Catechu, Er Cha 儿茶

Er Cha (TCM)
Khi la wa ri (Tibetan)
Khadira (Ayurveda)
Picture Acacia catechu
Botanische wandplaten, 1904–1914

Picture Acacia catechu
An Encyclopaedia of useful and ornamental Plants, Burnett, 1852

Picture Uncaria Gambir (used as an alternate source in TCM)
Atlas der Officinellen Pflanzen, Berg & Schmidt, Leipzig, 1893

Picture Catechu (Adam, 2016)

Picture Members CLICK HERE for the PRO VERSION

Botanical name:


Acacia catechu (Black Catechu)
TCM uses Uncaria gambir synonymously with A. catechu

Parts used:


Gum; concentrated extract

Temperature & Taste:


Cool, dry. Bitter, astringent

Classifications:


2P. HEMOSTATICS
3Q. ANTHELMINTIC
TCM:
T. External Medicines

Uses:


1. Dries Damp, Stops Leakages:
-Diarrhea and Dysentery, with or without Blood
-Leukorrhea, Spermatorrhea

2. Stops Bleeding:
-bleeding of the Lungs, Stomach, Bowels
-Uterine Bleeding

3. Resists Poison:
-in formula for Intermittent Fever
-obstinate and chronic Skin diseases (Ayurveda)

4. Clears Phlegm, Clears the Lungs:
-Cough from Lung heat

5. Externally:
-applied to damp, oozing non-healing Sores and Ulcers to dry them
-Toothache, applied to the gum or used to fill a hollow tooth
-powder or paste strengthens the gums, stops bleeding and firms the teeth
-applied to Mouth Sores and Ulcers
-topically to Genital lesions and Syphilitic Sores
-concentrated decoction as a wash for Thrush
-as a wash for cracked or chapped Nipples


Dose:


Pills or Powders: 1–3 grams

Substitutes
 … available in PRO version
Picture

Main Combinations:


1. Bleeding:
i. Catechu with  … available in PRO version
ii. Catechu with  … available in PRO version
2. Internal Bleeding, Bruising, Trauma:
i. Catechu  … available in PRO version
ii. Catechu with  … available in PRO version
3. Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Catechu with  … available in PRO version
4. Enuresis, Catechu with  … available in PRO version
5. Diarrhea:
i. Catechu,  … available in PRO version
ii. Catechu with  … available in PRO version
6. Dysentery, Catechu, with  … available in PRO version
7. Intermittent Fever, Catechu,  … available in PRO version
8. Non-healing sores and ulcers:
i. Catechu is applied with  … available in PRO version
ii. Catechu is applied with  … available in PRO version
iii. Chronic Ulcers with foetid discharge, Catechu  … available in PRO version
9. Leukorrhea from Damp-Heat Catechu  … available in PRO version
10. Mouth and Throat Sores and Ulcers, Catechu with  … available in PRO version
11. Syphilitic Sores, Catechu with  … available in PRO version
12. Toothache, Catechu with  … available in PRO version
13. Hoarseness, Loss of Voice, Catechu with  … available in PRO version
14. Bed Sores, as an ointment Catechu with  … available in PRO version

Major Formulas:


Catechu 4 (Seng ldeng 4) (Tibetan Medicine)
Catechu 25 (Seng ldeng 25) (Tibetan Medicine)
Qi Li San (TCM)

Cautions:


None noted. It is very dry, so should be used cautiously in Yin deficiency.

Main Preparations used: