】SEMEN RICINI
【来源】本品为大戟科植物蓖麻 Ricinus communis L.的干燥成熟种子。秋季采摘成熟果实,晒干,除去果壳,收集种子。
【性状】本品呈椭圆形或卵形,稍扁,长0.9~1.8cm,宽0.5~1cm。表面光滑,有灰白色与黑褐色或黄棕色与红棕色相间的花斑纹。一面较平,一面较隆起,较平的一面有1条隆起的种脊;一端有灰白色或浅棕色突起的种阜。种皮薄而脆。胚乳肥厚,白色,富油性,子叶2,菲薄。无臭,味微苦辛。
【毒性】蓖麻子所含蓖麻毒素7毫克或蓖麻碱0.16客即可使成人致死,儿童口服5~6粒生蓖麻子即可致死。以上二钟毒质加热后可以破坏。中毒后首先感到咽喉灼热,恶心、呕吐,腹痛,腹泻,无尿或血尿,发热,痉挛,最后血压下降,休克,呼吸停止而死亡。牲畜误食也中毒。解决方法:可催吐,洗胃,导泻,每日服小苏打5~15克,静脉滴注葡萄糖盐水,皮下注射抗蓖麻毒血清,输血,视病情使用止痛剂,解痉剂、强心剂等对症治疗。
【炮制】除去杂质。用时去壳,捣碎。
【性味】甘、辛,平;有毒。
【归经】归大肠、肺经。
【功能主治】消肿拨毒,泻下通滞。用于痈疽肿毒,喉痹,瘰疬,大便燥结。
【用法用量】外用适量,捣烂敷患处,亦可入丸剂内服。
【贮藏】置阴凉干燥处。
【摘录】《中国药典》

《中药大辞典》

【出处】《唐本草》
【拼音名】bì má zi
【别名】萆麻子(《雷公炮炙论》),蓖麻仁(《圣济总录》),大麻子(《中国药植志》),红大麻子(《药材学》)。
【来源】为大戟科植物蓖麻的种子。秋季果实变棕色,果皮未开裂时分批采摘,晒干,除去果皮。
【原形态】蓖麻(《唐本草》),又名:牛蓖子草、红蓖麻、勒菜、杜麻、草麻。一年生草本,在热带变成多年生灌木,高2~3米,茎直立,无毛,绿色或稍紫色。具白粉。单叶互生,具长柄;叶片盾状圆形。直径20~40厘米,掌状分裂至叶片的一半以下,7~9裂。边缘有不规则锯齿,主脉掌状。花单性,总状或圆锥花序,顶生,下部生雄花,上部生雌花;苞及小苞卵形或三角形;雄花花被3~5,裂片卵状三角形,无花盘,雄蕊多而密,合生成束;雌花的苞与雄花的相同,花被同雄花而稍狭,无花盘及遗形雄蕊,雌蕊卵形,子房3室,花柱3,红色,顶端2叉。蒴果球形,有刺,成熟时开裂。花期5~8月。果期7~10月。
【生境分布】全国大部分地区有栽培。全国大部分地区均产。
【性状】干燥种子略呈扁的广卵形,长8~18毫米,直径6~9毫米。腹面平坦,背面稍隆起,较小的一端,有似海绵状突出的种阜,并有脐点,另一端有合点,种脐与合点间的种脊明显。外种皮平滑,有光泽,显淡红棕色相间的斑纹,质坚硬而脆。内种皮白色薄膜状,包裹白色油质的内胚乳;子叶2枚菲薄,位于种子中央。气微弱,味油腻性。似粒大、饱满、赤褐色、有光泽的为佳。
【化学成份】种子含脂肪油40~50%,油饼含蓖麻碱、蓖麻毒蛋白及脂肪酶。种子中分出的蓖麻毒蛋白有三种,即蓖麻毒蛋白-D、酸性蓖麻毒蛋白、碱性蓖麻毒蛋白。
【药理作用】①泻下作用蓖麻种子中的油本身并无致泻作用,在十二指肠内受脂肪分解酶的作用,皂化成蓖麻油酸钠与甘油,蓖麻油酸钠对小肠有刺激性,引起肠蠕动增强,小肠内容物急速向结肠推进,在服药后2~6小时,排出半流质粪便,排便后可有暂时的便秘;加大剂量不能增强效力,未水解部分很快排泄到大肠,蓖麻油酸吸收后,与其他脂肪酸一样在体内代谢分解,因此,蓖麻油作为泻剂是比较安全的;由于味道不好,可以制成乳剂内服。蓖麻油能阻碍山道年的吸收,并非由于腹泻引起。②其他作用蓖麻油本身刺激性小,可作为皮肤滑润剂用于皮炎及其他皮肤病,作成油膏剂用于烫伤及溃疡,种子的糊剂用于皮肤黑热病的溃疡,此外可用于眼睑炎;作为溶剂以除去眼的刺激物,局部应用于阴道及子宫颈疾患。
【毒性】蓖麻子中含蓖麻毒蛋白及蓖麻碱,特别是前者,可引起中毒。4~7岁小儿服蓖麻子2~7粒可引起中毒、致死。成人20粒可致死。非洲产蓖麻子2粒可使成人致死,小儿仅需一粒,但也有报告服24粒后仍能恢复者。蓖麻毒蛋白可能是一种蛋白分解酶,7毫克即可使成人死亡。蓖麻子中毒后之症状有:头痛、胃肠炎、体温上升、白细胞增多、血象左移、无尿、黄疸、冷汗、频发痉挛、心血管虚脱:中毒症状之发生常有一较长的潜伏期。蓖麻毒蛋白引起大鼠急性中毒,主要产生肝及肾的伤害,碳水化物代谢紊乱,蓖麻中的凝集素可与血球起凝集作用。湖州农村将蓖麻子炒热吃未见中毒,可能由于加热使蓖麻毒蛋白破坏。
【炮制】敲碎种子外壳,拣取种仁用。①《雷公炮炙论》:”凡使蓖麻子,先须和皮用盐汤煮半日,去皮取子研过用。”②《本草蒙筌》:”蓖麻子,修制忌铁。”
【性味】甘辛,平,有毒。①《唐本草》:”甘辛,平,有小毒。”②《玉楸药解》:”味苦,气平。”
【归经】入大肠。肺经。①《雷公炮制药性解》:”入脾、大肠二经。”②《本草再新》:”入肝、脾、肺三经。”③《本草撮要》:”入手太阴,足太阳经。”
【功能主治】消肿拔毒,泻下通滞。治痈疽肿毒,瘰疬,喉痹,疥癞癣疮,水肿腹满,大便燥结。①《唐本草》:”主水症。”②《日华子本草》:”治水胀腹满,细研水服;疮痍疥癞,亦可研敷。”③《本草衍义补遗》:”能出有形质之滞物,故取胎产、胞衣、剩骨、脓血者用之。”④《纲目》:”主偏风不遂,失音口噤,头风耳聋,舌胀,喉痹,齁喘,脚气毒肿,丹瘤,汤火伤,针刺入肉,女人胎衣不下,子肠挺出,开通关窍经络,能止诸痛,消肿追脓拔毒。”
【用法用量】外用:捣敷或调敷。内服:入丸剂、生研或炒食。
【注意】孕妇及便滑者忌服。《本草经疏》:”脾胃薄弱、大肠不固之人,慎勿轻用。”
【附方】①治疔疮脓肿:蓖麻子二十多颗,去壳,和少量食盐、稀饭捣匀,敷患处,日换两次。(《福建民间草药》)②治痈疽初起:去皮蓖麻子一份,松香四份。将蓖麻子捣碎加入松香粉充分搅拌,用开水搅成糊状,置于冷水中冷却成膏状备用。用时将白膏药按疮面大小摊于纸或布上贴患处。(辽宁《中草药新医疗法资料选编》)③治瘰疬:蓖麻子炒热,去皮,烂嚼,临睡服三、二枚,渐加至十数枚。(《本草衍义》)④治咽中疮肿:萆麻子一枚(去皮),朴硝一钱。同研,新汲水作一服,连进二、三服效。(《医准》)⑤治喉痹:萆麻子,取肉捶碎,纸卷作筒,烧烟吸之。(《医学正传》圣烟筒)⑥治诸骨哽:蓖麻子七粒。去壳研细,入寒水石末,缠令干湿得所,以竹篾子挑二、三钱入喉中,少顷以水咽之即下。(《魏氏家藏方》)⑦治疠风,手指挛曲,节间痛不可忍,渐至断落:蓖麻一两(去皮),黄连一两(锉如豆)。以小瓶子入水一升,同浸,春夏三日,秋冬五日,后取蓖麻子一枚,擘破,以浸药水,平旦时一股,渐加至四、五枚,微利不妨,瓶中水少更添。忌动风食。(《医准》)⑧治汤火伤:蓖麻子、蛤粉等分。研膏。汤损用油调涂,火疮用水调涂。(《养生必用方》)⑨治犬咬伤:蓖麻子五十粒。去壳,以井水研膏,先以盐水洗咬处,次以萆麻膏贴。(《袖珍方》)⑩治风气头痛不可忍:乳香、蓖麻仁等分。捣饼,随左右贴太阳穴。(《纲目》)⑾治小儿颓疝:蓖麻仁三枚,棘刚子(去皮)三十枚,石燕子(烧)一枚,滑石(末)二钱匕,麝香(研)半钱匕。上五味捣研匀,稀面糊和丸,如绿豆大,每服十五丸,空心,煎灯心汤下。(《圣济总录》蓖麻丸)⑿治齁喘咳嗽:蓖麻子去壳炒热,拣甜者吃,多服见效。(《卫生易简方》)⒀治难产及胞衣不下:蓖麻子七枚。研如膏,涂脚底心,子及衣才下,便速洗去。(《海上集验方》)⒁催生并死胎不下:蓖麻子三个,巴豆四个。研细,入麝香少许,贴脐心上。(《卫生家宝方》)⒂治子宫脱下:蓖麻仁、枯矾等分。为末,安纸上托入,仍以蓖麻仁十四枚,研膏涂顶心。(《摘元方》)⒃治暴患脱肛:蓖麻子一两。烂杵为膏,捻作饼子,两指宽大,贴囟上;如阴证脱肛,生附子末、葱、蒜同研作膏,依前法贴之。(《活幼心书》蓖麻膏)⒄治口眼歪斜;蓖麻子仁七七粒。研作饼,右歪安在左手心,左歪安在右手心,却以铜盂盛热水,坐药上,冷即换,五、六次即正也。(《妇人良方》)
【各家论述】①《纲目》:”蓖麻仁,气味颇近巴豆,亦能利人,故下水气。其性善走,能开通锗窍经络,故能治偏风失音,口噤、口目歪斜、头风、七窍诸病,不止于出有形之物而已。盖鹈鹕油能引药气入内,蓖麻油能拔病气出外,故诸膏多用之。一人病偏风,手足不举,时珍用此油同羊脂、麝香、鲮鲤甲等药,煎作摩膏,日摩数次,一月余惭复,兼服搜风化痰养血之剂,三月而愈。一人病手臂一块肿痛,亦用蓖麻捣膏贴之,一夜而愈。一人病气血偏头痛,用此同乳香、食盐捣熁太阳穴,一夜痛止。一妇产后子肠不收,捣仁贴其丹田,一夜而上。此药外用累奏奇勋,但内服不可轻率尔。”②《本草经疏》:”蓖麻,其力长于收吸,故能拔病气出外,其牲善收,故能追脓取毒,能出有形之滞物,又能通利关窍,故主水癥。”③《医林纂要》:”蓖麻子,泻肺气之下行,能决至高之水而下之,遁关窍,正经络,调上下。或云服此毕生不能食炒豆,亦不然。”④《本草正义》:”蓖麻子,气味甘平,濒湖以为甘辛平,其实全无辛味;石顽以为温,颐且恒用以消散外疡红肿焮热各症,则可证其性必是清凉,石顽之说亦非是。其性善走善散,丹溪以为能追脓取毒,拔邪外出,甚是不确;业师朱氏,兼治外疡,凡拔毒提脓药中,从不用此,惟退消阳毒红肿,及发颐、瘰疬、乳痈等症,有家制千捶膏一方,专用蓖麻子仁杵细,和乳香、胶香、银朱、麝香成膏,即有红赤焮高,势且酿脓者,亦可十消八九,则明消散之功,何可误认提毒外出。濒湖以治偏风不举,口目歪斜,盖亦用其走窜入络,可以通痹,非能拔出血络经脉之风邪。据《纲目》所载,一人偏风,手足不举,濒湖以此油同麝香、鲮鲤甲等作膏,摩之而愈,则真是风寒湿三气杂至之痹着关节者,所以有验,此辨症之不可模糊隐约者也。丹溪又以为能出有形之滞物,故取胎产胞衣,剩骨脓血者用之,则亦因其善走而速之使动耳。濒湖又谓一人病手臂一块肿痛,以此捣膏贴之,一夜而愈,则即走窜消散之功耳。”
【临床应用】①治疗颜面神经麻痹取蓖麻子去壳捣成泥状,敷于患侧下颌关节及口角部(厚约0.3厘米),外加纱布绷带固定。每日换药1次。治疗3例,均于10天内痊愈。②中毒与解毒蓖麻子中所含毒质受热后即破坏。故中毒者多为生食后发生。曾报告3例小儿,生服蓖麻子仁2~7粒后发生持续呕吐,并伴腹痛,其中1例严重者神志模糊,出现脱水征象,手足发冷,瞳孔散大,对光反应迟钝。经按一般中毒常规处理及对症治疗,均渐恢复。
【摘录】《中药大辞典》

