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Pokeberry Root is the root of the Pokeberry Root plant from the Pokeberry Root family or the drooping Pokeberry Root. It is mainly produced in Henan, Anhui, Hubei, and other regions. The original plant grows on roadsides under sparse forests or is cultivated in gardens. It prefers a warm and humid climate, is cold-resistant, and thrives best in deep, loose, fertile, humus-rich, well-drained sandy loam. It is not suitable for heavy acidic soil and low-lying waterlogged areas. It tastes bitter, is cold in nature, and is toxic. It belongs to the lung, kidney, and large intestine meridians. Its effects include purging diarrhea water, subduing swelling, and dissipating bind. The clinical names are Pokeberry Root and Pokeberry Root root.

bubble_chart Compendium of Materia Medica

Shennong Bencao Jing: It tastes pungent and is neutral. It treats water distension, hernia, abdominal masses, and impediment. It can be used in hot compresses to remove abscesses and swelling, and to kill evil spirits.

Mingyi Bielu: It tastes sour and is toxic. It treats pathogenic qi in the chest, edema, wilting impediment, abdominal distension, and fullness. It regulates the five zang organs and disperses water qi.

Yaoxing Lun: It is an envoy herb, contraindicated with dog meat. It tastes sweet and is highly toxic. It can purge ten types of water diseases and treat pharyngitis obstruction. Thinly sliced and boiled with vinegar, it can be applied externally to swollen throat areas for relief.

Kaibao Bencao: It tastes pungent and sour, is neutral, and is toxic. It treats pathogenic qi in the chest, edema, wilting impediment, abdominal distension, and fullness. It regulates the five zang organs and disperses water qi. zang-organs, disperses water qi.

Yaoxing Fu: It tastes sour and pungent, is neutral, and is toxic. It descends and is yin within yang. Its taste is sour and pungent, its shape resembles a human; its use treats water, and its effect is miraculous.

Tangye Bencao: It is neutral in qi, tastes pungent and sour, and is toxic.

Shennong Bencao Jing: It treats water distension, abdominal masses, and impediment. It can be used in hot compresses to remove abscesses and swelling, and to kill evil spirits. It treats pathogenic qi in the chest, edema, wilting impediment, abdominal distension, and fullness. It regulates the five zang organs and disperses water qi. Those resembling human shape have miraculous effects. Zhenzhunang: Sour and pungent used together guide swelling qi. zang-organs, disperses water qi, resembling human shape has miraculous effects. Zhenzhunang: Sour and pungent used together guide swelling qi.

Bencao Gangmu: Pokeberry Root is bitter and cold, sinking, descending, and yin. Its nature is to move downward, specializing in moving water; it shares similar effects with Peking Euphorbia Root and Gansui Root, but those with weak stomach qi should not use it. Physicians treat swelling and fullness, and difficulty in urination by mashing the red root, adding three parts of musk, and applying it to the navel, binding it with cloth. When urination improves, the swelling subsides. It also treats damp water by drawing lines on the flesh with a finger, which disperses without forming patterns. Another method uses white Pokeberry Root and Cyperus seeds, dried by stir-frying, removing fire toxin, soaked in wine overnight, dried in the sun, and ground into powder. Take three qian each time with rice water.

Bencao Mengquan: It tastes pungent, sweet, and sour, and is warm in qi. It is toxic. The red-flowered variety has red roots, and the white-flowered variety has white roots. The white root is used in medicinal formulas, specifically for treating water-related conditions. The red root is associated with ghosts and spirits and is toxic but can be used externally for swelling. If taken recklessly, it can cause bloody diarrhea and death.

Note: The white root treats water, and many formulas are recorded. Some take the root mixed with carp to make soup, some chew the grains mixed with foxtail millet to make porridge, some mash the fresh juice to mix with wine, or combine it with other herbs to make pills. Taken on an empty stomach, it can be effective. The red root is applied for swelling, and the formulas vary. For pharyngitis obstruction, boil with vinegar and apply externally to swollen areas. For stone abscesses as hard as stone, mash and rub to soften and form pus. If mashed with salt, it can be applied to innominate swelling and pain. An ancient praise says: Its taste is sour and pungent, its shape resembles a human, it treats water and swelling, and its effect is miraculous. This saying captures it all.

