Greenlife Chinese herb database - Radix Aucklandiae (Mu Xiang)

Greenlife Chinese herb database - Radix Aucklandiae (Mu Xiang)

English Name

Common Aucklandia Root

Chinese Name

Picture

Origin

Common Aucklandia Root is the dried root of Aucklandia lappa Decne. (Fam. Compositae).

Nature and Affinity

It is pungent and bitter in taste and warm in nature, and is distributed to the Spleen, Stomach, Large Intestine Triple- Jiao and Gall Bladder Channels.

Main Active Ingredient

Costunolide lactone (C15H20O2)

Precaution

Storage

Preserve in a dry place, protected from moisture.

	DESCRIPTION
	Cylindrical or semicylindrical, 5-10cm long, 0.5-5cm in diameter. Externally yellowish-brown to greyish-brown, with distinct wrinkles, longitudinal furrows and lateral root scars. Texture hard, uneasily broken, fracture greyish-brown to dark brown, the outer layer greyish-yellow or brownish-yellow, cambium ring brown, having radial lines and scattered brown dotted oil cavities. Odour, characteristic and aromatic; taste, slightly bitter.
	ACTION
	To relieve pain by promoting the flow of qi, and to improve digestion by reinforcing the spleen function. Radix Aucklandiae (roasted) To check diarrhea.
	INDICATIONS
	Distending pain in the chest epigastrium; tenesmus in dysentery; indigestion with anorexia. Radix Aucklandiae (roasted) Diarrhea with abdominal pain.
	REFERENTIAL ADVICE
	1. Promoting flow of Qi to relieve pain: This drug can be used to treat distention and pain of the epigastrium and abdomen, diarrhea, dysentery, tenesmus, etc. due to stagnation of Qi in the stomach and intestine. In treating distention and pain of the epigastrium and abdomen vomitting, etc., the drug is often used in combination with Fructus Amomo,Herba Agastachis, Flos syzygii Aromatici, etc. In treating stagnation of food, stasis of Qi, distention of the epigastrium and abdomen, constipation or diarrhea and dysentery with tenesmus, etc., the drug is often used in combination with Rhizoma Coptidis, Semen Arecae, Radix et Rhizoma Rhei,etc. 2. Invigorating the stomach to promote digestion: In treating indigestion, poor appetite, vomitting, chronic diarrhea, etc. the drug is often used in combination with Fructus Amomi, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Poria, Rhizoma Pinelliae, Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, etc. In recent years the drug is used to treat cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, pancreatitis, appendicitis, intestinal obstruction, and other acute abdomen. In treating cholecystitis, cholelithiasis and pancreatitis, the drug can be used in combination with Radix Bupleuri, Radix Scutellariae, Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, etc. In treating appendicitis, the drug can be used in combination with Flos Lonicerae, Radix et Rhizoma Rhei and Cortex Moutan Radicis. In treating intestinal obstruction, the drug can be used in combination with Radix Euphorbiae Kansui, Semen Persicae, Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae, etc.
	TIPS
	Juice of the fresh root is an effective asthma remedy.