《中华本草》
【出处】出自《唐本草》,1.《唐本草》:蓖麻,此人间所种者,叶似大麻叶而甚大,其子如蜱又名草麻。今胡中来者茎赤,树高丈余,子大如皂荚核,用之益良。2.《蜀本草》:《图经》云,(蓖麻)树生,叶似大麻大数倍,子壳有刺,实大于巴豆,青黄色班。夏用茎叶,秋收子,冬采根,日干。胡中来者茎子更倍大,所在有之。又云对’似蓉草而厚大,茎赤有节屈口首蔗。3.《纲目》:蓖麻,茎有赤有白,中空;其叶大
【拼音名】bì má zi
【英文名】Castor Bean
【别名】萆麻子、蓖麻仁、大麻子、红大麻子。
【来源】药材基源:为大戟科植物蓖麻的种子。拉丁植物动物矿物名:Ricinus communis L.采收和储藏:当年8-11月蒴果呈棕色、未开裂时,先晴天,分批剪下果序,摊晒,脱粒,扬净。
【原形态】蓖麻 高大一年生草本,在热带或南方地区常成多年生灌木或小乔木。幼嫩部分被白粉,绿色或稍呈紫色,无毛。单叶互生,具长柄;叶片盾状圆形,直径15-60cm,有时大至90cm,掌状分裂至叶片的一半以下,裂片5-11,卵状披针形至长圆形,先端渐尖,边缘有锯齿,主脉掌状。圆锥花序与叶对生及顶生,长10-30cm或更长,下部生雄花,上部生雌花;花瓣性同株,无花瓣;雄花萼3-5裂;雄蕊多数,花丝多分枝;雌花萼3-5理解;子房3室,每室1胚珠;花柱3,深红色,2裂。蒴果球形,长1-2cm,有软刺,成熟时开裂,种子长圆形,光滑有斑纹。花期5-8月,果期7-10月。
【生境分布】全国各地均有栽培。
【栽培】生物学特性 喜温暖湿润气候,生长适宜温度为20-28℃出苗至成熟积温2000-3500℃,种子发芽温度不低于10℃,生长温度超过35℃则生长受阻,幼苗遇春寒-8-1℃时或遇秋寒-2–3℃受冻害。苗期土壤含水量12%-14%,花果期土壤含水量15%-20%。出苗至果实成熟需85-115d。耐干旱,耐盐碱及弱酸土壤。以阳光充足、土层深厚、疏松肥沃、排水良好的土壤栽培为宜。栽培技术 种子繁殖:选粒大、饱满、充分成熟的种子,用45-50℃温水种24h左右捞出,摊置于20℃的室内催芽,待种子露白后,北方4月旬,南方2-3月播种,穴播,按行株距各65cm-100cm开穴播粒,覆土,稍加镇压,浇水。田间管理 出苗后,苗高12-15cm时要间苗、补苗,苗高25cm时定苗,每穴留壮苗2-3株,并结合松土除草、培土,施人畜粪肥,6-7月再施1次,适当增施磷、钾肥。有6片真叶时,摘去主茎顶芽,促使侧枝生长。整枝修剪,控制植株生长,剥芽保花,去掉未成花序的腋芽,7月剪去营养枝,促秋籽成熟。对多看生蓖麻,可砍伐更新,离地面30cm左右,浆主干或一级枝锯伐,保留3-4个侧芽,培育亲枝。病虫害防治 病害有根腐病,为害植株根部,使之发黑呈水渍状腐烂,植株枯萎,可喷撒石灰或70%五氯硝基苯粉剂,并及时开沟排除积水。虫害有红蜘蛛,为害嫩梢,可喷20%三氯杀螨砜可湿性粉剂600倍液呀用烟草石灰水防治。另有叶蟑、土老虎、棉铃虫、刺蛾、蓖麻夜蛾为害。
【性状】性状鉴别 种子椭圆形或卵形,稍扁,长0.9-1.8cm,宽0.5-1cm。表面光滑,有灰白色与黑褐色或黄棕色与红棕色相间的花斑纹。一面较平,一面较隆起,较平的一面有1条隆起的种脊;一端有灰白色或浅棕色突起的种阜。种皮薄而脆,胚乳肥厚,白色,富油性。子叶2,菲薄。无臭。味微苦辛。以个大、饱满者为佳。显微鉴别 种子横切面:外种皮细胞1列,长方形,外被角质层,其下为3-4列薄壁细胞,再下为1列栅状细胞,壁厚,木化;内种皮为数列薄壁细胞,其中散有螺纹导管。胚乳和子叶均含糊粉粒。
【化学成份】种子含蛋白质(protein)18%-26%,脂肪油(oil)64%-71%,碳水化合物(carbohydrate)2%,酚性物质(phe-nolic dubstance)2.50%,蓖麻毒蛋白(ricin)及蓖麻碱(ricinine)0.087%-0.15%。脂肪油的组成绝大部分为三酸甘油(甘油三酯,triglyceride)及甘油酯(glycerol ester),还有少量的甾醇(sterol),磷脂(phospholipid),游离脂肪酸(free fattyacid),碳氢化合物(hydrocarbon)及蜡(wax),甘油酯的脂肪酸中蓖麻油酸(ricinoleic acid)84%-91%,油酸(oleic acid)3.l%-5.9%,亚油酸(linoleic acid)2.9%-6.5%,硬脂酸(stearic acid)1.4%-2.1%,棕榈酸(palmitic acid)0.9%-1.5%;磷脂含量0%-0.12%,其中磷脂酸乙醇胺(phosphatidyl ethanolamine)及其降解产物占83%,磷脂酰胆碱(phosphatidyl choline)占13%,其他磷脂占4%;磷脂的脂肪酸组成为:棕榈酸(27.7%),硬脂酸(12.9%),油酸(18.5%),亚油酸(33.2%)而不含蓖麻油酸;游离脂肪酸含量0.3%,其中蓖麻油酸占78.5%,十八碳二烯酸(octadecadienoic acid)占8.4%,+八碳烯酸(octadecenoic acid)占5.2%;蓖麻毒蛋白有蓖麻毒蛋白D,酸性蓖麻毒蛋白(acidicricin),碱性蓖麻毒蛋白(basic ricin),蓖麻毒蛋白E及蓖麻毒蛋白T等。种子还含凝集素(agglutinin)和脂肪酶(lipase)。种皮含30-去甲羽扇豆-3β-醇-20-酮(30-norlupan-3β-ol-20-one)。
【药理作用】1.抗肿瘤作用:1.1.对实验肿瘤的作用:蓖麻毒蛋白对体外培养的多种肿瘤细胞株和变异细胞株均十分敏感,0.002-0.3mcg/ml可以抑制淋巴腺瘤SI、BW5147、MBC2、EL2,骨髓瘤P3、C1、RBC5、S117、S194、J588、MOPC315/P和骨髓样白血病C1498的生长。蓖麻毒蛋白亦能抑制体外培养的正常细胞和各种动物肿瘤细胞。实验还证明它对病毒致变异的成纤维细胞(SV3T3)比对正常3T3细胞更为敏感。蓖麻毒蛋白对小鼠艾氏腹水癌、腹水肝癌。宫颈癌U14、肉瘤S180及白血病等动物移植性肿瘤均有一定治疗作用。于接种后1,3天ip 7.5mcg/kg,能够完全抑制艾氏腹水癌细胞生长,使小鼠生存时间延长。一次ip蓖麻毒蛋白25mcg/kg,48小时后可使癌细胞减少90%;96小时后几乎所有的癌细胞形态发生如下改变:细胞膨胀,核出现空泡及有丝分裂停止,胞浆暗染、周围亦出现不规则的空泡等。1.2.作用原理:蓖麻毒蛋白可以强烈抑制各种癌细胞的蛋白质合成,中等强度抑制 DNA合成,而对RNA合成的抑制轻微。据蓖麻毒蛋白对家兔网织细胞溶胞产物(Iysaie)的无细胞系统(Cell一free system)蛋白质合成有强烈的抑制作用,证明了它不是影响癌细胞的醣代谢或氨基酸的提取,而是强烈地抑制真核生物核蛋白体的蛋白质合成。蓖麻毒蛋白具有二个肽链,由S一S链相联。发生作用前有一个裂解过程,裂解后释放出A链和B链,A链称之为效应链(Effectoner);B链称之为结合链(Haptomer)·B链可以与细胞表面的碳水化物受体结合,把游离的A链或者整个毒蛋白分子通过质膜带入胞浆,与核蛋白体60-S亚基发生作用,抑制氨基酰 t-RNA与核蛋白体的酶结合,使核酸的延伸因子减少,从而使核酸失活,抑制蛋白质合成,并导致细胞死亡。与蓖麻毒蛋白相似结构的所有相思豆毒蛋白(Abrin),此类毒蛋白与细胞表面的乳糖残基单糖受结合是共同的,结合部位包括二个以上的糖。用神经氨酸处理细胞,可增加结合部位,已经证明:肿瘤细胞表面的单糖链与正常细胞有区别,其糖蛋白有过多的涎酸,糖脂常含有不完整的链。不完整的链易与毒蛋白结合,此可解释这类毒蛋白的抗癌作用。2.细胞凝集作用:过去大量的资料认为蓖麻毒蛋白在体外对各种动物和人类的红细胞,小肠粘膜细胞,肝细胞及其它细胞,组织悬液均有强烈的凝集作用。但是,近年来发现蓖麻种子里具有凝集活性的物质是无毒的蓖麻血凝素,而蓖麻毒蛋白没有血球凝集作用。蓖麻血凝素的凝集速度除了决定于血凝素和红细胞的量外,还与pH有关,碱性环境有助血凝。该血凝素在发生凝集作用时需要有血清补体参加,这个补体可以互换,例如山羊和豚鼠。该血凝作用除了可以由血清补体活化外,还可由某些还原剂活化,例如半胱氨酸和抗坏血酸。蓖麻血凝素在产生凝集作用的同时还伴有类似于番木瓜蛋白酶的蛋白质水解作用,可能是受体破坏酶的作用。3.热原作用:蓖麻毒蛋白是一个很强的热原物质。它对各种哺乳类动物和人类都具有十分强的致热作用,0.05-0.2mcg/kg 就可以产生热原反应,比其它任何热原都强而持久,潜伏期也长。大鼠sc蓖麻毒蛋白20mcg/kg,3.5小时后体温开始升高,持续时间超过6小时。反复注射可以产生耐受性,但与细菌类热原物质无交叉耐受性。它所造成的热原反应可用阿司匹林。非那西汀等解热。故认为它可作为解热实验的工具药。4.免疫反应:蓖麻毒蛋白具有很强的抗原性,以各种途径进入人体或各种哺乳动物体内可产生抗体和过敏反应,种植蓖麻的农民血液中也有这种抗体,称之为蓖麻毒蛋白抗体,十分稳定,除此之外,还可以使体内非特异抗体升高。此过程中血浆组分发生变化,由于肝毒的作用,白蛋白水平下降,随着肝再生白蛋白水平逐渐上升,a-球蛋白上升,而B-球蛋白下降。说明蓖麻毒蛋白特异地破坏蛋白的合成可以被抗体的作用而减弱;热原反应也可以被抑制。由于蓖麻毒蛋白能产生细胞毒作用,因此,它能抑制巨噬细胞等参与免疫功能的细胞。蓖麻血凝素还能够沉淀免疫球蛋白,完全沉淀IgM;但仅沉淀IgG10%,只与IgG3发生沉淀反应,不与IgG1反应。5.对心血管和呼吸系统的作用:1次iv蓖麻毒蛋白3.2mcg/kg是使麻醉兔产生心、肝、肾中毒反应的临界剂量,小于此量时对心血管及呼吸系统无明显影响。而麻醉猫注射250-500mcg/kg 时,血压立即上升,脉博、呼吸加快或潮气量增。当注射剂量增至30mg/kg 时,血压降至零,心跳停止于舒张期,出现潮式呼吸而死亡;心电图出现R一R间隔延长,P波消失,T波倒置等现象。麻醉猫 iv蓖麻毒蛋白250-500mcg/kg可以轻微的对抗B-受体兴奋剂异丙基肾上腺素。先注射黎 芦碱25mg/kg,然后注射蓖麻毒蛋白可以使肾上腺素、去甲肾上腺素、乙酰胆碱、升压素和组胺的全部药理作用减弱。蓖麻毒蛋白还能降低黎芦碱和尼古丁的反射作用。蓖麻碱也可引起实验动物血压下降,呼吸抑制、可能与其分子中所含氰基有关。蓖麻叶水煎剂可使正常离体蛙心及水合氯醛,麦角浸膏、乙酰胆碱、阿托品、奎宁、氯化钾中毒的蛙心振幅增大。该水煎剂能使犬血压下降,大鼠后肢血管扩张。6.其它作用:蓖麻毒蛋白可以影响体外培养的各类白细胞的呼吸作用。0.3-33mcg/ml可降低单核细胞的耗氧量,,16.6-33.2mcg/ml,可降低淋巴细胞的耗氧量,增加嗜中性粒细胞的耗氧量;当浓度增加至66.6mcg/ml时,嗜中性粒细胞的呼吸亦受抑制。
