Artemisia anomala, Liu Ji Nu 刘寄奴
Liu Ji Nu (TCM)
Arternisia lactifloraLéveillé, H., Catalogue illustré et alphabetique des plantes du Seu Tchouen (1918)
Arternisia lactiflora(Photo by Dominicus Johannes Bergsma) (Wikimedia)
Botanical name:
Artemisia anomala (syn. Artemisia anomala var. anomala)
Other species supplying this herb include A. lactiflora and A. argyi var. incana
Parts used:
Above-ground Herb in flower
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Bitter
Classification:
K. Move the Blood
Uses:
1. Moves the Blood, Promote Menstruation, Eases Pain:
-Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea
-Postpartum abdominal pain; Retained Placenta
-Mobile and Fixed Abdominal Masses, Tumors
-Heart and Abdominal pain
-Sprains, Trauma, Bruising
-Blood in the Stool or Urine
2. Clears Food Stagnation:
-Food Stagnation with abdominal pain
3. Clears Damp, Promotes Urine:
-Edema, Fluid retention
4. Externally:
-powder to stop Bleeding Wounds; a famous traditional Wound herb
-topically for Burns and Scalds
-Sprains, Contusion, Bruising
Dose:
Decoction: 6–12 grams (up to 15 grams)
Substitutes:
1. Siphonostegia chinensis.Is used in the North of China for this herb.
2. In some parts of China, A. anomala is used as a source of A. scoparia (Yin Chen Hao)
Main Combinations:
1. Dysmenorrhea from Blood stasis, Artemisia anomala with Dang Gui, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong
2. Uterine Bleeding from deficiency, Artemisia anomala with Astragalus Huang Qi, Codonopsis Dang Shen
3. Abdominal distention and pain from Food Stagnation, Artemisia anomala with Hawthorn (Shan Zha), fresh Ginger
4. Pain, swelling, sprains, fractures, Artemisia anomala with Drynaria Gu Sui Bu, Corydalis Yan Hu Suo
5. As a wash for Trauma:
i. Artemisia anomala with Caesalpinia wood Su Mu
ii. Artemisia anomala with Piper kadsura Hai Feng Teng, Salvia Dan Shen, Safflower (Hong Hua)
Major Formulas:
Hu Po San
Zhong Hua Die Da Wan (Chinese Pharmacopoeia)
Cautions:
Large doses cause Vomiting and Diarrhea