Shiraia, Zhu Huang 竹黄Bamboo Mushroom, Bamboo Ginseng, Bamboo NotoginsengZhu Huang ‘Bamboo Yellow’ (TCM) |
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Shiraia bambusicolaThis shows fungus still attached to branches of Bamboo.
Botanical name:
Shiraia bambusicola found on Bambusa, Chrysophyllum or Phyllostachys species.
Parts used:
Fleshy Stroma (Fungus) growing on Bamboo and spores
Temperature & Taste:
Slightly Cool. Sweet
Uses:
1. Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough:
-coughing with excess sputum
-Bronchitis, Whooping Cough
2. Clears Wind-Damp, Settles Spasm:
-wind-damp Arthritis, Rheumatism, Numbness of the limbs
-Childhood Convulsions and Epilepsy, Fright in children
-Stroke with phlegm
-more recently found effective for acute Lumbar Strain
3. Moves the Blood, Clears Stasis, Eases Pain:
-Bruising and Trauma
-the pulp soaked in wine can be applied to aches, pains and arthralgia
4. Clears Damp:
-Stomachache from damp
-Leukorrhea
5. Externally:
-the pulp soaked in wine can be applied to aches, pains and arthralgia
-the pulp soaked in wine can be applied to hot or cold Toothache (relieves pain in 1 minute)
Dose:
1. In China, it is often steeped in wine or alcohol and used as a tincture.
Powder: 1–3 grams
Decoction: 3–9 grams, up to 15 grams
A Wine can be made by adding 30–60 grams to 250–500 mls of alcohol (50%), dose is 10–50 mls;
120 grams in 500mls alcohol taken in 50 ml doses for rheumatic pain and numbness of the limbs.
For topical application, the beaten herb soaked in alcohol is applied.
Comment:
1. Some older texts regarded it as a tonic for the 5 Yin Organs.
2. This is closely allied to Tabasheer, Tian Zhu Huang. They are both derived from Bamboo and share some similar functions.
3. It turns emerald green in alkali, and red when steeped in ethanol.
Main Combinations:
1. Childhood Convulsions:
i. Shiraia Zhu Huang with Indigo and Tabasheer
ii. Shiraia Zhu Huang with Gastrodia Tian Ma, Amber, Pearl
2. Phlegm-type Cough:
i. Shiraia Zhu Huang with fresh Ginger
ii. Shiraia Zhu Huang with Pinellia Ban Xia, Almond (Xing Ren)
3. To clear Damp, Shiraia Zhu Huang with Poria Fu Ling, Polyporus Zhu Ling, Atractylodes Bai Zhu, Citrus Chen Pi
Major Formulas:
Cautions:
1. Not used during pregnancy.
2. Avoid in Hypertensive patients.
3. Its use has been cautioned in certain skin diseases.
4. Traditional texts state that Radish, hot and sour foods should be avoided while taking this medicine.
Main Preparations used:
Shirala Zhu Huang Wine:
Shirala Zhu Huang. 30–50 grams
Honey 60 grams
Alcohol (50%). 500 mls.
Steep together. It can be taken after 24 hours in doses of 10–20 ml twice daily for Cough, Bronchitis etc.