【毒性】1.毒性:蓖麻子中含蓖麻毒蛋白及蓖麻碱,特别是前者,可引起中毒。4-7岁小儿服蓖麻子2-7被可引起中毒、致死。成人20粒可致死。非洲产蓖麻子2粒可使成人致死,小儿仅需一粒,但也有报告服24粒后仍能恢复者。蓖麻毒蛋白可能是一种蛋白分解酶,7毫克即可使成人死亡。2.蓖麻子中毒后之症状有:头痛、胃肠炎、体温上升、白细胞增多、血象左移、无尿、黄痘、冷汗、须发痉挛、心血管虚脱;中毒症状之发生常有一较长的潜伏期。蓖麻毒蛋白引起大鼠急性中毒,主要产生肝及肾的伤害,碳水化物代谢紊乱,蓖麻中的凝集素可与血球起凝集作用。湖州农村将蓖麻子炒熟吃未见中毒, 可能由于加热使蓖麻毒蛋白破坏。3.蓖麻子对各种动物的致死量(g/kg)大致如下:母鸡14、母鸭4、母鹅0.4、兔.9、小猪 2.3、猪1.3、奶牛2、小山羊0.5、山羊5.5、绵羊1.25、马0.1。蓖麻毒蛋白对小鼠1次iv的LD50为6-12mcg/kg。武汉健民制药厂生产的蓖麻毒蛋白对小鼠1次iv,LD50为47.97mcg/kg;对家兔1次iv的MTD为3.2mcg/kg;对家免iv每日1次,连续16次的MTD为1.6mcg/kg。小鼠ip或iv致死量的蓖麻毒蛋白后10h至数天内死亡。中毒过程较长至,一般给药 12h后见失重,24h后动物侧卧。有时发生慢性惊挛,呼吸困难,角弓反张,中枢神经失调。于第一次惊挛后3min动物死亡于呼吸麻痹。中毒时常伴有严重腹泻,也可能是使动物死亡的原因之一。4.蓖麻毒蛋白急性,亚急性中毒的动物(大小鼠、豚鼠和家兔等)大多数器官和组织部出现功能和形态的变化。主要毒性反应在肝脏、小肠和内分泌腺体。对肝细胞的破坏作用在内网层,伴随线粒体的轻微改变,从而使肝脏变性坏死。对小肠的损伤亦较严重,是腹泻的主要原因,内分泌系统各器官和组织对蓖麻毒蛋白很敏感,可使动物的下丘脑细胞,肾上腺、垂体、胸腺、睾丸、卵巢、胰腺以及淋巴组织等发生出血性坏死和退行性变。还能损伤网状内皮系统及引起上颌神经节和胸壁丛的处周神经细胞核染色质破坏。蓖麻毒蛋白中毒的动物血凝时间延长,这是由于干扰醣代谢在降低凝血酶元、凝血激活酶所致,并可使动物红细胞、白细胞总数升高,血糖及尿素水平升高,使血中镁离子浓度降低,钙离子浓度升高,Ca2+:Mg2+到2:1降至7.75 :1,这可能与热原反应有关。蓖麻毒蛋白急性中毒时,动物血液中葡萄糖、肝糖原、总蛋白和红细胞比积均下降,而乳糖、非蛋白氮、氨基酸、无机磷。酸性磷酸盐和乳酸、丙酮酸升高,肝功能(SGOT、SGPT、LDH)发生紊乱。可见,蓖麻毒蛋白急性中毒时血液学变化与慢性中毒时略有差别。蓖麻子中蓖麻碱160mg或蓖麻毒蛋白7mg均可导致成人死亡。有人认为蓖麻毒蛋白比氢氰酸的毒性大22倍,它1g可使3600人死亡。
【鉴别】理化鉴别 (1)取本品(带种皮)粉末约0.5g,加50%乙醇5ml,冷浸2h,滤过。取滤液蒸至约0.5ml,用毛细管滴于滤纸上,喷以茚三酮试液,烘至现紫红色斑点。(检查氨基酸)(2)取本品粉末1g,加盐酸水溶液(PH2)10ml,沸浸30min,滤过。滤液浓缩至1.5ml,分为3份,分别于小试管中滴加碘化铝钾、碘化汞钾、碘一碘化钾试液各2滴,分别产生橘红、棕、棕红色沉淀。(检查生物碱)
【炮制】1.敲碎种子外壳,拣取种仁用。2.《雷公炮炙论》:凡使蓖麻子,先须和皮用盐汤煮半日,去皮取子研过用。3.《本草蒙筌》:蓖麻子,修制忌铁,
【性味】甘;辛;平;有小毒
【归经】大肠;肺;脾;肝经
【功能主治】消肿拔毒;泻下导滞;通络利窍。主痈疽肿毒;瘰疬;乳痈;喉痹;疥癞癣疮;烫伤;水肿胀满;大便燥结;口眼歪斜;跌打损伤
【用法用量】外用:适量,捣敷或调敷。内服:入丸剂,1-5g;生研或炒食。
【注意】孕妇及便滑者忌服。《本草经疏》:脾胃薄弱、大肠不固之人,慎勿轻用。
【附方】①治疗疮脓: 蓖麻子二十多颗,去壳,和少量食盐、稀饭捣匀,敷患处,日换两次。 (《福建民间草药》)②治痈疽初起: 去皮蓖麻干一份,松香四份。 将蓖麻子捣碎加入松香粉充分搅拌,用开水搅成糊状,置于冷水中冷却成膏状备用。用时将白膏药按疮面大小摊于纸或布上贴患处。(辽宁《中草药新医疗法资料选编》)③治瘰疠: 蓖麻子炒熟,去皮,烂嚼/陆睡服三、二枚,渐加至十数枚。 (《本草衍义》)④治咽中疮肿:萆麻子一枚(去皮),朴硝一钱。 同研,新汲水作一服,连进二、三服效。 (《医准》)⑤治喉痈: 萆麻子,取肉捶碎,纸卷作简,烧烟吸之。(《医学正传》圣烟筒)⑥治诸骨哽: 蓖麻子七粒。去壳研细,入寒水石末,缠令干湿得所,以竹篱子挑二、三钱入喉中,少顷以水咽之即下。(《魏氏家藏方》)⑦治疠风,手指挛曲,节间痛不可忍,渐至断落: 蓖麻一两(去皮),黄连一两(锉如豆)。 以小瓶子入水一升,同浸,春夏三日,秋冬五日,后取蓖麻子一枚,肇彼,以浸药水,平旦时一服,渐加至四、五枚,微利不妨,瓶中水少更添。忌动风食。(《医准功⑧治汤火伤: 蓖麻子、蛤粉等分。研膏。汤损用油调涂,火疮用水调徐。(《养生必用方》)⑨治犬咬伤: 蓖麻子五十粒。去壳,以井水研膏,先以盐水洗咬处,次以萆麻膏贴。 (《袖珍方》)⑩治风气头痛不可忍: 乳香、蓖麻仁等分。捣饼,随左右贴太阳穴。 (《纲目》)(11)治小儿癫疝: 蓖麻仁三枚,棘刚子(去皮)三十枚,石燕子(烧)一枚,滑石(末)二钱巴,扇香(研)半钱巴。上五昧捣研习,稀面糊和丸,如绿豆大,每服十五丸,空心,煎灯心汤下。(《圣济总录》蓖麻丸)(12)治助喘咳嗽: 蓖麻子去壳炒熟,拣甜看吃,多服见效。(《卫生易简方》)(13)治难产及胞衣不下: 蓖麻子七枚。研如膏,涂脚底心,子及衣才下,便速洗去。 (《海上集验方》)(14)催生并死胎不下: 蓖麻子三个,巴豆四个。研细,入麝香少许,贴脐心上。 (《卫生家宝方》)(15)治子宫脱下: 蓖麻仁、枯矾等分。为末,安纸上托人,仍以蓖麻仁十四枚,研膏涂顶心。 (《摘元方》)(16)治暴患脱肛: 蓖麻子一两。烂杆为膏,捻作讲子,两指宽大,贴囱上;女口朋证脱肛,生附子末、葱、蒜同研作膏,依前法贴之。(《活幼心书》蓖麻膏)(17)治口眼歪斜: 蓖麻子仁七粒。研作末,右歪安在左手心,左歪安在右手心,却以铜盂盛热水。坐药上,冷即换,五、六次即正也。 (《妇人良方》)
【各家论述】1.《纲目》:蓖麻仁,气味颇近巴豆,亦能利人,故下水气。其性善走,能开通诸窍经络,故能治偏风失音,口噤、口目歪斜、头风、七窍诸病,不止于出有形之物而已。蓖麻油能拔病气,故诸膏多用之。一人病偏风,手足不举,时渗用此油同羊脂、菌香、酸鲤甲等药,煎作摩膏,日摩数次,一月余渐复,兼服搜风化痰养血之剂,三月而愈。一人病手臂一块肿痛,亦用蓖麻捣膏贴之,一夜而愈。一人病气血偏头痛,用此同乳香、食盐捣敷太阳穴,一夜痛止。一妇产后子肠不收,捣仁贴其丹田,一夜而上。此药外用累奏奇勋,但内服不可轻率尔。2.《本草经疏》:蓖麻,其力长于收吸,故能拔病气出外,其性善收,故能追脓取毒,能出有形之滞物,又能通利关窍,故主水症。3.《医林篡要》:蓖麻子,泻肺气之下行,能决至高之水而下之,通关窍,正经络,调上下。或云服此毕生不能食炒豆子,亦不然。4.《本草正义》:蓖麻子,气味甘平,濒湖以为甘辛平,其实全无车味;石顽以为温,则司’证其性必是清凉,石顽之说亦非是。其性善定善散,丹溪以为能退脓取毒,拔邪外出,甚是不确;业师朱氏,兼治外疡,凡拔毒提脓药中,从不用此,惟退消阳毒红肿,及发颐、窟疡、乳痈等症,有家制千捶营一方,专用蓖麻子仁杵细,和乳香、胶香、银朱、麝香成膏,即有红赤焮高,势且酿脓者,亦可十消八九,则明消散之功,何可误认提毒外出。濒湖以治偏风不举,口目歪斜,盖亦用其走窜入络,可以通痹,非能拔出血络经脉之风邪。据《纲目》所载,-一人偏风,手足不举,濒湖以此油同康香、缀鲤甲等作膏,摩之而愈,则真是风寒湿三气杂至之痹着关节者,所以有验,此辨症之不可模糊隐约者也。丹溪又以为能出有形之滞物,故取胎产胞衣,剩骨脓血者用之,则亦因其善定而速之使动耳。濒湖又谓一人病手臂一块肿痛,以此捣膏贴之,一夜而愈,则即走窜消散之功耳。5.《唐本草》:主水溺。6.《日华子本草》:治水胀腹满,细研水服;疮康疥额,亦可研敷。7.《本草衍义补遗》:能出有形质之滞物,故取胎产、胞衣、剩骨、脓血看用之。8.《纲目》:主偏风不遂,失音口欧,头风哥聋,舌胀,喉痹,助喘,脚气毒,丹瘤,汤火伤,针刺入肉,女人胎衣不下,子肠挺出,开通关窍经络,能止诸痛,消肿退脓扳毒。
【临床应用】治疗颜面神经麻痹:取蓖麻子去壳捣成泥状,敷于患侧下颞关节及口角部(厚约0.3cm),外加纱布绷带固定。每日换药1次。治疗3例,均于10天内痊愈。
【摘录】《中华本草》

