Vaccaria, Wang Bu Liu Xing 王不留行Cowherb seedWang Bu Liu Xing, Mai Lan Cai (TCM) |
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Vaccaria hispanica (as Isatis sylvestris Hispanica)Lobel, M. de, Plantarum seu stirpium icones (1581)
Vaccaria segetalisMasclef, A., Atlas des plantes de France, vol. 2 (?)
Vaccaria segetalis(Photo by Thayne Tuason) (Wikimedia)
Botanical name:
Vaccaria segetalis (syn. V. hispanica, V. vaccaria, V. pyramidata, Gysophila vaccaria, Saponaria vaccaria)
Parts used:
Seed
Temperature & Taste:
Neutral. Bitter
Classification:
I. Internal Wind
Uses:
1. Moves the Blood, Opens Obstructions:
-Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea, menstrual irregularities
-used for Difficult Labor
-has also been used for Angina Pectoris
2. Opens Obstruction, Promotes Milk:
-promotes Breast Milk, especially if obstructed by Blood stasis
-swelling and pain in the Breast
-Mastitis, Breast Abscess, Breast Lumps
3. Moves the Blood, Clears Heat, Resolves Swelling:
-Wind-rash with itching
-swellings or abscesses, especially of the Breast or Testicles
Dose:
Decoction: 4.5–9 grams
Seed in Powder: 1–3 grams, taken with wine to move the Blood.
Preparation:
Dry Fried Seeds:
A Wok is heated with a high temperature, then the flame is reduced and the seeds added and stirring continuously until they pop and become white, then poured out and allowed to cool. This makes them more warming, and better to move the Blood and promote Menstruation.
Main Combinations:
1. Amenorrhea:
i. from blood stasis, Vaccaria Wang Bu Liu Xing with Dang Gui
2. To promote Breast Milk in insufficient Lactation:
i. Vaccaria Wang Bu Liu Xing is cooked with Pig’s Feet and Akebia Mu Tong in China
ii. Vaccaria Wang Bu Liu Xing with Liquidamber Lu Lu Tong and Luffa Si Gua Lo
iii. Vaccaria Wang Bu Liu Xing with Astragalus Huang Qi, Tetrapanax Tong Cao
iv. insufficient lactation from postpartum Qi and Blood deficiency, Vaccaria Wang Bu Liu Xing with Dang Gui and Astragalus Huang Qi
v. Vaccaria Wang Bu Liu Xing with Dianthus Qu Mai Sui, Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong, Fossil bones (Long Gu) (as in Yong Quan San from Wei Sheng Bao Jian [Precious Mirror for Defending Life]).
3. Breast Swelling or Abscess:
i. acute Mastitis, Dandelion (Pu Gong Ying) 50 grams, Vaccaria Wang Bu Liu Xing 25 grams. Decoct. (28 cases reportedly cured after 3 doses)
ii. Vaccaria Wang Bu Liu Xing with Dandelion (Pu Gong Ying), Trichosanthes Fructus (Gua Lou)
iii. Vaccaria Wang Bu Liu Xing with Liquidamber Lu Lu Tong and Luffa Si Gua Lo
iv. Vaccaria Wang Bu Liu Xing with Malva Dong Kui Guo (Mallow fruit)
v. Swollen painful Breast abscess, Vaccaria Wang Bu Liu Xing with Tribulus seed (Ci Ji Li)
vi. Breast Abscess, Vaccaria Wang Bu Liu Xing with Citrus Qing Pi, Dandelion (Pu Gong Ying), Lonicera Jin Yin Hua
vii. swelling and pain in the Breasts, Vaccaria Wang Bu Liu Xing with Citrus Qing Pi, Cyperus rotundus (Xiang Fu) and Salvia Dan Shen
4. Fixed masses in the Breast, Vaccaria Wang Bu Liu Xing with Cremastra Shan Ci Gu, Lonicera Jin Yin Hua and Borneo Camphor (Bing Pian) as a decoction
5. Swelling of the Testicles:
i. Vaccaria Wang Bu Liu Xing with Dandelion (Pu Gong Ying), Job’s Tears (Yi Yi Ren)
ii. Orchitis associated with Mumps, Vaccaria Wang Bu Liu Xing with Melia Toosendan Chuan Lian Zi and Isatis Root Ban Lan Gen
6. Difficult Labor and Dead Fetus, Vaccaria Wang Bu Liu Xing with Oxalis corniculata Suan Jiang Cao, Motherwort seed (Chong Wei Zi), Tribulus terrestris (Bai Ji Li), Flying Squirrel feces (Wu Ling Zhi)
7. Carbuncles, Vaccaria Wang Bu Liu Xing with Licorice, Kudzu Ge Gen, Dang Gui, Cinnamon (as in Wang Bu Liu Xing San from Yi Xin Fang [Prescriptions from the Heart of Medicine])
8. Angina Pectoris, Vaccaria Wang Bu Liu Xing with Radish seed (Lai Fu Zi), Mustard seed (Bai Jie Zi), Polygala Yuan Zhi
Cautions:
1. Not used during Pregnancy.
2. Caution in marked Qi or Blood deficiency. Not used in heavy menstrual Bleeding.