Cang Zhu

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Pinyin Name: Cang Zhu

English Name: Rhizoma Atractylodis

Other Names: Atractylodes, Chi Zhu

Tastes: Acrid, Bitter, Warm

Origin: Korea, Russia and China

Benefits of Cang Zhu:

Cang Zhu is the dried rhizome of Atractylodes, it is a perennial erect herb found mostly in Korea, Russia and China. Cang Zhu covers meridians of spleen, stomach and liver. Main functions are to dry damp and strengthen spleen, expel pathogenic wind and cold, improve eye sight. Common uses and indications are abdominal fullness and distention, diarrhea, edema, beriberi, atrophy and flaccidity, arthralgia due to wind and dampness, common cold due to wind-cold, night blindness, dampness obstructing spleen-stomach, lassitude, loss of appetite, vomiting, phlegm and retained fluid. Recommended dosage is from 3 to 9 grams.

Cang Zhu is widely used in Chinese herbal formulas. 1) Bai Hu Jia Cang Zhu Tang is used for dampness prevalent diseases with excessive sweating. Its ingredient herbs include Cang Zhu, Zhi Mu, Gan Cao, Shi Gao and Jing Mi. 2) Shen Zhu San is used for headache, rigid neck, common cold, stuffy nose, coughing, dizziness. Its ingredient herbs include Cang Zhu, Gao Ben, Bai Zhi, Xi Xin, Qiang Huo, Chuan Xiong and Gan Cao.

Common herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine

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