《materia medica 乘雅》: The metal sound is called Shang, knowing the inside from the outside, and the outside from the inside. High and flat is called Lu, the path of the four seasons and the sun and moon. Heaven has four Lu, and humans have four streets, the paths of nutrient-defense blood and qi. Thus, it treats water stagnation causing swelling, qi impediment causing hernia and abdominal masses, losing its Lu of only inside without outside; further using fire power, hot compresses remove abscesses and swelling of only outside without inside. As for killing evil spirits, it is due to the strong metal qi, withering and falling non-similar things.

《medicinal property 解》: Pokeberry Root tastes sour and pungent, is cold in nature, and is toxic. It enters the spleen, bladder, and small intestine meridians. It treats water distension, parasitic toxins, hernia, abdominal masses, abscesses, malignant sores, and early abortion.

Note: Pokeberry Root is primarily used for expelling water, similar to Peking Euphorbia Root. Water-related illnesses are due to the dysfunction of the bladder and small intestine, which the spleen particularly dislikes, hence both are used. There are two types, red and white; the white can be taken internally, while the red is toxic and can be used externally for swelling, but is fatal if ingested by mistake.

Bencao Beiyao: Greatly promotes water passage.

Bitter, cold, and toxic. Various sources describe it as acrid and sour, while Li Shizhen notes it as bitter and cold. It sinks yin and moves downward, sharing similar effects with Peking Euphorbia Root and Gansui Root. It treats edema and distension, with swelling related to the spleen and distension to the liver. Swelling indicates yang qi is still circulating, but if there is distension without swelling, it is called tympanites, caused by wood overacting on earth, and is difficult to treat. Swelling that is relieved in the morning and worsens at night indicates blood deficiency; swelling that worsens in the morning and improves at night indicates qi deficiency; swelling that is severe both morning and night indicates dual deficiency of qi and blood. Swelling that spreads from the heart and abdomen to the limbs is favorable, while swelling that moves from the limbs to the heart and abdomen is dangerous. Swelling that ascends in men and descends in women is difficult to treat. It treats abdominal masses, hernias, abscesses, and pharyngitis. Thinly sliced and fried with vinegar, it is effective when applied to the throat. It treats dampness-heat disorders, expels parasitic toxins, and is applied to malignant sores. It can also cause early abortion.

Benjing Fengyuan: Pokeberry Root is bitter and cold, which can damage the spleen. Its nature is to move downward and promote water discharge. Benjing specifically treats edema, hernias, and abdominal masses, sharing similar effects with Peking Euphorbia Root and Gansui Root but with different properties. It should not be used in cases of stomach qi deficiency. For swelling and difficulty urinating, mash the red root and mix with a small amount of musk, apply to the navel, and bind with cloth. Urination will improve and swelling will subside. Alternatively, boil with garlic and white Pokeberry Root for oral administration to treat swelling. Zhang Zhongjing used it in Oyster Shell and Alisma Powder to treat swelling below the waist after major illness, as it quickly disperses pathogens. However, if edema is due to spleen deficiency, misuse may provide temporary relief but will lead to recurrence and is incurable.

Bencao Chongyuan: Pokeberry Root embodies the qi transformation of metal and earth, hence its acrid and neutral flavor. The white root and flowers are the best. It treats edema because acridity moves qi, earth overcomes water, and qi transformation promotes water circulation, dispersing swelling. It treats hernias and abdominal masses, which are disorders of the liver wood, as metal can subdue wood. It also treats muscle blockages by warming and dispersing with fire. It eliminates abscesses as metal governs attack and drainage. It kills evil spirits as metal governs elimination.

Bencao Qiuzhen: [Comment] Greatly promotes water passage and moves downward.

Pokeberry Root specifically enters the spleen. It is acrid, sour, bitter, cold, and toxic, specializing in promoting water movement in the spleen. Its downward movement is extremely forceful, like overturning mountains and seas, similar to Peking Euphorbia Root, Lilac Daphne, and Gansui Root. Thus, it is effective for edema, distension, hernias, abscesses, pharyngitis, dampness-heat, parasitic toxins, and malignant sores. Yu Jia-yan said: Swelling of the entire body and face is easier to treat than abdominal distension alone. Swelling of the entire body involves symptoms of the five zang and six fu organs, so draining the liver, spleen, bladder, and intestines may sometimes work. However, long-standing abdominal distension with stagnation of clear and turbid qi is difficult to resolve, as it is caused by weakened original qi. In such cases, tonifying original qi, promoting yang, and opening sweat pores and the bladder are necessary. Swelling that injures the spleen causes the navel to protrude; kidney injury flattens the soles; lung injury raises the shoulders; liver injury causes black lips and swollen skin; heart injury flattens the supraclavicular fossa and causes cough and aphonia. Swelling that starts in the abdomen and spreads to the limbs is treatable; swelling that starts in the limbs and returns to the abdomen is fatal. Zhang Zhongjing used Pokeberry Root in Oyster Shell and Alisma Powder to treat swelling below the waist after major illness, as it quickly disperses pathogens. However, edema due to spleen deficiency, if treated with harsh, toxic, and purely yin herbs, may show temporary improvement but will recur and become incurable.

