Chapter 28: An Overview of Astringent Herbs (Poppy Shell, Dried Plum, Alum, Rosa laevigata, Alpinia oxyphylla, Raspberry, Mantis Egg Case)

Drugs whose main function is to astringe and consolidate are called astringent drugs, also known as consolidating drugs. Most astringent drugs are sour and astringent in nature, and have the effects of astringing sweat, stopping diarrhea, consolidating essence, reducing urination, stopping leukorrhea, stopping bleeding, and stopping cough. They are suitable for spontaneous sweating, night sweats, chronic diarrhea, chronic dysentery, rectal prolapse, seminal emission, spermatorrhea, premature ejaculation, enuresis, frequent urination, chronic cough and wheezing, metrorrhagia and leukorrhea caused by prolonged illness and physical weakness.

This corresponds to conditions in modern medicine such as general weakness and colds, tuberculosis, emphysema, chronic enteritis, chronic dysentery, neurosis, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and dysfunctional uterine bleeding. Furthermore, astringent medications can also be used to treat conditions with excessive exudate, such as eczema, chronic ulcers, and late-stage burns.

According to modern research, astringent drugs mainly have the following pharmacological effects: ① Most astringent drugs contain tannins, which have a significant astringent effect. When they come into contact with mucous membranes or wounds, they can precipitate or coagulate local proteins, forming a denser protective layer on the surface, which is beneficial for wound healing or protects the local area from irritation; ② The astringent components in astringent drugs can coagulate proteins in the blood and block damaged small blood vessels. At the same time, the astringent components can also cause local small blood vessels to constrict, thus exhibiting a significant hemostatic effect; ③ Astringent drugs containing tannins can precipitate proteins at the nerve endings of the intestinal wall, exhibiting a weak local anesthetic effect. They are not sensitive to the stimulation of intestinal contents, thus delaying defecation and exhibiting an antidiarrheal effect; some astringent drugs have an adsorption effect. After oral administration, they can be adsorbed onto the gastrointestinal mucosa, playing a protective role and reducing the stimulation of the gastrointestinal mucosa by various factors, thus exhibiting an antidiarrheal effect.

In addition, astringents also have pharmacological effects such as antibacterial and inhibiting glandular secretion.

The use of astringent drugs is merely a symptomatic treatment, preventing the depletion of vital energy due to excessive leakage. However, the root cause of excessive leakage lies in the weakness of vital energy, therefore it needs to be used in combination with appropriate tonifying drugs to address both the symptoms and the underlying cause. Astringent drugs have the drawback of trapping pathogens, and should not be used when external pathogens have not been resolved, internal dampness has stagnation, or stagnant heat has not been cleared.

poppy shells

This product is the mature pericarp of the poppy plant (Papaver rhoeas), a plant belonging to the Papaveraceae

[Properties and Flavors] Sour, astringent, neutral. Toxic.

[Functions] ① Astringent to stop diarrhea, used to treat chronic diarrhea and dysentery; ② Astringent to stop cough, used to treat chronic cough without phlegm due to lung deficiency; ③ Pain reliever, used to treat various pains in the muscles, bones, heart, and abdomen.

[Pharmacological effects] Analgesic, hypnotic, antitussive, smooth muscle relaxant, antidiarrheal, constipation induced, vasodilator, miotic.

[Modern Applications] Chronic enteritis, chronic gastritis, infant diarrhea, burns.

[Usage] Decocted and taken orally, 3-6 grams. For relieving cough, use honey-fried; for relieving diarrhea and pain, use vinegar-fried.

[Caution] This product is contraindicated for those with cough, diarrhea, or early-stage dysentery. It is addictive and should not be used in excessive amounts or for extended periods.

Ume

This product is the nearly mature fruit of the plum tree, a plant belonging to the Rosaceae family.

[Properties and Flavors] Sour, astringent, neutral.

[Functions] ① Astringes the lungs and stops cough, used to treat chronic cough with little phlegm due to lung deficiency; ② Astringes the intestines and stops diarrhea, used to treat chronic diarrhea and dysentery; ③ Promotes the production of body fluids and quenches thirst, used to treat thirst caused by summer heat and diabetes; ④ Harmonizes the stomach and expels roundworms, used to treat abdominal pain and ascariasis caused by roundworms; ⑤ Stops bleeding, used to treat metrorrhagia, hematochezia, and hematuria; ⑥ Corrodes pterygium and eliminates hemorrhoids, used externally to treat hemorrhoids.

[Pharmacological Actions] Antibacterial, antifungal, anthelmintic, inhibits intestinal motility, promotes bile secretion, promotes digestion, anti-allergic, anti-fatigue, anti-radiation, anti-aging, anti-tumor, inhibits mutagen, and enhances immunity.

[Modern Applications] Chronic colitis, bacterial dysentery, viral hepatitis, ascariasis, biliary ascariasis, hookworm disease, infantile diarrhea, morning sickness, hypertension, atrophic gastritis, vitiligo, dermatographia, and common warts.

[Usage] For decoction, take 3-10 grams, with a maximum dose of 30 grams. For external use, apply as needed. For cough relief, diarrhea relief, saliva production, and expelling roundworms, use raw; for hemostasis, use charred.

[Caution]This product is contraindicated in patients with external pathogenic factors, internal heat accumulation, or new cough with excessive phlegm.

alum

This product is a crystal obtained by processing and refining alunite, a sulfate mineral.

