WH Acupuncture & Herbs Centre

This medicinal is the dried rhizome of Polygonatum odoratu (Mill)Druce ( Fam. Liliaceae). It is excavated in autumn and then washed clean . After being dried by natural sunlight, to become soft, it is kneaded and dried repeatedly until it has no hard mass inside. Alternatively, after being fully steamed, it is kneaded to become translucent, and then it is dried by natural sunlight after which it is sliced into thick segments for utilization.

 [ Medicinal Properties ]: Sweet, slightly cold; relate to lung and stomach meridians.

[ Medicinal Efficacies ]: Nourish yin and moisten dryness, promote fluid production ot relieve thirst.

[ Clinical Applications ]: 1. Lung deficiency syndrome and yin deficiency with external contraction   To treat dry cough with little phlegm, hemoptysis and hoarse voice, due to yin deficiency with dryness -heat in the lung, it is prescribed with Shashen, Maidong and Sangye, as in the Shashen Maidong Decoction. To treat hemoptysis, dry throat and aphonia due to yin deficiency with effulgent fire, it is combined with Maidong and Dhuang. This medicinal nourishes yin but does not trap pathogens inside the body. Often it is used for treating exogenous wind-heat with frequent yin insufficiency , manifesting as fever, cough, sore throat and thirst, in combination with Bohe and Dandouchi, such as in the Jiajian Weirui Decoction.

2. Stomach yin deficiency syndrome      It is used to traet dry mouth and tongue, anorexia due to dryness damaging stomach yin, as found in combinatin with Maidong and Shashen. It also treats Xiaoke( diabetes )which is due to stomach heat consuming body fluid, in combination with Shigao, Zhimu and Maidong.

Furthermore, it also nourishes heart yin, clears heart heat and treats dysphoria, excessive sweating, palpitations and fearful throbbings, due to the damage of heart yin by heat.

[ Usage and Dosage ]: 6-12g.

玉竹为百合科植物玉竹Polygonatum odoratum(Mill.)Druce的根茎。主产于湖南、河南、江苏等地。秋季采挖，洗净，晒至柔软后，反复揉搓，晾晒至无硬心，晒干；或蒸透后，揉至半透明，晒干，切厚片或段用。