B. oil

《中国药典》

【拼音名】bì má yóu
【英文名】OLEUM RICINI
【来源】本品为大戟科植物蓖麻 Ricinus communis L.的成熟种子经榨取并精制得到的脂肪油。
【性状】本品为几乎无色或微带黄色的澄清黏稠液体;气微;味淡而后微辛。本品在乙醇中易溶,与无水乙醇、氯仿、乙醚或冰醋酸能任意混合。相对密度在25℃时应为0.956~0.969(附录ⅦA)。折光率应为1.478~1.480(附录ⅦF)。]
【功能主治】润肠通便。用于肠燥便秘。
【用法用量】口服,一次10~20ml。
【注意】忌与脂溶性驱肠虫药同用;孕妇忌服。
【贮藏】遮光,密封,置阴凉处。
【摘录】《中国药典》

《中药大辞典》

【出处】《唐本草》
【拼音名】bì má yóu
【来源】系大戟科植物蓖麻的种子所榨取的脂肪油。
【性状】为淡黄色或近于无色澄明的粘稠液体,气微,味淡带辛。
【化学成份】蓖麻油的脂肪酸组成主为顺蓖麻酸约89%,其他有棕榈酸、硬脂酸、亚油酸、亚麻酸、二羟基硬脂酸。甘油酯的组成为三蓖麻酸酯68.2%、二蓖麻酸酯28.0%,一蓖麻酸酯2.9%及非蓖麻酸酯0.9%。灰分中含多量Ca、Fe、Si,其次为Al、Cu、Mg以及少量Mn、Ti、Ni、Zn。
【药理作用】参见”蓖麻子”条。
【功能主治】治大便燥结,疮疥,烧伤。
①《唐本草》:”主风虚寒热,身体疮痒淫肿。”
②《本萆蒙筌》:”敷疥癞疮痍。”
③陈念祖:”能轻泻。”
【用法用量】内服:3~5钱。外用:涂敷或作拈烧烟熏。
【注意】孕妇忌服。陈念祖:”极败胃,胃弱者切禁。”
【附方】①治猥退风半身不遂,失音不语者:蓖麻子脂一升。酒一斗,铜钵盛,脂着酒中,一日,煮之令熟,服之。(《千金方》)②治舌上出血:蓖麻子油纸拈,烧烟熏鼻中。(《摘元方》)③治舌胀塞口:蓖麻仁四十粒,去壳研油,涂纸上,作拈,烧烟熏之,未退再熏,以愈为度。有人舌肿出口外,一人用此法而愈。(《经验良方》)④治烧伤:3~5%漂白粉上滑液、蓖麻油各等量混匀呈乳状液。涂于患处,需要时隔日换药。(《全展选编·外科》)
【摘录】《中药大辞典》

《中华本草》

【出处】出自《唐本草》
【拼音名】bì má yóu
【英文名】Castor oil
【来源】药材基源:为大戟科植物蓖麻Ricinus communis L.的种子所榨取的脂肪油。拉丁植物动物矿物名:Ricinus communis L.
【原形态】蓖麻 高大一年生草本,在热带或南方地区常成多年生灌木或小乔木。幼嫩部分被白粉,绿色或稍呈紫色,无毛。单叶互生,具长柄;叶片盾状圆形,直径15-60cm,有时大至90cm,掌状分裂至叶片的一半以下,裂片5-11,卵状披针形至长圆形,先端渐尖,边缘有锯齿,主脉掌状。圆锥花序与叶对生及顶生,长10-30cm或更长,下部生雄花,上部生雌花;花瓣性同株,无花瓣;雄花萼3-5裂;雄蕊多数,花丝多分枝;雌花萼3-5理解;子房3室,每室1胚珠;花柱3,深红色,2裂。蒴果球形,长1-2cm,有软刺,成熟时开裂,种子长圆形,光滑有斑纹。花期5-8月,果期7-10月。
【生境分布】全国各地均有栽培。
【性状】性状鉴别 本品为几乎无色或微带黄色的澄清粘稠液体;气微,味淡而后微辛。
【化学成份】蓖麻油脂肪酸部分主要含顺式-蓖麻酸(ricinoleic acid),还含棕榈酸(palmitic acid),梗脂酸(stearic acid),花生酸(arachidic acid),油酸(oleic acid),亚油酸(lioleic acid),亚麻酸(linoleinic acid),二羟基硬脂酸(dihydroxystearic acid),甘油酯的组成为三蓖麻酸酯(triricnolein),二蓖麻酸酯类(diricinoleins),单蓖麻酸酯类(monoricinoleins)及非蓖麻酸酯类(nonricnoleins)等。
【药理作用】参见蓖麻子条。
【鉴别】理化鉴别 (1)本品为几乎无色或微带黄色的澄清粘稠液体;气微,味淡而后微辛。(2)相对密度 在25℃时应为0.956-0.969。(3)折光率 应为1.478-1.480。(4)酸值 应不大于2.0。(5)皂化值 应为176-186。(6)碘值 应为82-90。(7)检查他种油类 取本品1g,加乙醇4ml,应澄清溶解,再加乙醇15ml,溶液不得发生浑浊。
【性味】味甘;辛;性平;有毒
【归经】肺;大肠经
【功能主治】滑肠;润肤。主肠内积滞;腹胀;便秘;疥癣癣疮;烫伤
【用法用量】内服:10-20ml。外用:适量,涂敷。
【注意】孕妇忌服;陈念祖:极败胃,胃弱者切禁。
【附方】
①治煨退风半身不遂,失音不语者: 蓖麻子脂一升。酒一斗,铜钵盛,脂着酒中,一日,煮之令熟,服之。《干=>千金方》
②治舌上出血: 蓖麻子油纸拈,烧烟熏鼻中。《摘元方》
③治舌胀塞口: 蓖麻仁四十粒,去壳研油,涂纸上,作拈,烧烟熏之,未退再熏,以愈为度。有入舌肿出口外,一人用此法而愈。《经验良方》
④治烧伤: 3~5%漂白粉上清液、蓖麻油各等量混匀呈乳状液。涂于患处,需要时隔日换药。《全展选编·外科》
【各家论述】
①《唐本草》:主风虚寒热,身体疮痒浮肿。
②《本草蒙筌》:敷疥癫疮糜。
③陈念祖:能轻泻。
【摘录】《中华本草》

