What are the effects and uses of Liangmianzhen (Zanthoxylum nitidum)?
Liangmianzhen, also known as Rudijinniu, Shuangmianci, Xiashanhu and so on, is the dried root of Zanthoxylum nitidum, a woody vine of the genus Zanthoxylum in the family Rutaceae. As a medicine it has the effects of activating blood and resolving stasis, moving qi and relieving pain, dispelling wind and unblocking collaterals, and detoxifying and reducing swelling. It has therapeutic effects on traumatic injuries, stomach pain, toothache, rheumatic arthralgia, venomous snake bites, burns and scalds, and other conditions. Let us take a look at the effects and uses of Liangmianzhen below!
The medicinal effects of Liangmianzhen
[Nature and flavor] Bitter and pungent in taste, neutral in nature.
[Meridian entry] Liver and stomach meridians.
[Effects] Activates blood and resolves stasis, moves qi and relieves pain, dispels wind and unblocks collaterals, detoxifies and reduces swelling. It mainly treats traumatic injuries, stomach pain, toothache, rheumatic arthralgia, and venomous snake bites, and is used externally for burns and scalds.
The clinical applications of Liangmianzhen
1. Pain relief: Use Liangmianzhen injection, 2 ml each time by intramuscular injection, 1 to 2 times daily. It treats neuralgia, headache, rheumatic pain, and gastrointestinal colic.
2. For surface anesthesia and local anesthesia: Prepare Liangmianzhen into a surface anesthetic and have the patient bite down on it; after 1 to 2 minutes the procedure can be carried out, and about 3 to 6 minutes after injection the anesthetic effect appears.
3. Treating waist and leg pain: Use a 20% Liangmianzhen solution with a low-frequency direct-current induction electrotherapy machine for iontophoresis, once daily, 20 minutes each time, with 10 sessions as one course of treatment.
4. Treating acute tonsillitis: Take 1 liang of the second layer of bark from the rhizome of Liangmianzhen, grind it into powder, and take 1 gram each time, 4 to 6 times daily.
The side effects of Liangmianzhen
1. Taking an excessive amount of Liangmianzhen can cause poisoning, with abdominal pain and diarrhea.
2. Accidentally eating its fruit can cause poisoning symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision, and vomiting.
3. Intramuscular injection of Liangmianzhen injection can occasionally cause allergic reactions, manifesting as itching and redness of the skin all over the body, especially on the cheeks and at the hairline, mild restlessness, slightly rapid breathing, accompanied by nausea and vomiting, and elevated blood pressure. With observation and only sugar water given, it disappears naturally after 1 hour.
The medicinal formulas of Liangmianzhen
1. To treat abdominal pain from food stagnation and diarrhea and abdominal pain from summerheat: 3 grams of Liangmianzhen root powder, taken with boiling water.
2. To treat rheumatic bone pain: 10 grams of dried Liangmianzhen root and bark, 15 grams of Yeniudali, decocted in water, taken 3 times daily.
3. To treat rheumatoid arthritis and lumbar muscle strain: 10 grams of Liangmianzhen, 6 grams of Liaogewang root bark, 15 grams of Jiguxiang, soaked in 75% ethanol for 1 week, and applied externally to the affected area.
4. Old traumatic swelling and pain: 10 grams of Liangmianzhen, 10 grams of Maodongqing, decocted in water and taken orally, and the medicinal liquid is also applied cold to the affected area.
5. To treat chronic accumulated wind-qi aching pain in the waist and legs: 30 grams each of Liangmianzhen, Zou Matai, and Fenjidu, soaked in liquor, and 1 small cup taken in the morning and evening.
6. To treat snake-like sores on the fingers: 6 grams of Liangmianzhen root powder, soaked in liquor, and the affected finger is soaked in the liquor.
7. To treat bruises on the sole of the foot: an appropriate amount of Liangmianzhen root powder or leaves, pounded with liquor and cold rice, and applied to the affected area.
8. To stop toothache: 3 to 5 qian of dried Liangmianzhen root. Decocted in water and taken orally, or ground into powder and 5 fen taken with water.
9. To treat throat closure with inability to swallow water: Liangmianzhen root, pounded into a paste, boiled with yellow sugar, made into pills, and held in the mouth to dissolve.
10. To treat scalds: dried Liangmianzhen root, ground into powder and sprinkled over the area; before sprinkling the powder, first wash externally with Liangmianzhen decocted in water.
11. To treat Duikou sores: fresh Liangmianzhen root bark with a little brown sugar, pounded into a paste and applied externally.