Sophora tonkinensis, Shan Dou Gen 山豆根Bushy SophoraShan Dou Gen (TCM) |
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Sophora tonkinensis(Photo: 阿橋 HQ) (Wikimedia)
Botanical name:
Sophora tonkinensis (syn. S. subprostrata), Sophora tonkinensis var. polyphylla
Parts used:
Root
Temperature & Taste:
Cold, dry. Bitter
Classification:
B. Clears Heat and Poison
Uses:
1. Clears Heat, Resists Poison, Benefits the Throat:
-Swollen, painful Sore Throat, Tonsillitis
-taken internally, as a gargle, or simply held in the mouth
2. Clears Heat, Resists Poison, Resolves Swellings:
-Abscesses, Boils, Toxic Sores
-Cancer of the Lungs (early stage), Throat and Bladder
-traditionally for Damp-Heat Jaundice
-‘Neutralizes toxins of various drugs’ (Kai Bao Ben Cao)
-‘detoxifies toxin of Gelsemium elegans Gou Wen, Gold and Croton Ba Dou and other drugs’ (Ma Zhi)
-‘Bites odf Snakes, Dogs and Spider’, apply the juice topically. (Li Shi Zhen)
3. Clears Heat, Moves the Blood:
-abdominal pain and distention in women due to Qi and Blood disorder (Li Shi Zhen)
-taken with wine for this purpose.
4. Kills Worms:
-‘kills Tapeworm and other worms’ (Li Shi Zhen)
Dose:
Decoction: 3–6 grams (up to 9 grams)
Main Combinations:
1. Painful, swollen Sore Throat:
i. ‘Hold one drug in the mouth and swallow the juice to treat inflammation and pain in the throat. It works miraculously’. (Su Song)
ii. Sophora tonkinensis can be decocted alone and used as a gargle
iii. Sophora tonkinensis with Platycodon Jie Geng, Licorice (Gan Cao)
iv. Sophora tonkinensis with Isatis root Ban Lan Gen
v. Sophora tonkinensis with Belamcanda She Gan
vi. Sophora tonkinensis with Momordica seed (Mu Bie Zi) as a powder to be blown directly onto the throat.
vii. with strong heat, Sophora tonkinensis with Scutellaria Huang Qin, Rhubarb (Da Huang)
viii. with severe swelling and pus, Sophora tonkinensis with Figwort (Xuan Shen), Licorice
ix. severe Throat swelling and pain, Sophora tonkinensis with Isatis Ban Lan Gen and prepared Nux Vomica (Ma Qian Zi)
x. severe Sore Throat and Tonsillitis, Sophora tonkinensis with Coptis Huang Lian, Belamcanda She Gan, Fritillaria thunbergi Zhe Bei Mu, Indigo (Qing Dai), Borneo Camphor (Bing Pian), calcined Borax (Peng Sha), Rhubarb (Da Huang), Licorice (as in Gui Lin Xi Gua Shuang of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia)
2. Painful, swollen gums from Stomach Heat, Sophora tonkinensis with Coptis Huang Lian, Gypsum (Shi Gao), Cimifuga Sheng Ma. Decocted and used as a mouth wash, as well as taken internally.
3. Abscesses and Toxic Sores, Sophora tonkinensis with Lonicera Jin Yin Hua, Forsythia Lian Qiao, Coptis Huang Lian
4. Suppurative skin infections, Acne, Abscesses, Boils, Sophora tonkinensis with Andrographis Chuan Xin Lian, Dandelion (Pu Gong Ying), Lonicera Jin Yin Hua, Rhubarb (Da Huang), Gardenia Zhi Zi, synthetic Bezoar, Pearl powder (as in the patent medicine Qing Re An Chuang Pian)
5. Cancer of the Lungs Sophora tonkinensis with Hedyotis Bai Hua She She Cao, Scutellaria barbata Ban Zhi Lian, Black Nightshade (Long Kui)
Major Formulas:
Cautions:
Not used for Cold and Weakness of the Digestion
Toxicity:
Overdose may cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, blurred vision and palpitations. Severe poisoning may lead to tachycardia, bradycardia, numbness and tremors, possibly leading to death by respiratory failure. There is a reported fatality after a dose of 60 grams. (Bensky)