C. leaf

Information extracted from 《中药大辞典》:
【出处】《唐本草》
【拼音名】bì má yè
【来源】为大戟科植物蓖麻的叶。
【性状】干燥叶片大多破碎皱缩,完整者呈掌状深裂,径20~40厘米,裂片卵状披针形至矩圆形,边有不规则锯齿,上面绿褐色或红褐色,下面淡绿色,主脉掌状,侧脉羽状,两面凸起;纸质;叶柄盾状着生,暗红色。气微,味苦淡。以干燥无枝梗者佳。
【化学成份】叶含山柰酚-3-芸香糖甙、异槲皮甙、芸香甙、山柰酚、槲皮素、黄耆甙、瑞诺甙。尚含蓖麻碱、维生素C_275mg%。叶油的脂肪酸组成为共轭二烯脂肪酸12.4%,其中亚油酸7.25%,β-桐酸8.0%,亚麻酸12.25%,油酸44.10%及饱和脂肪酸13%。
【药理作用】叶的水浸浓对正常及抑制状态的离体心脏,均能使心收缩力增加。叶、茎煎剂使犬血压下降、大鼠后肢血管扩张;对大鼠子宫、蟾蜍腹直肌有轻度兴奋作用。叶及其浸膏尚能杀灭蝇蛆及蚊类幼虫。
【毒性】《纲目》:”有毒。”
【功能主治】治脚气,防囊肿痛,咳嗽痰喘,鹅掌风,疮疖。”①《唐本草》:”主脚气风肿不仁,捣蒸敷之。””油除叶炙热熨囟上,止衄尤验也。”②《纲目》:”治痰喘咳嗽。”③《陆川本草》:”治恶疮。”④《广东中药》Ⅱ:”煎水外洗,治盗汗。”
【用法用量】内服:入丸、散。外用:煎洗、热熨或捣敷。
【附方】①治脚气初发,从足起至膝烃骨肿痛,及顽痹不仁:蓖麻叶蒸熟裹之。(《岭南采药录》)②治肾囊肿大疝气痛:蓖麻叶和盐捣烂,敷脚底涌泉穴。(《岭南采药录》)③治咳嗽痰涎:蓖麻子叶三钱,飞过白矾二钱。用猪肉四两,薄批,碁盘利开掺药,荷叶裹,文武火煨熟,细嚼,白汤送下,后用干食压之。(《儒门事亲》九仙散)④治年深日远,咳嗽涎喘,夜卧不安:经霜桑叶、经霜蓖麻叶、御米壳(去蒂,蜜炒)各一两。上为细末,炼蜜为丸,如弹子大,每服一丸,食后,白汤化下,日进一服。(《普济方》无忧丸)⑤治鹅掌风:鲜蓖麻叶,揉软贴患处,干则再易。(《中医药实验研宄》)⑥治痈疖已溃:干蓖麻叶热水浸软贴患处,如有鲜叶更好。(《中医药实验研究》)
【摘录】《中药大辞典》
Information extracted from《中华本草》:
【出处】出自《唐本草》
【拼音名】bì má yè
【英文名】Castor Leaf
【来源】药材基源:为大戟科植物蓖麻Ricinus communis L.的叶。拉丁植物动物矿物名:Ricinus commusnis L.采收和储藏:夏、秋季采摘,鲜用或晒干。
【原形态】蓖麻 高大一年生草本,在热带或南方地区常成多年生灌木或小乔木。幼嫩部分被白粉,绿色或稍呈紫色,无毛。单叶互生,具长柄;叶片盾状圆形,直径15-60cm,有时大至90cm,掌状分裂至叶片的一半以下,裂片5-11,卵状披针形至长圆形,先端渐尖,边缘有锯齿,主脉掌状。圆锥花序与叶对生及顶生,长10-30cm或更长,下部生雄花,上部生雌花;花瓣性同株,无花瓣;雄花萼3-5裂;雄蕊多数,花丝多分枝;雌花萼3-5理解;子房3室,每室1胚珠;花柱3,深红色,2裂。蒴果球形,长1-2cm,有软刺,成熟时开裂,种子长圆形,光滑有斑纹。花期5-8月,果期7-10月。
【生境分布】全国各地均有栽培。
【性状】性状鉴别 叶片皱缩破碎,完整的叶展平后呈盾状圆形,掌状分裂,深达叶片的一半以上,裂片一般7-9,先端长尖,边缘有不规则的锯齿,齿端具腺体,下面被为白粉。气微,味甘、辛。
【化学成份】蓖麻叶含芸香甙(rutin),槲皮素(quercetin),金丝桃甙(hyperoside),异槲皮甙(isoquercetrin),槲皮素-3-葡萄糖甙(quercetin-3-glucoside),山柰酚(kaempferol),山柰酚-3-芸香糖甙(kaempferol-3-rutinoside),紫云英甙(astragalin),瑞诺甙(reynoutrin),(-)-表儿茶精[(-)-epicatechin],2,5-二羟基苯甲酸(2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid),绿原酸(chlorgenic acid),新绿原酸(neochlorogenic acid),没食子酸(gallic acid),蓖麻碱(ricinine),N-去甲基蓖麻毒蛋白(N-demethylricine),蓖麻毒蛋白(ricine),维生素(vitamin)C,天各酰胺(asparagine),丙氨酸(alanine),蛋氨酸(methionine),脯氨酸(proline),缬氨酸(valine)等。叶油的脂肪酸组成为共轭二烯脂肪酸,主要有油酸(oleicacid),亚麻酸(linolenic acid),β-桐酸(β-elaeostearic acid),亚油酸(linoleic acid),还含饱和脂肪酸等。
【药理作用】1.对心血管作用:叶的水浸液对正常及抑制状态的离体心脏,均能使心收缩力增加。叶、茎煎剂使犬血压下降、大鼠后肢血管扩张;2.其他作用:对大鼠子宫、赡蜍腹直肌有轻度兴奋作用。叶及其浸膏尚能杀灭蝇蛆及蚊类幼虫。
【性味】味苦;辛;性平;小毒
【功能主治】祛风除湿;拔毒消肿。主脚气;风湿痹痛;痈疮肿毒;疥癣瘙痒;子宫下垂;脱肛;咏嗽痰喘
【用法用量】外用:适量,捣敷;或煎水洗;或热熨。内服:煎汤,5-10g;或入丸、散。
【附方】①治脚气初发,从足起至膝腔骨肿痛,及顽痹不仁: 蓖麻叶蒸熟裹之。(《岭南采药录》)②治肾囊肿大疝气痛: 蓖麻叶和盐捣烂,敷脚底涌泉穴。(《岭南采药录》)③治咳嗽痰涎: 蓖麻子叶三钱, 飞过白矾二钱。用猪肉四两,薄批,JI盘利开掺药,荷叶裹,文武火煨熟,细嚼,白汤送下,后用干食压之。 (《儒门事亲》九仙散)④治年深日远,咳嗽涎喘,夜卧不安:经霜桑叶、经霜蓖麻叶、御米壳(去蒂,蜜炒)各一两。上为细末,炼蜜为丸,如弹子大,每服一丸,食后,白汤化下,日进一服。 (《普济方》无忧丸)⑤治鹅掌风: 鲜蓖麻叶,揉软贴患处,干则再易。(《中医药实验研究》)⑥治痈疖已溃: 干蓖麻叶热水浸软贴患处,如有鲜叶更好。 (《中医药实验研究》)
【各家论述】1.《唐本草》:主脚气风肿不仁,捣蒸敷之。油涂叶炙热熨囱上,止衄尤验也。2.《纲目》:治痰喘咳嗽。3.《陆川本草》:治恶疮。4.《广东中药》Ⅱ:煎水外洗,治盗汗。
【摘录】《中华本草》

 

D. root

《中药大辞典》
【出处】《民间常用草药汇编》
【拼音名】bì má gēn
【来源】为大戟科植物蓖麻的根。
【化学成份】根含反癸烯-2-三炔-4,6,8-酸甲酯、十三烯-1-五炔-3,5,7,9,11,β-谷甾醇。
【性味】《福建中草药》:”淡,微温。”
【功能主治】镇静解痉,祛风散瘀。治破伤风,癫痫,风湿疼痛,跌打瘀痛,瘰疬。
①《民间常用草药汇编》:”治脱肛,散瘰疬,外敷疮毒。”
②《广东省医药科技资料选编》:”有镇静解痉作用。”
③《福建中草药》:”化结下气。”
【用法用量】 内服:煎汤,0.5~1两;或炖肉食。外用:捣敷。
【附方】
①治破伤风:红骨蓖麻根四两至半斤,蝉退五钱至一两,九里香一两至二两。水一千毫升煮至二百毫升,分三次口服,每天一剂。儿童剂量酌减。另椎管内注射破伤风抗毒素五千至一万单位(儿童三千至六千单位),一般只注射一次,轻型病例可以不用。为控制抽搐可使用少量冬眠药物。(《广东省医药科技资料选编》)
②治风湿性关节炎,风瘫,四肢酸痛,癫痫:蓖麻根五钱至一两。水煎服。(广州空军《常用中草药手册》)
③治风湿骨痛,跌打瘀痛:蓖麻干根三至四钱。与它药配伍,水煎服。(广州部队《常用中草药手册》)
④治瘰疬:白茎蓖麻根一两,冰糖-两,豆腐一块。开水炖服;渣捣烂敷患处。(《福建中草药》)
【临床应用】
①治疗癫痫取红蓖麻根(红茎红叶者)2两,鸡蛋1~2个,黑醋适量。先将鸡蛋破壳煮熟,再放入黑醋、蓖麻根水煎服。每日1剂,连服数日。据38例观察,半数病例获近期疗效。有的按方服药3日即停止发作。
②治疗新生儿破伤风用红蓖麻根每日1.5两,水煎至45毫升,3次分服;同时用穿心莲0.7毫升,每日2次,肌肉注射。较重病例加用破伤风抗毒素1~2万单位肌注。经治10例,8例治愈(体温正常,无抽搐,能吮奶),2例死亡。未见毒性反应及严重副作用,仅个别出现大便次数增多。此外,红蓖麻根制成注射液(每毫升含3~5克),用于小儿支气管肺炎、脑炎等所致的烦躁不安或抽搐,对1~2岁患儿约每次肌注3毫升(止痉可用倍量),均有一定效果,亦未发现副作用。又可治疗慢性气管炎,取蓖麻根4两,切碎水煎。每日1剂,10天为一疗程。观察83例,近期控制23例,显效35例,好转25例。
【摘录】《中药大辞典》
《中华本草》
【出处】出自《民间常用草药汇编》
【拼音名】bì má gēn
【英文名】Castor root, root of Castorbean, root of Castor-oil-plant, root of Palma christi
【来源】药材基源:为大戟科植物蓖麻Ricinus communis L.的根。拉丁植物动物矿物名:Ricinus communis L.采收和储藏:春、秋季采挖,晒干或鲜用。
【原形态】蓖麻 高大一年生草本,在热带或南方地区常成多年生灌木或小乔木。幼嫩部分被白粉,绿色或稍呈紫色,无毛。单叶互生,具长柄;叶片盾状圆形,直径15-60cm,有时大至90cm,掌状分裂至叶片的一半以下,裂片5-11,卵状披针形至长圆形,先端渐尖,边缘有锯齿,主脉掌状。圆锥花序与叶对生及顶生,长10-30cm或更长,下部生雄花,上部生雌花;花瓣性同株,无花瓣;雄花萼3-5裂;雄蕊多数,花丝多分枝;雌花萼3-5理解;子房3室,每室1胚珠;花柱3,深红色,2裂。蒴果球形,长1-2cm,有软刺,成熟时开裂,种子长圆形,光滑有斑纹。花期5-8月,果期7-10月。
【生境分布】全国各地均有栽培。
【化学成份】蓖麻根含反-2-癸烯-4,6,8-三炔酸甲酯(methyltrans-2-decene-4,6,8-triynoate),1-十三碳烯-3,5,7,9,11-五炔(1-tridecene-3,5,7,9,11-pentayne),β-谷甾醇(β-sitosterol)等。
【性味】辛;平;小毒
【归经】心;肝经
【功能主治】祛风解痉;活血消肿。主破伤风;癫痫;风湿痹痛;痈肿瘰疬;跌打损伤;脱肛;子宫脱垂
【用法用量】内服:煎汤,15-30g。外用:适量,捣敷。
【附方】①治破伤风: 红骨蓖麻根四两至半斤,蝉退五钱至一两,九里香一两至二两。水一千毫升煮至二百毫升,分三次口服,每天一剂。儿童剂量酌减。另推管内注射破伤风抗毒素五千至一万单位(儿童三干至穴千单位),一殷只注射一次, 轻型病例可以不用。为控制抽搐可使用少量冬眠药物。 (《广东省医药科技资料选编》)
②治风湿性关节炎,风瘫,四肢酸痛,疯滴: 蓖商根五钱至一两。水煎服。(广州空军《常用中草药手册各)
③治风湿骨痛,跌打瘀痛: 蓖麻干根三至四钱。与它药配伍,水煎服。 (广州部队《常用中草药手册》)
④治瘰疠: 白茎蓖麻根一两,冰糖一两,豆腐一块。开水炖服;渣捣烂敷患处。 (《福建中草药》)
【各家论述】
1.《民间常用草药汇编》:治脱肛,散瘰疠、外敷疮毒。
2.《广东省医药科技资料选编》:有镇静解痉作用。
3.《福建中草药》:化结下气。
【临床应用】1.治疗癫痫:取红蓖麻根(红茎红叶者)2两,鸡蛋 1-2个,黑醋适量。先将鸡蛋破壳煮熟☆再放人黑醋、蓖麻根水煎服。每日1剂,连服数日。据38例观察,半数病例获近期疗效。有的按方服药3日即停止发作。2.治疗新生儿破伤风:用红蓖麻根每日1.5两,水煎至45ml,3次分服;同时用穿心莲0.7ml,每日2次,肌肉注射。较重病例加用被伤风抗毒素1-2万单位肌注。经治10例,8例治愈(体温正常,无抽搐,能吮奶),2例死亡。未见毒性反应及严重副作用,仅个别出现大便次数增多。此外,红蓖麻根制成注射液(每ml含3-5g),用于小儿支气管肺炎、脑炎等所致的烦躁不安或抽搐,对1-2岁患儿约每次肌注3ml(止痉可用倍量),均有一定效果,亦未发现副作用。又可治疗慢性气管炎,取蓖麻根4两,切碎水煎。每日1剂,10天为一疗程。观察83例,近期控制23例,显效35例,好转25例。
【摘录】《中华本草》

