Gentiana macrophylla, Qin Jiao 秦艽

Large Leaf Gentian
Qin Jiao (TCM)

Gentiana dahurica
Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, vol. 141 (1915)

Gentiana macrophylla flower
(Photo by Orchi) (Wikimedia)

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Botanical name:

Gentiana spp.
A number of species are used:

G. macrophylla
G. straminea
G. crassicaulis
G. dahurica

Parts used:

Root

Temperature & Taste:

Neutral/slightly Cool, neutral in regards to dryness. Bitter, Pungent

Classification:

D. Clear Wind and Damp

Uses:

1. Clears Wind-Damp, Soothes the Sinews:
-Wind-Damp joint pain, with muscular contracture and tightness of the Sinews
-Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis
-Arthralgia due to Cold, Damp and Wind (Shen Nong Ben Cao)
-Hemiplegia with hypertonicity, tightness and contortion of the sinews
-Paralysis of the hands and feet. (Li Shi Zhen)
-can be used for acute or chronic, hot or cold disorders

2. Clears Deficient Heat:
-Heat from Yin deficiency
-Night Sweats, Low-Grade Fever, Afternoon Fever; ‘Fever in the Bones’
-low fever in infants with malnutrition (Chinese Pharmacopoeia)
-‘good for treating consumptive and infectious diseases, hectic fever due to Yin deficiency’. (Da Ming)
-deficient Heat after prolonged Febrile disease

3. Clears Damp-Heat, Opens Obstructions:
-Damp-Heat obstruction of the Liver; Jaundice
-‘jaundice due to alcoholism’ (Zhen Quan)
-severe Diarrhea (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
-painful or obstructed Urine (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
-‘relieves contractures and spasms in any part of the body’ (Ming Yi Bie Lu)
-also for acute conditions with Damp

4. Moves the Bowels:
-gentle laxative, useful for dryness of the Intestines

5. Externally:
-powder is applied to chronic Skin Ulcers (Ben Cao Gang Mu)

Dose:

Powder: 1–3 grams
The powder can be mixed with water, a suitable decoction, wine, or alcohol for topical application.

Comment:

Gentians are widely used in the various traditions. In general, they are viewed as Cold, and good to clear Heat and Damp from the Liver. The standard species such as the European Gentian and the Chinese Long Dan Cao are largely synonymous. The Western Gentian has been used in formulas for Arthritis and Joint disease, similar to Gentian Qin Jiao. This suggests that most or all the Gentians may be used for this function, but that Gentiana Qin Jiao is more specific for this indication.

Substitute:

… available in PRO version

Main Combinations:

1. Joint Pain, Arthritis:
i. hot joint pain, Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with … available in PRO version
ii. Wind-Damp joint pain, Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with … available in PRO version
iii. Wind-Damp joint pain, Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with … available in PRO version
iv. Wind-Cold-Damp Joint pain, Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with … available in PRO version
2. Body pain with fever and restlessness, Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with … available in PRO version
3. Tuberculosis, Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with … available in PRO version
4. Deficient Heat, Low-grade Fever after Febrile diseases:
i. Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with … available in PRO version
ii. Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with … available in PRO version
iii. Hectic Fever in children, Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with … available in PRO version
5. Hemiplegia with tightness of the sinews, Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with … available in PRO version
6. Childhood Malnutrition:
i. Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with … available in PRO version
ii. with Wind-Damp arthralgia, Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with … available in PRO version
7. Jaundice,:
i. Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with … available in PRO version
ii. Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with … available in PRO version
8. Constipation from dryness, Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with … available in PRO version
9. Severe Diarrhea, Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with … available in PRO version
10. Threatened Miscarriage, Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with … available in PRO version

Gentiana macrophylla, Qin Jiao FREE