Herb
Asarum (Xi xin)
细辛xi xin
1 sourceHerba Asari
Dispels wind-cold and disperses cold, frees the nose and orifices, warms and transforms phlegm-rheum, and relieves headache and toothache.
Used in 13 formulas
Source
Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu)卷十三·草部·细辛·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》载细辛主咳逆上气、头痛脑动、百节拘挛、风湿痹痛死肌，久服明目利九窍、轻身长年；《别录》温中下气、破痰利水道、开胸中滞结、除喉痹齆鼻不闻香臭；甄权谓治嗽、去皮风湿痒、风眼泪下、除齿痛；李时珍治口舌生疮、起目中倒睫。
Nature, flavor & meridians
Nature & flavor: 辛，温，无毒（《本经》）；张元素谓味大辛、气厚于味、阳也、升也，入足厥阴、少阴血分，为手少阴引经之药。·Meridians: 肝（足厥阴）, 肾（足少阴）, 心（手少阴）
Used in formulas
- Mume Pill
- Ephedra, Asarum and Aconite Decoction
- Rhubarb and Aconite Decoction
- Poria, Schisandra and Licorice Decoction minus Cinnamon Twig plus Dried Ginger, Asarum and Pinellia
- Minor Blue Dragon Decoction
- Poria, Licorice, Schisandra, Ginger and Asarum Decoction
- Belamcanda and Ephedra Decoction
- Tangkuei Decoction for Frigid Extremities
- Poria, Licorice and Schisandra Decoction plus Ginger, Asarum, Pinellia and Apricot Kernel
- Poria, Licorice and Schisandra Decoction plus Ginger, Asarum, Pinellia, Apricot Kernel and Rhubarb
- Cinnamon Twig Decoction minus Peony plus Ephedra, Asarum and Aconite
- Tangkuei Decoction for Frigid Extremities plus Evodia and Fresh Ginger
- Magnolia Bark and Ephedra Decoction
Citations
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十三·草部·山草类·细辛（《本经》上品）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its classification.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十三·草部·细辛·释名Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its alternate names.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十三·草部·细辛·气味（《本经》）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its nature & flavor.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十三·草部·细辛·发明（元素·入足厥阴少阴血分手少阴引经）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its meridian tropism.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十三·草部·细辛·主治（《本经》）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its traditional functions.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十三·草部·细辛·主治（《别录》）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its traditional functions.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十三·草部·细辛·主治（甄权）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its traditional functions.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十三·草部·细辛·气味（之才·反藜芦）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its safety notes.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十三·草部·细辛·发明（陈承·单用末不可过一钱）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its safety notes.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十三·草部·细辛·修治（敩·去双叶服之害人）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its safety notes.
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