 

 

 

迷迭香 [mídiéxiāng] – rosemary

Growing  迷迭香 [mídiéxiāng]   Rosmarinus officinalis – rosemary

Three beautiful rosemaries are growing in front of my dwelling.  Early this year they were covered by a thick pack of snow.  They were the first plants that showed their green again once the snow began to melt.

We have been using rosemary for our stews and pasta sauces this winter, and I am happy that I can give it a place on the website.  Their emergence from the snow was a great beginning of the year.

The Chinese name of rosemary, 迷迭香 [mídiéxiāng], means literally:

Repeatedly Enchanting Fragrance

 

Key information from the Chinese materia medica 中药大辞典 [Zhōngyào dà cídiǎn]:

Nature and flavour

acrid; warm (one source says: balanced); non-toxic

Actions and indications

fortifies the stomach

promotes sweating

treats (different kinds of) headache

one source says: calms the spirit

“There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance; pray, love, remember”

(Ophelia in Shakespeare’s Hamlet).

 

Rosemary is used ritualistically to remember loved ones that have passed on (see also below).

The use of rosemary to enhance memory has been widely described throughout history and is practiced up to the present.  In ancient Greece, scholars wore it around their necks or in their hair and stuffed it under their pillows at night, all to improve their memory.  And a friend told me that in Israel, rosemary is planted in the gardens of universities for the same purpose.

Shamanistic usage is related to the plant’s ability to heal and ward off evil spirits.  It is often planted in or around a ‘healing circle’.

 

From Egypt to Dioscorides to Sir Thomas More … & more

Here is a selection of articles that focus on the history of rosemary (I added a citation from each of them):

The Virtues of Rosemary

“Libanotis which the Romans call Rosmarinus & they which plait crowns use it: the shoots are slender, about which are leaves, small, thick, and somewhat long, thin, on the inside white, but on the outside green, of a strong scent. It hath a warming facultie . . .”

<<Citing Dioscorides, De Materia Medica, Book III: 89 A.D.>>

History of the Magical Rosemary Plant

“[…] rosemary was believed to grow only in the gardens of the righteous and
protected one from evil spirits.”

Rosemary, That’s for Remembrance

“[…] a universal symbol of remembrance used to honor those who have passed on. The tradition of laying sprigs of rosemary across the coffin or upon a tombstone dates back to ancient Egypt. ”

Rosemary: An Historic and Useful Herb

“[…] a plant that has been grown for over 5000 years (with dried sprigs found in Egyptian tombs from 3000 B.C.E.), […]”

 

Medicinal – Chinese medicine

For more information in English on the medicinal use of rosemary, especially related to Chinese medicine, please see:

  • The Energetics of Western Herbs, by Peter Holmes (pp. 340-342 in the third edition)
  • Combining Western Herbs and Chinese Medicine, by Jeremy Ross (pp. 635-650)
  • Western Herbs in Chinese Medicine – Methodology and Materia Medica, by Thomas Avery Garran (pp. 285-290)

Here is the (somewhat abbreviated) entry on rosemary from 中药大辞典 :

【药材名称】迷迭香
【拼音】mí dié xiānɡ
【出处】《本草拾遗》<The 本草拾遗 – Běncǎo shíyí was first published in the 開元 period of the Tang dynasty (713—741).>
【来源】为唇形科植物迷迭香的全草。5~6月采收。
【原形态】常绿小灌木,高约1~2米,有纤弱、灰白色的分枝,全株具香气。叶对生,无柄;叶片线形,革质,长约3.4厘米,宽约2~4毫米,上面暗绿色,平滑,下面灰色,被毛茸,有鳞腺,叶缘反转,下面主脉明显。花轮生于叶腋,紫红色,唇形;萼钟状,2唇形,有粉毛;花冠2唇,筒部短,喉部广阔,上唇2瓣,下唇3裂,大型,凹面有紫点;雄蕊仅前方1对发育;子房2室,花柱微超出上唇外侧。小坚果4,平滑,卵球形。花期4~6月。
【生境分部】原产南欧各国;我国亦有栽培。
【化学成分】全草(叶及枝)含芹菜素-7-葡萄糖甙、木犀草素-7-葡萄糖甙、5-羟基-4′,7-二甲氧基黄酮、4′,5-二羟基-7-甲氧基黄酮、鼠尾草苦内酯、鼠尾草酸、迷迭香碱、异迷迭香碱、表-α-香树脂醇、α-香树脂醇、β-香树脂醇、白桦脂醇、熊果酸、19α-羟基熊果酸、2β-羟基齐墩果酸等以及β-谷甾醇。
枝、叶中含有抗菌作用的挥发油0.48~0.52%,其中含α-菰烯、莰烯、1,8-桉叶素、龙脑、樟脑α-和β-松油醇、松油烯-4-醇、马鞭烯醇、乙酸龙脑酯等。
此外,还发现有香叶木甙、迷迭香酸和唇形草鞣质酸。唇形草鞣质酸为咖啡酸与α-羟基氢化咖啡酸的缩酚羧酸,它和上述的鼠尾草酸均有抗氧化作用。
【药理作用】迷迭香制剂在妇科中可用作催经药,对更年期的神经紊乱所引起的月经过少或停经,可用此加速月经来潮。有慢性胆囊瘘的狗以迷迭香碱5~10毫克/公斤静脉注射,能促进胆汁的排泄。迷迭香碱还能加强大脑皮层的抑制过程,有催眠、抗惊厥作用。5~20毫克/公斤可降低麻醉猫的血压,此乃由于对心脏的抑制及扩张血管所致。它还能防止大鼠的实验性胃溃疡,其毒性不大。
迷迭香叶的挥发油对金黄色葡萄球菌、大肠杆菌、霍乱弧菌等有肯定的抗菌作用,效力是中等度的。与蜀葵根作成的混合油剂可促进头发的生长。迷迭香中所含香叶木甙能降低兔毛细血管渗透性,作用比芦丁强。对毛细血管脆性增加的治疗效果比芦丁好,并且毒性低。
【性味】①《本草拾遗》:”辛,温,无毒。”
②《海药本草》:”平。”
【功能主治】健胃,发汗。治头痛。
①《本草拾遗》:”主恶气。”
②《国药的药理学》:”芳香健胃,亢进消化机能。”
③《中国药植图鉴》:”强壮,发汗,健胃,安神。能治各种头痛。和硼砂混合作成浸剂,能防止早期秃头。”
【用法用量】内服:煎汤,1.5~3钱。外用:浸水洗。
【摘录】《中药大辞典》

 

 

 

 

 

歐當歸 [Ōudāngguī] – lovage

Growing 歐當歸 [Ōudāngguī] Levisticum officinale, lovage

‘Love Herb For The People’

In China, lovage is known as 歐當歸 [Ōudāngguī], which literally translates as ‘European Danggui’ , because the root has been used as substitute for Chinese angelica root – 當歸 [dāngguī].  The leaves of the two plants look similar as well.  The most important medicinal actions of the root as described in 中药大辞典 [Zhōngyào dà cídiǎn] are:

  • supplementing and harmonizing the blood
  • regulating menstruation (used for menstrual block and menstrual pain)
  • moistening dryness and lubricating the intestines

It is also used for dizzy head and headache if these are related to blood vacuity.  Welling- and flat-abscesses and sores are also mentioned as indications.

Since the properties of Chinese angelica root are extensively described in English literature elsewhere, this is just a summary.

Note that compared to 當歸 [dāngguī] – Chinese angelica root, 歐當歸 [Ōudāngguī] is relatively weak in medicinal action.

(For the complete entry in Chinese form 中药大辞典, see end of this post)

A monograph in English on lovage can be found in ‘The Energetics of Western Herbs – A Materia Medica Integrating Western and Oriental Herbal Medicine Traditions’ by Peter Holmes. In the second edition, the index page number is 175 but I found it on page 185.

