Cicerbita et al., Rtsa mkhris རྩ་མཁྲིས

Rtsa mkhris (Tibetan Medicine)
Yan Shen (Cicerbita, TCM)
Shan Ku Mai (Ixeris chinensis, TCM)

‘Superior type’
Cicerbita macrorhiza
Edwards’s Botanical Register, vol. 32 (1846)

‘Inferior type’
Ixeris chinensis
J.G. Gmelin, Flora sibirica, vol. 2 (1749)

Botanical name:

Cicerbita macrorhiza (“Superior type”)
A number of types of Rtsa mkhris are recognised in Tibetan Medicine:

1. Lactuca lessertiana (Rtsa mkhris)
2. Cicerbita macrorhiza (syn. Lactuca macrorhiza, Cephalorrhynchus macrorhizus); ‘Superior type’ Blue Sow Thistle (Rtsa mkhris mchog)
3. Saussurea graminea, S. arenaria (Rtsa mkhris ba mo kha)
4. Ixeris gracilis, I. chinensis; ‘Inferior type’ (Rtsa mkhris zhing skyes or Rtsa mkhris dman pa)

Parts used:

Whole plant

Temperature & Taste:

Cool, dry. Bitter

Uses:

RTSA MKHRIS (Tibetan Medicine)
1. Clears Liver Heat:

-Jaundice, Hepatitis
-heat and inflammation of the Gall Bladder; cholecystitis
-Headache with red eyes, yellowing of the eyes
-used for all Bile disorders in general

IXERIS CHINENSIS (TCM)
1. Clears Heat, Resists Toxin:

-enteritis, dysentery
-Lung heat Cough

2. Clears Heat, Resolves Swelling, Clears Pus:

-Abscess of the Lung or Intestine
-Toxic Sores, Boils

3. Clears Liver Heat:

-heat and inflammation of the Gall Bladder; cholecystitis

Dose:

Powder: 1–3 grams
Decoction: 5–15 grams

Substitute:

1. Chicory
2. Scabiosa (various species) in Buryat region

Main Combinations:

1. Cholecystitis, acute Jaundice, Hepatitis, Headache, Cicerbita, Swertia, Picrorhiza, Barberry, Costus (as in Swertia 8 of Tibetan Medicine)

Major Formulas:

Swertia 8 (Tibetan Medicine)

Cautions:

None noted

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