What are the benefits and effects of Xuanshen (Figwort root)?
Xuanshen, also known as Zhe Xuanshen, Black Ginseng, Wu Xuanshen, etc., is the root of Scrophularia ningpoensis, a perennial herb of the Scrophulariaceae family. It has the effects of clearing heat and cooling blood, nourishing yin and clearing heat, purging fire and detoxifying, and softening hardness and dissipating masses. It has therapeutic effects on warm-heat disease, nutritive and blood aspects, thirst, bone-steaming consumptive cough, deficiency dysphoria and insomnia, fluid damage with constipation, dry and blurred eyes, sore throat and swollen throat, scrofula and phlegm nodes, and carbuncles and sores. Let us take a look at the benefits and effects of Xuanshen below!
The medicinal value of Xuanshen
[Nature and flavor] Sweet, salty, slightly bitter in flavor, cold in nature.
[Meridians entered] Lung, stomach, and kidney meridians.
[Effects] Clearing heat and cooling blood, nourishing yin and clearing heat, purging fire and detoxifying, softening hardness and dissipating masses. Mainly treats warm-heat disease with heat in the nutritive and blood aspects, body heat, thirst, crimson tongue, eruptions, bone-steaming consumptive cough, deficiency dysphoria and insomnia, fluid damage with constipation, dry and blurred eyes, sore throat and swollen throat, scrofula and phlegm nodes, and carbuncles and sores.
The medicinal effects of Xuanshen
1. Clearing heat and cooling blood: Xuanshen is salty in flavor and cold in nature. It can enter the blood aspect to clear heat and cool blood. It is used for warm-heat disease with heat entering the nutritive and blood aspects, often combined with Shengdi (Rehmannia root), Danpi (Moutan bark), etc., as in Yingxue Tang.
2. Nourishing yin and clearing heat: Xuanshen is moist and rich in fluid. It can nourish yin and promote fluid production. It is used for heat disease damaging fluids, often combined with Maidong (Dwarf Lilyturf root), Shengdi (Rehmannia root), etc., as in Zengye Tang.
3. Purging fire and detoxifying: Xuanshen is also bitter in flavor and cold in nature, and has the effect of clearing heat and purging fire. Purging fire is therefore detoxifying (heat toxin). It is used for warm-heat disease with eruptions, sore throat due to abundant heat toxin, red eyes, swollen ears, and other symptoms.
4. Softening hardness and dissipating masses: Xuanshen is salty and can soften hardness, and cold in nature and can clear heat. By clearing heat, softening hardness, and dissipating the phlegm-fire of stagnation, it is used to treat phlegm-fire nodes, scrofula, and other symptoms, often combined with Muli (oyster shell), Beimu (Fritillary bulb), etc.
The pharmacological effects of Xuanshen
1. Blood pressure-lowering effect: Xuanshen water infusion, alcohol infusion, and decoction can cause blood pressure to drop in anesthetized dogs, cats, rabbits, and various other animals.
2. Sedative effect: Xuanshen infusion has sedative and anticonvulsant effects on mice.
3. Antibacterial effect: Xuanshen has an inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Microsporum lanosum.
4. Other effects: Xuanshen has an inhibitory effect on various pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungi, and the extract has a slight blood sugar-lowering effect in rabbits.
How to consume Xuanshen
1. Xuanshen Detoxifying Drink
[Materials] Xuanshen 30 grams, Maidong 24 grams, raw Gancao 6 grams, pollen 9 grams, Tiandong 15 grams, Dongguazi 9 grams, bamboo leaves 100 pieces, Dengxincao 3 grams.
[Usage] Decoct in water and take.
[Effects] Mainly treats pestilence with exterior involvement and internal failure, internal toxin transforming into fire, yin fluids scorched, tongue like a mirror surface, glossy red without coating, dry mouth and vexation, emaciated body, fine and rapid pulse, and evil toxin entering the heart.
2. Xuanshen Lung-Clearing Drink
[Materials] Xuanshen 2.4 grams, Yinchaihu, Chenpi, Jiegeng, Fuling, Digupi, Maidong 3 grams each, Yiyiren 6 grams, Renshen and Gancao 1.5 grams each, Binglang 0.9 grams.
[Usage] Use 300 milliliters of water, add 1 slice of ginger, decoct to 200 milliliters, add 20 milliliters of child's urine, and take after meals.
[Effects] Mainly treats lung abscess with coughing and spitting of pus and blood, profuse yellow, thick, fishy and foul phlegm, chest and abdominal distension, upward qi rushing and rapid breathing, and fever.
3. Xuanshen Red Date Soup
[Materials] Xuanshen 2 qian, red dates 20 pieces.
[Usage] Wash the red dates, remove the pits, put them together with Xuanshen into a pot, add 4 cups of clear water, simmer over low heat until 2 cups remain, turn off the heat, let it sit for 30 minutes, and then drink.
[Effects] Xuanshen is a blood pressure-lowering agent and can eliminate inflammation. Red dates can promote urination and relieve cough. This soup can be drunk as a tea substitute over the long term.
4. Xuanshen Toxin-Transforming Drink
[Materials] Xuanshen 24 grams, Maidong 15 grams (remove the core), Jiegeng 9 grams, raw Gancao 4.5 grams, Lianqiao 4.5 grams (remove the core), Shengma 4.5 grams, Jingjiesui 4.5 grams, Baijiangcan 9 grams (stir-fried).
[Usage] Decoct in water and take.
[Effects] Mainly treats fever and aversion to cold, headache and eruptions, sore throat and thirst, restlessness and red face, or red and swollen cheeks.