 

In Holland this widely grown vegetable garden plant is called maggiplant (Maggikraut in Germany and Maggichrut in Switzerland).  I knew ‘maggi’ before I knew the plant because we had it on the dinner table (in a silver container that was specially designed for those bottles, similar to the one in the picture below) whenever we ate soup.  As a liquid seasoning mix it came in a dark brown bottle with Maggi as brandname.  My mother also always kept Maggi cubes in the kitchen to add to home-made soups.

The original German name (before its association with the seasoning products with the brandname Maggi) is Liebstöckel, and in Dutch the other common name is lavas.

Italian: levistico or sedano di monte; French: livèche; Romanian: leuştean; Hungarian: lestyán; Russian: любисток lyubeestok.

A friend from Romania gave some additional information:

<<“Vegeta” or “Maggi” were widely used in my native Romania occasionally when cooking for extra flavouring. However, lovage extract as such, cannot be defined by these products. My parents and grandmothers were using lovage a lot but mostly in some sort of sour soup called “ciorba” that was made with a naturally fermented sour liquid called “bors”. This naturally fermented liquid was being made by adding also lovage stems and leaves, and sour cherry tree leaves, along with horseradish root. Thus, the resulting sour liquid contained all the benefits from these herbs.>>

In Bulgaria, it is known as девесил deveseel.  The Czech name is libeček, and the Polish name is lubczyk, both meaning ‘love herb’.  The name in Swedish is libbsticka; Norwegians say løpstikke.

The Croatian name for this plant is ljupčac or vegeta (named after a well-known Croatian meal seasoning similar to Maggi).

The Finnish name is liperi or lipstikka, the former meaning ‘preacher’s collar’, because in old ages the plant was cultivated in monasteries or in rectories, while the latter is from Swedish.

I have noticed that lovage is not widely known among gardeners in the U.S. of A., and since I also discovered its use in Chinese medicine, I decided to grow it in an amount that enables me to give it as a present to garden- and herbal medicine friends in America.  I sold some at farmers’ markets as well.

In the pictures you see the plants during the second potting in late spring.  The seeds were planted in january.  It is a perennial plant and it is wise to give it some space as it can grow quite large.  For many gardeners it is a must to have one or two in the vegetable garden.

After one or two seasons you can dig up the plant, split the roots and replant.

For medicinal use of the root, leave it in the ground for a couple of years.

 

欧当归  {complete entry from  <<中药大辞典>>}

【药材名称】欧当归

【拼音】ōu Dānɡ Guī

【英文名】Root of Garden Lovage

【出处】始载于《中药志》。

【来源】药材基源:为伞形科杆物欧当归的根。

拉丁植物动物矿物名:Levisticum officinalis Koch[Ligusticumleuisticum L.]

采收和储藏:春、秋季采挖其根,去除茎叶,洗净,晒干或烘干。

【原形态】多年生草本,高12.5m。全株有香气;根肥大,有支根。茎光滑无毛,有纵沟纹,紫红色,中空。基叶和茎下中叶二至三国顺羽状分裂,有长柄,叶柄基部膨大成长圆形、带紫红色的叶鞘;茎上部叶通常仅一回羽状分裂;茎生叶叶柄较短,最上部的叶多简化成先端3裂的小叶片;叶缘下部全缘,先端锐尖,基部楔形。复伞形花序径约12cm,伞辐12-20;总苞片7-11,小总苞片8-12,均为宽披针形至线状披针形,先端反曲,边缘白色,膜质;小伞形序近圆球形;萼齿不明显;花黄绿以,花瓣基部有短爪。分生果椭圆形,背部稍扁压,长5-7cm,宽3-4cm,侧棱和背棱呈阔翅状,每棱槽内有油管1,合生面油管2。花期6-8月,果期8-9月。

【生境分部】生态环境:我国华北及辽宁、陕西、新疆、山东、灌输、河南等地有栽培。

资源分布:原产亚洲本部。欧洲及北美各国亦多有栽培。

【化学成分】含多种挥发油成分,主要为藁本内酯(ligusti-lide)[1-4],β-水芹烯(β-phellandrene),香茅醛(citronellal)[1]。还含亚丁基苯酞(butylidene phthalide)[4],正丁基苯酞(butylph-thalide),伞形花内酯(umbelliferone),补骨脂素(psoralen),香柑内酯(bergapten)[5],镰叶芹二醇(falcarindiol)当归二内酯(ange-olide)[6],洋川芎内酯(senkyunolide)[7],芸香甙(rutin),山柰酚-3-O-芸香甙(kaempferol-3-O-rutoside),异槲皮素(isoqrercetin),紫去英甙(adtragalin)[8],阿魏酸(ferulic acid),苯甲酸(benzonic acid),丁二酸(succinic acid),腺嘌呤(adenine),蔗糖(sucrose)。薄层色谱表明尚有葡萄糖(glucose)、果糖(fructose),烟酸(nico-tinicacid)和氨基酸等[9]。此外,本品尚含5种新的藁本内酯二聚体( ligustilidedimer)[6]。

【药理作用】根的水浸膏及挥发油具抑制子宫节律性收缩,对抗乙酰胆硷对子宫和肠道平滑肌的痉挛作用。无水乙醇提取物有雌激素样作用。

【性味】味辛;微甘;性微温

【功能主治】活血调经;利尿。主经闭;痛经;头晕;头痛;肢麻;水肿

【用法用量】内服:煎汤,6-15g;或入丸、散。

【各家论述】《新华本草纲要》:治疗闭经、月经涩少和痛经均有一定疗效。同时对头晕、头疼、四肢麻木、失眠、大便干燥等症状也有显着疗效。

【摘录】《中华本草》

 

 

 

Questions and Answers on Materia Medica

A Short Introduction to Tang Zonghai’s Běncǎo wèndá

In the vast corpus of the běncǎo or materia medica literature of China, Tang Zonghai’s (唐宗海, 1862-1918) Questions and Answers on Materia Medica (本草問答) occupies an exceptional place. Tang, also known by his style or courtesy name Rongchuan (容川), wrote it late in his career at the request of one of his followers who argued that, because of all the trees (the enormity of information in the existing literature), it had become impossible to see the forest. The ability of one drug to cure a hundred diseases, as described in the materia medica, had made it hard, if not impossible, to cure even one disease. Another point in his argument to convince Tang to write the book was Tang’s knowledge of Western medicine. Through an exposition of general principles, the nature and action of both Chinese and newly introduced Western drugs could be extrapolated.

Tang is recognized as one of the main proponents of the movement to integrate Western and Chinese medicine. This is extensively reflected in his oeuvre, first and foremost by his Quintessence of the Medical Classics in view of the Convergence of China and the West (中西匯通醫經精義). While he embraced new knowledge from the West, he also countered the ridicule of Chinese medicine by Western scientific circles with elaborate and astoundingly convincing arguments. In fact, he utilized Western anatomical drawings to give further evidence for concepts like qi transformation. In the first section of the Běncǎo wèndá, after explaining how the ancient Chinese arrived at their knowledge of the viscera and bowels, he wrote:

且西洋剖視只知層折而不知經脈,只知形跡而不知氣化。與中國近醫互有優劣。若與古聖內經本經較之則西洋遠不及矣

Moreover, the Western world’s anatomical observations only [lead to] knowledge of layers and broken up [fragments] but not of channels and vessels, and they [lead to] knowledge only of traces of forms but not of qi transformation. [Western medical science] and China’s contemporary medicine each have their strengths and weaknesses, but if we compare with the ancient sages, the [Huang Di] neijing and the [Shen Nong] benjing, [the knowledge of] the Western world does not come close!

Tang also contributed substantially to the theory and clinical treatment of diseases of blood, as reflected in the key work On Blood Patterns (血證論). His elaborate thinking about the formation of and relation between qi and blood is apparent in Questions and Answers on Materia Medica as well.

In the course of that latter text, we are guided from the general to the specific. Philosophical questions are raised in the first set of questions. Why are animal, mineral and herbal substances, being of different classes than humankind, able to treat illness in humans? How do substances achieve their nature? How do methods of observation inform medical theory, and why is the ancient method of observation and tasting of drugs not inferior to the Western method of proving efficacy? As the questions begin to focus on groups of, as well as individual medicinal substances, Tang manages to swiftly move back and forth from theory to practical implications. A recurring question is: Why do drugs do what they do, such as up- and downbearing, floating and sinking, attacking and harmonizing, supplementing and draining? In the answers, Tang demonstrates the relevancy of environment, growth patterns (form, color, qi, and flavor) and/or timing and method of both harvesting and processing. The writer manages to capture and hold the reader’s attention by avoiding dry facts, choosing instead an enjoyable style of informative story-telling. The thorough investigation of how the action and quality of huángqí (astragalus root) depend on where and how it grows, is a fascinating example of this. He also explains several aspects of medical theory in new ways and combines them directly with clinical applications.

 

flowering-astragalusflowering astragalus 黃芪

An interesting aspect of his answers to questions on why drugs with the same flavor can have different actions is that he proposes and illustrates a refinement of established theory. All the five flavors (sweet, bitter, acrid, sour, and salty) are true to their original nature when ‘normal’, but their action transforms when they are ‘extreme’. For instance, ‘slight bitterness’ has the original nature of fire and thus the ability to warm heart fire, but ‘great bitterness’ turns into the opposite and acquires the cold nature of water (established theory holds that ‘bitterness can drain’). He combines this with what Xu Lingtai (Xu Dachun) already noted about the actions of medicinals, namely that these can variously depend on their particular qi, flavor, color, form, substance, or time and location of growth.

With all these insights partially introduced and illustrated with examples in the 75 questions, the reader gains an understanding of many principles regarding the medicinal actions of some 340 medicinals and 35 formulas. The analyses offered by Tang have the potential of widening and deepening the foundation of the practice of Chinese medicinal therapy. The writer himself says: “Although this tome is not exclusively a běncǎo book, still all the essential meanings of the běncǎo are contained in it.”

Even though the text, rich in diversity as it is, ought to be read in its entirety to fully benefit from it, the following excerpts may serve to give a first impression:

 

問曰 入氣分入血分,其理未易明也,請再言之。

Question:  The principles of ‘entering the qi aspect’ and ‘entering the blood aspect’ are not easy to understand. Could you please elaborate on this?

答曰
秉於天水而生者入氣分,秉於地火而生者入血分。 氣本於天,味本於地,氣濃者入氣分,味濃者入血分。 入氣分者走清竅,入血分者走濁竅。 有如大蒜,氣之濃者也,故入氣分走清竅,上為目瞀而下為溺臭。 海椒味之濃者也,故入血分走濁竅,上為口舌糜爛而下為大便辣痛。 觀此二物,即知入氣分入血分之辨矣

Answer:

That which grows by grasping from heaven and water, enters the qi aspect. That which grows by grasping from earth and fire, enters the blood aspect. Qi is rooted in heaven. Flavor is rooted in earth. Concentrated qi enters the qi aspect. Concentrated flavor enters the blood aspect. That which enters the qi aspect travels to the clear orifices. That which enters the blood aspect travels to the turbid orifices. Dàsuàn (garlic), for example, is concentrated qi, and thus enters the qi aspect and travels to the clear orifices. Ascending, it creates visual distortion, descending, it leads to fetid urine. Hǎijiāo (= làjiāo, hot pepper) is concentrated flavor; therefore, it enters the blood aspect and travels to the turbid orifices. Ascending, it causes ulceration of the mouth, and descending, it leads to hot painful stool. If you look at these two substances, you will understand the distinction between entering the qi aspect and entering the blood aspect.

