Euryale, Qian Shi 芡实
Fox nut, Euryale SeedQian Shi (TCM)
Euryale feroxHoutte, L. van, Flore des serres et des jardin de l’Europe, vol. 8 (1853)
Euryale ferox(Photo by Jerzy Opioła) (Wikimedia)
Botanical name:
Euryale ferox
Parts used:
Seed
Temperature & Taste:
Neutral, Sweet
Classification:
R. Astringents
Uses:
1. Strengthens the Spleen, Stops Diarrhea:
-chronic Diarrhea with weakness
-especially good for the young and old with loose bowels
2. Astringes the Kidneys, Secures Essence:
-Spermatorrhea, Nocturnal Emission, Premature Ejaculation
-Urinary frequency or Incontinence
-Leukorrhea from Damp or Damp-Heat
-traditionally regarded as special because it augments and secures Essence (Jing) without breeding Damp
Dose:
Decoction: 9–15 grams.
A traditional longevity tonic used by a long-living Chinese poet was to boil 10–20 seeds every morning, then chew them thoroughly one by one, continuing every day. They are often added to foods like soups and congee in China.
Preparation:
1. Dry-Fried: dry frying them makes them warmer and more tonifying to the Spleen and Kidneys. they are better to stabilize the Kidneys and are preferred in the treatment of Spermatorrhea.
2. Bran Stir-Fried: in TCM they are sometimes stir-fried with bran until pale yellow. This makes it more drying and stronger to dry Damp, especially of the Spleen. It is most used for Chronic Diarrhea.
Main Combinations:
Often combined with Lotus seed (Lian Zi) in TCM. Both herbs astringe the Kidneys, but Euryale Qian Shi is able to dry Damp while Lotus seed benefits the Heart and balances Heart Fire and Kidney Water.
1. Chronic Diarrhea:
i. Euryale Qian Shi with Chebula (He Zi), Atractylodes Bai Zhu
ii. from Spleen deficiency and Damp, Euryale Qian Shi with Nelumbo Lian Zi, Poria Fu Ling, Atractylodes Bai Zhu
iii. from Spleen deficiency and Damp, Euryale Qian Shi with Hyacinth Bean (Bai Bian Dou), Chinese Yam (Shan Yao), Lotus seed (Lian Zi)
2. Spermatorrhea, Premature Ejaculation:
i. Euryale Qian Shi with Chinese Rosehip (Jin Ying Zi)
ii. Euryale Qian Shi with Chinese Rosehip (Jin Ying Zi), Astragalus Semen Sha Yuan Zi
iii. Euryale Qian Shi with Poria Fu Ling and Honey, form pills.
iv. and Polyuria, Euryale Qian Shi with Poria Fu Ling, Lotus root, with Honey, form pills. (Chinese Materia Medica, Stuauoft)
3. Leukorrhea:
i. from Weakness Euryale Qian Shi with Dioscorea Shan Yao
ii. from Weakness and Damp, Euryale Qian Shi with Dioscorea Shan Yao, Paeonia Bai Shao, Dang Gui, Cyperus rotundus Xiang Fu.
iii. from Spleen deficiency, Euryale Qian Shi with Hyacinth Bean (Bai Bian Dou), Atractylodes (Cang Zhu), Cuttlefish Bone (Hai Piao Xiao)
iv. from Spleen and Kidney deficiency, Euryale Qian Shi with Dioscorea Shan Yao. Cornus Shan Zhu Yu, Dodder seed (Tu Si Zi)
v. from Damp-heat, Euryale Qian Shi with Dioscorea Shan Yao, Phellodendron Huang Bai, Ginkgo Bai Guo
vi. from Damp-Heat, Euryale Qian Shi with Phellodendron Huang Bai, Plantain seed (Che Qian Zi)
vii. Euryale Qian Shi with Chinese Rosehip (Jin Ying Zi), Cornus Shan Zhu Yu, Dodder seed (Tu Si Zi)
4. Chronic Impotence:
i. Euryale Qian Shi with Lotus seed (Lian Zi), Astragalus Semen Sha Yuan Zi
ii. with Lower back pain and weakness from Kidney Yang deficiency, Euryale Qian Shi with Epimedium Yin Yang Huo, Cistanches Rou Cong Rong, Psoralea Bu Gu Zi, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi, Cinnamon (Rou Gui), Fennel seed (Xiao Hui Xiang) (as in Qiang Yang Bao Shen Wan)
iii. with Spermatorrhea, Premature Ejaculation, Euryale Qian Shi with Lycium Gou Qi Zi, Aconitum Fu Zi, Plantain seed (Che Qian Zi), Psoralea Bu Gu Zi, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi, Epimedium Yin Yang Huo.
5. Incontinence from Kidney weakness, Euryale Qian Shi with Dodder seed (Tu Si Zi), Alpinia Yi Zhi Ren, Praying Mantis Egg Case (Sang Piao Xiao)
6. Cloudy Urine:
i. Euryale Qian Shi with Job’s Tears (Yi Yi Ren) or Barley. these may be cooked with Rice to form a congee.
ii. Euryale Qian Shi with Poria Fu Ling
Major Formulas:
Jin Suo Gu Jing Wan
Qiang Yang Bao Shen Wan
Cautions:
1. Not used in Constipation or difficulty Urinating.
2. Traditional texts warn against use in acute (external) diseases, Malaria or Dysentery, Constipation and Hemorrhoids. Its drying nature is apt to cause obstruction if overused.