Herb

Achyranthes (Niu xi)

牛膝niu xi
1 sourceRadix Achyranthis Bidentatae

Quickens the blood and frees the channels, strengthens the sinews and bones, guides downward, and frees menstruation.

Source

Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu)卷十六·草部·隰草类下·牛膝·主治（《本经》）

References
  • functions_en self-translated from 本草纲目 traditional_functions (public domain; the Chinese tf carries verbatim excerpt_hash citations). No modern work consulted.
  • WHO IST-TCM terminology-aligned for the English rendering.
  • public pharmacopoeia & botanical facts (public-domain reference facts; no proprietary modern source).
Traditional functions

Classical source text (Chinese) — English summary above.

传统中医记载：《本经》载牛膝主寒湿痿痹、四肢拘挛、膝痛不可屈伸、逐血气、堕胎，久服轻身耐老；《别录》补中续绝、益精利阴气、填骨髓、除腰脊痛、妇人月水不通血结；甄权谓补肾、助十二经脉、逐恶血；李时珍谓治久疟寒热、五淋尿血、茎中痛。

Nature, flavor & meridians

Nature & flavor: 苦、酸，平，无毒（《本经》）。·Meridians: 肝（足厥阴）, 肾（足少阴）

Citations
  • Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十六·草部·隰草类下·牛膝（条目标题·《本经》上品）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its classification.
  • Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十六·草部·隰草类下·牛膝·释名Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its alternate names.
  • Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十六·草部·隰草类下·牛膝·气味（《本经》）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its nature & flavor.
  • Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十六·草部·隰草类下·牛膝·发明（时珍：牛膝乃足厥阴、少阴之药）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its meridian tropism.
  • Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十六·草部·隰草类下·牛膝·主治（《本经》）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its traditional functions.
  • Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十六·草部·隰草类下·牛膝·主治（甄权）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its traditional functions.
  • Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十六·草部·隰草类下·牛膝·气味（之才·恶畏忌）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its safety notes.