[Properties and Flavors] Sour, astringent, cold.

[Functions] ① It has the functions of astringing, killing insects, and relieving itching. It is used externally to treat eczema, damp sores, scabies, hemorrhoids, uterine prolapse, rectal prolapse, and ear discharge; ② It can resolve phlegm and is used to treat wind-phlegm epilepsy, mania, and dizziness; ③ It can astringe and consolidate, and is used to treat chronic diarrhea, chronic dysentery, hematemesis, epistaxis, hematochezia, metrorrhagia, traumatic bleeding, and leukorrhea; ④ It can remove damp heat and reduce jaundice, and is used to treat damp-heat jaundice.

[Pharmacological Actions] Antibacterial, antifungal, coagulates proteins, astringent, antidiarrheal, hemostatic, anti-trichomonal, emetic.

[Modern Applications] Peptic ulcers, chronic gastritis, duodenitis, chronic ulcerative colitis, proctitis, epilepsy, manic-depressive psychosis, various bleeding disorders, viral hepatitis, chronic bacterial dysentery, cysticercosis, mumps, diphtheria carriers, cervical erosion, cervical cancer, uterine prolapse, ovarian cysts, acute urinary retention, rectal prolapse, internal hemorrhoids, hydrocele, lymphadenopathy, Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection of burn wounds, suppurative otitis media, intractable oral ulcers, bromhidrosis, bedsores, herpes zoster, tinea pedis, hyperhidrosis of the feet.

[Usage] For oral administration in pills or powders, take 1-3 grams. For external use, grind into powder and sprinkle on the affected area, mix with water for application, or wash with water as needed. For detoxification and insecticidal purposes, use raw; for astringent and tissue-regenerating purposes, use calcined.

[Caution] This product is contraindicated for those with weak constitutions or stomachs. Do not take excessive amounts internally.

Golden Cherry

This product is the fruit of the Rosa laevigata plant, belonging to the Rosaceae family.

[Properties and Flavors] Sour, astringent, neutral.

[Functions] ① To consolidate essence and reduce urination, used to treat seminal emission, enuresis, leukorrhea, and turbid urine due to kidney deficiency; ② To astringe the intestines and stop diarrhea, used to treat chronic diarrhea and dysentery; ③ To astringe and consolidate prolapse, used to treat metrorrhagia, uterine prolapse, and rectal prolapse.

[Pharmacological Actions] Antibacterial, antiviral, anti-leptospiral, anti-atherosclerotic, smooth muscle inhibitory, astringent and antidiarrheal, promotes gastric juice secretion.

[Modern Applications] Infant and young child autumn diarrhea, seminal emission, uterine prolapse, rectal prolapse.

[Usage] Decocted and taken orally, 6-12 grams.

[Caution] Use with caution if you have excess heat or excess evil.

Brain-boosting

This product is the mature fruit of Alpinia oxyphylla, a plant belonging to the ginger family.

[Properties and Flavors] Pungent, warm.

[Functions] ① Tonifies the kidneys, strengthens essence, and reduces urination; used to treat seminal emission and enuresis due to kidney deficiency; ② Warms the spleen, stops drooling, and stops diarrhea; used to treat diarrhea and drooling due to spleen and stomach deficiency and cold.

[Pharmacological effects] Antidiuretic, immune-enhancing, memory-promoting, cardiotonic, calcium antagonistic, inhibits intestinal smooth muscle, anti-gastric damage, inhibits prostaglandin synthesis, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory.

[Modern Applications] Diarrhea in infants and young children, drooling in children, bedwetting, and weakness in the elderly.

[Usage] Remove the outer shell, crush the kernel, decoct and take 3-10 grams.

[Caution]This product is contraindicated for those with yin deficiency and excessive fire.

raspberry

This product is the fruit of *Rubus palmatus*, a plant belonging to the Rosaceae family.

[Properties and Flavors] Sweet, sour, slightly warm.

[Functions] It benefits the kidneys, strengthens essence, and reduces urination. It is used to treat kidney deficiency, seminal emission, spermatorrhea, frequent urination, and enuresis.

[Pharmacological Action] Antibacterial, estrogen-like effects.

[Modern Applications] Male sexual dysfunction, benign prostatic hyperplasia.

[Usage] Decocted and taken orally, 3-10 grams.

[Caution] This product is contraindicated for those with yin deficiency and excessive internal heat, or those experiencing scanty and difficult urination.

Mulberry octopus

This product is the egg case of mantises such as the large-headed mantis, the southern mantis, and the broad-bellied mantis.

[Properties and Flavors] Sweet, salty, neutral.

[Functions] ① To consolidate essence and reduce urination, used to treat seminal emission, spermatorrhea, premature ejaculation, enuresis, frequent urination, and turbid leukorrhea caused by kidney deficiency and yang deficiency; ② Tonify the kidney and assist yang, used to treat impotence and lower back pain caused by kidney deficiency.

[Modern Application] Male sexual dysfunction, enuresis.

[Usage] For decoction, take 5-10 grams; for pills or powder, take 3-5 grams. For external use, apply as needed.

[Caution]Use with caution if you have yin deficiency with excessive fire or damp-heat in the bladder.

(Due to space limitations, the 28th article ends here. Subsequent articles will continue to be output in the same format.)