蓋得天水之氣而生者入氣分, 人參、黃芪最顯者也。 外如澤瀉、苡仁生於水而利水,二物同而不同。 苡仁生於莖上則化氣下行,引肺陽以達於下。澤瀉生於根則化氣上行引腎陰以達於上。百合花覆如天之下垂,旋覆花滴露而生,本天之清氣,故皆入氣分,以斂肺降氣。

As for those [medicinals] that grow by acquiring the qi from heaven and water and enter the qi aspect, rénshēn (ginseng) and huángqí (astragalus) are the most obvious [examples]. Other examples are zéxiè (alisma) and []yǐrén (coix), that grow in water and [have the ability to] disinhibit water. The two substances are similar yet different: []yǐrén grows on a stalk and so moves downward when it transforms qi. It draws lung yang to reach down to the lower body. Because zéxiè grows down at the root, the transforming qi moves upward, and [consequently] it draws kidney yang to reach to the upper body. Bǎihéhuā (flower of the tiger lily) is turned upside-down as if it droops down from heaven. Xuánfùhuā (inula flower) grows from dripping dew. They [express] clear qi rooted in heaven; therefore, both enter the qi aspect in order to constrain the lung and downbear qi.

 

flowering-tiger-lily-jpg

百合花 flowering tiger lily

[… …]

紅花色赤,自入血分而味苦則專能泄血。又凡花性皆主輕揚,上行外走,故紅花泄肌膚脈絡在外在上之血。丹皮色味亦類紅花而根性下達與花不同,故主在內及泄中下焦之血。

The color of hónghuā (carthamus) is red. It naturally enters the blood aspect. Its flavor is bitter, so that it has the special ability to discharge blood. Moreover, the nature of all flowers is to govern lightness and buoyancy. They move upward and travel to the exterior. Thus, [the action of] hónghuā is to discharge blood in the skin, vessels and networks at the external and upper [body]. []dānpí (moutan)’s color and flavor is of the same category as hónghuā, but the nature of roots is to reach downward, which is different from flowers. Therefore, it governs the inner body and discharges blood of the center and lower burner.

 

carthamus

紅花 carthamus, dried flowers

桃花紅而仁味苦,皆得地火之性味者也,仁又有生氣,故桃仁能破血亦能生血。茜草色赤味苦根甚長,故下行之力更重,專能降泄行血也。

Táohuā (peachflower) is red and the flavor of the kernel (táorén) is bitter. They both acquire their nature and flavor from earth and fire. The kernel additionally has vital qi. That is why táorén has the ability to both break blood and engender blood. Qiàncǎo (madder)’s color is red, its flavor bitter, and its root is very long. Therefore, its power to move downward is rather strong, and its special ability is to downbear, discharge and move blood.

問曰 大黃苦寒之性自當下降,而巴豆辛熱之性,宜與大黃相反,何以亦主攻下? 而較大黃之性尤為迅速,此又何說?

Question:  The nature of dàhuáng (rhubarb) is bitter and cold, so it naturally should precipitate and downbear, whereas bādòu (croton), which has an acrid and hot nature, should do the opposite of dàhuáng. Why then does it also govern offensive precipitation, and how can it be explained that compared to dàhuáng‘s nature it is even more rapid?

 

dahuang

大黃 rhubarb root

答曰
此又以其油滑而主下降,其能降下則是油滑所專主,而非辛熱所專主也。凡食麻油、當歸,皆能滑利下大便,巴豆、蓖麻子皆有油,皆滑利皆能下大便。但麻油不熱則其行緩,不辛則氣不走竄,故其下大便也緩。蓖麻子味辛氣溫,是有氣以行其油滑之性,故其行速。巴豆之油與麻油、蓖麻同一滑性,而大辛則烈,大熱則悍,以悍烈行其滑利,故剽劫不留也。

Answer:

Here, as well, it is by its oily slipperiness that it governs downbearing. Its ability to downbear is singularly governed by that oily slipperiness and not by its acridity and heat. Whenever you eat máyóu (sesame oil) or dāngguī (Chinese angelica root), they are able to lubricate and precipitate the stool. Bādòu and bìmázǐ (castor bean) both contain oil, and both are lubricating and can precipitate stool. However, sesame oil is not hot, so its moving [action] is slow. It is not acrid, so its qi is not mobile and penetrating. Therefore, it is slow in its precipitation of stool. The flavor of castor bean is acrid and its qi is warm. This means that it has qi to move its oily-slippery nature; therefore, its movement is rapid. The slippery nature of bādòu oil is similar to that of máyóu and bìmá[], but it is highly acrid and thus harsh; highly hot and thus fierce. Because it carries out its lubricating and disinhibiting harshly and fiercely, it plunders without lingering.

麻仁亦油滑,而無辛烈之性,故但能潤降不能速下。葶藶亦有油,自能滑利,又有辛味,是與巴豆之辛而有油相似。其味又苦,是又與大黃之苦而滑潤相似。然則葶藶隱寓巴豆、大黃二者之性,故能大瀉肺中之痰飲膿血,性極速降。蓋有大黃、巴豆之兼性,誠猛藥也。恐其太峻,故仲景必以大棗補之。杏仁亦有油,但得苦味而無辛烈之氣,故降而不急。

[Huǒ]márén (cannabis seed) is also oily and slippery, but it does not have an acrid and harsh nature. Hence, it is only able to moisten and downbear and cannot rapidly precipitate. Tínglì[] (lepidium/descurainia seed) has oil as well, and naturally can lubricate. It also has an acrid flavor and is similar to acrid and oil-containing bādòu. Its flavor is bitter as well, so it also resembles bitter, lubricating, and moistening dàhuáng. In that way tínglì[] harbors the natures of bādòu and dàhuáng; therefore, it has the ability for major drainage of phlegm-rheum, pus, and blood from the lung. Its nature is extremely rapid downbearing. As it has the combined natures of dàhuáng and bādòu, it is a truly fierce medicinal. Out of fear of it being overly drastic [Zhang] Zhongjing insisted on ameliorating it with dàzǎo. Xìngrén (apricot kernel) contains oil as well, but it acquires a bitter flavor and lacks an acrid and harsh qi. Thus, it downbears but not urgently.

 

問曰 藥有以天時名者如夏枯草、款冬花,得無以時為治乎

Question:  There are medicinals that are named after the seasons, like xiàkūcǎo (prunella) and kuǎndōnghuā (coltsfoot). Isn’t it so that what they treat is in accordance with [those] seasons?

{translator’s note: [xià] = summer; [kū] = wither; [dōng] = winter; [huā] = flower}

 

答曰
然天時者五行之流運,陰陽之分見,故凡論藥,又當論其生之時與成之候。雖不盡拘於時而亦有以時為治者。夏枯草生於冬末,長於三春,是正得水木之氣。遇夏則枯者木當火令則氣其退謝,故用以退肝膽經之火。款冬花生於冬月冰雪之中而花又在根下,乃坎中含陽之象,故能引肺中陽氣下行而為利痰止咳之藥。二物皆以時名,皆得其時之妙用也。

Answer:

Now, the [seasons or] heavenly periods [correspond to] the movements of the five phases and are observed as distinctions of yin and yang. Therefore, whenever we discuss medicinals, we also must discuss the seasons in which they grow and the periods in which they mature. Although it is not always so that the treatment [abilities of medicinals] are restricted by the [influences of] seasons, still there are those that derive them from the seasonal [influences]. Xiàkūcǎo grows at the end of the winter and matures during the three months of spring. This means that it principally acquires the qi of water and wood. Once summer arrives, it withers; when wood comes under the command of fire, the qi retreats and declines. That is why [xiàkūcǎo] is used to abate fire in the liver and gallbladder channel.

Kuǎndōnghuā grows in the icy and snowy winter months, and its flowers are also at the base of the root. As kan (water) contains the manifestation of yang (represented by the center line of the trigram), it therefore has the ability to draw yang qi from the lung downward and thus is a phlegm-disinhibiting and cough-suppressing medicinal. The two substances are named after the season [in which they grow] as both acquire the subtle effect of that season.

Questions and Answers on Materia Medica is full of little gems in between enlightening insights in the working of medicinals. Why do bones not rot after death, and what profundities are hidden in the relationship between blood and hair? How do you obtain bezoar from oxen, and why is it that you can treat disease with the product of a disease? What medicinals should be used for different kinds of phlegm and why? Master Tang’s explanations are sometimes surprising and do not fail to offer modern practitioners new ways of thinking about their pharmacies.

 

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See the Appendix below for a list of discussed medicinals with their Chinese, pinyin, common English, and Latin pharmaceutical names.

Nicolaas Herman Oving is the author and translator of this introduction and he can be reached via hermanoving@gmail.com. This article was first published on Aowen Chinese Medicine, December 2016. Nicolaas wishes to thank Nadine Luchtman-Levie for her editorial work.

All photography, except for the flowering tiger lily, is by the author.  Please contact him if you want to use any of the photographic materials.

Sharing, copying, printing, etc. of the entire article is not allowed without permission of the author.  For citations, please add the author’s name, the title of the article, and the web address of publication.

For a printable version of this article, see pdf of intro bencao wenda

An annotated translation of the complete text of the Bencao wenda will be published in the near future.  

 

Appendix

List of medicinals in order of appearance in the text

*note: Latin pharmaceutical names are chosen instead of botanical names because they indicate parts used and are thus more relevant for the practise of medicine.

Chinesepīnyīncommon EnglishLatin pharmaceutical*
黃芪huángqí astragalusAstragali Radix
大蒜dàsuàn garlicAllii Sativi Bulbus
海椒 = 辣椒hǎijiāo = làjiāohot pepperCapsici Fructus
人參rénshēnginsengGinseng Radix
澤瀉zéxiè alismaAlismatis Rhizoma
[薏]苡仁[yì]yǐréncoixCoicis Semen
百合花bǎihéhuālilyLilii Flos
旋覆花xuánfùhuāinulaInulae Flos
紅花hónghuācarthamusCarthami Flos
[牡]丹皮[mǔ]dānpímoutanMoutan Cortex
桃花táohuāpeachflowerPersicae Flos
[桃]仁[táo]rénpeach kernelPersicae Semen
茜草qiàncǎo madderRubiae Radix
大黃dàhuángrhubarbRhei Radix et Rhizoma
巴豆bādòucrotonCrotonis Fructus
麻油máyóusesame oilSesame Oleum
當歸 dāngguīChinese angelicaAngelicae Sinensis Radix
蓖麻子bìmázǐ castor beanRicini Semen
[火]麻仁[huǒ]máréncannabis seedCannabis Semen
葶藶[子]tínglì[zǐ] lepidium/descurainia Lepidii/Descurainiae Semen
大棗dàzǎojujubeJujubae Fructus
杏仁xìngrénapricot kernelArmeniacae Semen
夏枯草xiàkūcǎoprunellaPrunellae Spica
款冬花kuǎndōnghuācoltsfootFarfarae Flos