Xuan Shen

Botanical Name: Scrophulariae Radix

Xuan Shen

Xuan Shen

Category: Clear Heat, Cool the Blood

Taste: Bitter, Sweet, Salty
Temperature: Cold
Channels Entered: Lung, Stomach, Kidney

Dosage: 9-15g

Cautions & Contraindications:

  • Contraindicated in cases of cold dampness of the Spleen and Stomach. Traditionally it is not to be combined with Veratri nigri Radix et Rhizoma (Li Lu).

Actions & Indications:

  • Clears heat and cools the blood: when heat has entered the blood level of warm heat pathogen diseases, causing bleeding, fever, dry mouth, and a purplish tongue, as in Clear the Nutritive Level Decoction (qing ying tang).
  • Nourishes the yin: especially for the sequelae of warm heat pathogen diseases with such symptoms as constipation and irritability.
  • Softens hardness and dissipates nodules: for neck lumps due to phlegm-fire as well as severe throat pain and swelling.