Depei Bencao: Combines well with garlic. Avoid dog meat.

Bitter, acrid, cold, and toxic. Enters the foot taiyin and foot taiyang meridians. Promotes water movement and reaches the lower energizer.

Combine with musk, mash, and apply to the navel to promote urination and reduce edema. Misuse may lead to recurrence and incurability.

Pokeberry Root, Peking Euphorbia Root, Gansui Root, Grass of Common KnotGrass, Lilac Daphne, Wikstroemia, and Fischer Euphorbia Root are highly effective for lowering qi and eliminating water, but they severely damage original qi. It is safer to apply externally to the navel and abdomen with musk and toothache tree to guide the medicinal qi inward, allowing water to exit through urination and defecation. Alternatively, properly process the herbs and combine with qi tonics to preserve vital qi.

Benjing Shuzheng: Pokeberry Root sprouts in spring, blooms in summer and autumn, and its roots are harvested in August and September. Benjing uses it to treat edema, hernia, abdominal masses, and to relieve swelling and abscesses. Isn't this because it guides yang into yin, returning to the middle qi of yin to disperse stagnation and reduce swelling? That is, Bielu refers to treating pathogenic qi in the chest, edema, wilting impediment, abdominal distension and fullness, directly regulating the five zang-organs, and dispersing water qi. It also moves from the chest to the abdomen, and from the heart and lungs to the liver and kidneys, which is what is meant by direct regulation. Water is yin, and the kidneys store the yin of the five zang-organs. Directly regulating the qi of the five zang-organs to return to the kidneys, causing the water qi to disperse, as the kidneys can accumulate water and cause illness, then making the water either stay or move, should disperse or dissipate, and only the kidneys can prevent illness. However, checking ancient medical texts, there are formulas like Areca Seed Powder for treating stony edema, and Dredging and Channelling Decoction for treating yang edema, both using Pokeberry Root. Isn't it considered indiscriminate? It is not known that the use of Pokeberry Root in both cases is the so-called principle of treating the tip in acute disease, both taking it to guide yang qi to transform yin pathogen, and to disperse yin pathogen to guide yang qi. The root of yang edema is due to yin deficiency, where yang cannot transform, and the severe symptom is yin pathogen. The root of yin edema is due to yang deficiency, where yin cannot transform and the severe symptom is also yin pathogen. Both have yin pathogen as the symptom, and if not treated by taking water to save the symptom when qi is strong and appetite is good, but instead vaguely talking about treating the root, hesitating and shrinking, delaying deficient matters, waiting until healthy qi is completely transformed into water, leading to incurable conditions, then what good is it to mend the fold after the sheep are lost? Even its application to hard abscesses (hard and not suppurating, Zhang Wenzhong's formula: Pokeberry Root mashed and applied until soft, also treats wet fistula disease and various boils), sudden abdominal masses (something like a stone causing pain and screaming, if not treated will die within a hundred days, Qianjin Fang often takes Pokeberry Root juice or steams it, placing it on the abdomen with cloth, not covered, changing frequently day and night without rest), abdominal mass like a stone (under the ribs hard, Shenghui Fang takes raw Pokeberry Root juice one liter, Bitter Apricot Seed one ounce, soaked and peeled, mashed into a paste, mixed with Pokeberry Root juice, boiled until syrupy, taken the size of a date with hot wine on an empty stomach until evil substances are expelled), all can be dispersed. Given its ability to disperse formed substances in the yin aspect, then its regulation of the qi of the five zang-organs and dispersion of yin constipation, is self-evident, as is Benjing referring to treating hernia, abdominal masses, and relieving swelling and abscesses, can't this also be seen here?

