Atractylodes macrocephala

Alias: red artichoke, gunner's head vegetable, horse thistle.

Taste and odor: pungent, bitter, warm.

Meridian: to the spleen, stomach, liver meridian.

Medicinal Part: the dried rhizome of the plant.

Morphological Characteristics: 1, Cangzhu: irregularly bead-shaped or nodular cylindrical, slightly curved, occasionally branched, 3 ~ l0, 1 ~ 50px in diameter, gray-brown surface, wrinkles, transverse zigzag lines and residual fibrous roots, the top of the stem with stem scars or residual stem base. The texture is solid, the cross-section is yellowish white or grayish white, scattered with most orange-yellow or brownish red oil chamber, exposed for a little time, can precipitate white fine needle-like crystals. Aroma peculiar, taste slightly sweet, pungent, bitter.

2, North Cangzhu: pimple block or nodular cylindrical, 4 ~ 225px long, 1 ~ 100px in diameter, the surface of the black-brown, remove the outer skin of the yellow-brown. The texture is looser, and there are yellowish-brown oil cells scattered on the cross-section. The aroma is light, and the flavor is pungent and bitter.

Usage and dosage of Atractylodes macrocephala

Dosage: decoction, 3-9g.

Concoction: 1, Atractylodes macrocephala: remove impurities, wash, moisten, cut thick slices, dry.

2, bran-fried Cangzhu: take the slices of Cangzhu, according to the method of bran-fried until the surface dark yellow.

Efficacy of Atractylodes macrocephala

Functions: drying dampness and strengthening the spleen, eliminating wind and dispersing cold, and brightening the eyes.

Indications: used for damp obstruction of the middle Jiao, epigastric distension, diarrhea, edema, colds, night blindness, dimming of the eyes.

Contraindications of Atractylodes macrocephala

"Compendium of Materia Medica": avoid peaches, plums, bird meat, woad, green fish.

Cangzhu's accompanying prescription

1, used for the treatment of spleen deficiency and dampness gathering, water and dampness in the phlegm, diarrhea, or overflow of edema: with Poria, Zedo, poria and other water-relieving and dampness-permeating drugs used in the same way. ("Zhenzhi quanjiao")

2, used for dispelling dampness, treatment of paralysis, dampness: with Job's tear grains, one of the living and other wind-dampness medicines used together. （It can be used in conjunction with Qiangwu, Angelica dahurica, and Fangfeng to dispel wind-dampness. ("He Dai Bian Fang")

1, "Compendium of Materia Medica": wind paralysis, weak muscles and bones, dissipate wind and remove dampness to resolve depression. Juice brewing, treatment of all wind-dampness, sinew and bone pain.

2, "Materia Medica from the new": dry stomach and strong spleen. Sweating and removing dampness. Can raise the Yang qi in the stomach. Stop vomiting and diarrhea. Expels phlegm and water.