- Region
- Asia
- Origin
- East Asia, especially China
Asia · Herb · № 663
Asarum sieboldii (en A. heterotropoides)
Herb · Asia
Chinese wild ginger (xi xin)
Asarum sieboldii (en A. heterotropoides)
Traditionally attributed effects: warms in wind-cold, relieves pain from cold and loosens cold phlegm in the lungs.
Safety notes
Toxic or risky: only under expert supervision. Deliberately no dosage is given here. Contains aristolochic acid, which irreversibly damages the kidneys and can cause cancer; in the Netherlands products with aristolochic acid are banned. Not with deficiency with sweating, headache from blood or yin deficiency, thick yellow phlegm or pregnancy. Traditional use is no proof of effectiveness; if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Cautions by tradition (1)
- Chinese materia medica: Aristolochic acid: do not use yourself.
Preparation
Herb with root. Deliberately no dosage is given here.
Use in traditions
Described in the classical Chinese materia medica, in the group 'herbs that open the surface'. Xi xin, 'fine and pungent', is a warm remedy for colds with chills, headache and a blocked nose; it is part of Xiao Qing Long Tang (Japanese: Shoseiryuto). According to an old saying xi xin should 'not exceed one qian'. It can contain aristolochic acid; only root of controlled origin is used.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Chinese materia medica
- Nature and taste
- pungent, warm
- Meridians
- lung, kidney
Attributed effects
Warms in wind-cold with dampness or yang deficiency, relieves pain from cold (toothache, headache, body pain), warms the lungs with much thin, watery phlegm and opens a blocked nose.
Preparation and amount
Deliberately no dosage is given here: only under the supervision of a qualified therapist.
Combinations
- With ma huang and dried ginger for cold phlegm with asthma
- With qiang huo, fang feng and cinnamon twig for joint pain from wind-cold-damp
Caution: Aristolochic acid: do not use yourself.