Li Bin-hu stated that Pokeberry Root is sinking and yin in nature, with a downward movement, specifically effective in treating water retention, sharing similar functions but differing in nature from Peking Euphorbia Root and Gansui Root. The value of studying Benjing lies in the ability to discern names and identify substances, understanding their respective applications. If the efficacy of Pokeberry Root is merely equivalent to that of Peking Euphorbia Root and Gansui Root, then one might as well use Peking Euphorbia Root and Gansui Root. What then is the advantage of Pokeberry Root? Peking Euphorbia Root and Gansui Root are bitter, while Pokeberry Root is pungent. Bitterness is chosen for its descending properties, and pungency for its unblocking effects. Descending properties can redirect and control rebellious and overflowing water; unblocking effects can move stagnant and accumulated water. Since the principles differ, so do the functions. How can one equate them? In Zhongjing's texts, Ten Jujubes Decoction uses Peking Euphorbia Root and Gansui Root, while Major Chest Bind Decoction, Gansui and Pinellia Decoction, and Rhubarb and Gansui Decoction all use Gansui Root, not Peking Euphorbia Root, indicating a distinct difference between Gansui Root and Peking Euphorbia Root. However, for post-illness conditions with water retention below the waist, Oyster Shell and Alisma Powder specifically chooses Pokeberry Root, suggesting that Pokeberry Root has unique properties compared to Peking Euphorbia Root and Gansui Root. Pokeberry Root is not used in its red-flowered or red-rooted forms but specifically in its white-flowered and white-rooted forms, as the white color complements the pungent taste, making it effective for breaking through hard and stubborn conditions. For lower body ailments, treatment is sought from the upper body, and vice versa. Oyster Shell and Alisma Powder treats water retention below the waist by first using Pokeberry Root and Pepperweed Seed to open blockages from the lungs to the kidneys, allowing oyster shell and seaweed to soften hardness, and Dichroa Twig and Leaf Alisma to open and discharge effectively. Trichosanthes Root is used to prevent the overly rapid movement of water, which might harm the yin of the upper energizer, ensuring that yin is drawn back up through the spleen, similar to the response of a snake when its head or tail is struck. Therefore, the function of Pokeberry Root is to break blockages and guide obstructions, not merely to promote water flow and diuresis. Understanding this clarifies that it should not be confused with other diuretic substances.

Bencao Fenjing: Bitter, cold. Sinking yin with a downward movement, sharing similar functions with Peking Euphorbia Root and Gansui Root. Treats edema, distension, parasitic toxins, and malignant sores.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

1. Pokeberry Root has diuretic effects. Infusing toad kidneys with Pokeberry Root extract or directly applying it to frog kidneys increases urine output. The mechanism may involve stimulating the vasomotor center, dilating capillaries, increasing blood flow, and accelerating kidney circulation.
2. Pokeberry Root has phlegm-dispelling, cough-suppressing, and asthma-relieving effects. The active phlegm-dispelling components are Pokeberry Root acid and Pokeberry Root methyl ester.
3. Pokeberry Root has antimicrobial effects. Pokeberry Root decoction and tincture significantly inhibit pneumococcus, Shigella flexneri, and Shigella sonnei; they also inhibit Shigella dysenteriae and Haemophilus influenzae. Pokeberry Root ethanol extract inhibits the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (strain 37Rv) in vitro. A 1:4 Pokeberry Root water decoction inhibits pathogenic skin fungi such as Trichophyton schoenleinii and Microsporum audouinii. An antiviral protein from Pokeberry seeds inhibits protein synthesis in rabbit reticulocyte lysate.
4. Pokeberry Root has antitumor effects.
5. Pokeberry Root has hypotensive effects, with γ-aminobutyric acid and histamine as active components.
6. Pokeberry Root has spermicidal effects.
7. Pokeberry Root has the effect of enhancing immune function. Pokeberry Root polysaccharide-1 can promote the function of peritoneal macrophages in mice, manifested as a significant increase in both the phagocytic percentage and phagocytic index, indicating its ability to enhance non-specific immune function. Pokeberry Root polysaccharide-1 can stimulate the proliferation response of mouse lymphocytes, manifested as an increase in ³H-TdR incorporation, and can also induce the secretion of interleukin-2 (IL-2) by mouse spleen cells. Pokeberry Root total saponins can counteract the decrease in ³H-TdR incorporation rate caused by hydroxyurea-induced deficiency in mice, significantly increasing the ³H-TdR incorporation rate to near normal levels, suggesting that both Pokeberry Root total saponins and Pokeberry Root polysaccharide-1 can enhance the body's specific immune function.
8. Pokeberry Root 100% decoction has a certain anti-radiation effect.
9. Pokeberry Root contains a glycoprotein component that has an effect against tobacco mosaic virus.
10. The drooping Pokeberry Root also has emetic and laxative effects, and its extract also has the effects of hemagglutinin, leukoagglutinin, and mitogen.