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Curcuma root, Yu Jin 郁金

Yu Jin (TCM)
Roscoe, Monandrian plants of the order Scitamineae, 1854

Whole Roots of Yu Jin (Chengdu Medicine Market, Adam, 2016)
Botanical name:
Curcuma spp.:
  1. C. aromatica (syn. C. wenyujin)
  2. C. longa (generally considered best)
  3. C. kwangsiensis
  4. C. phaeocaulis
  5. C. chuanyujin (in Sichuan)
Other species appear to supply the market too.

Parts used:
Tuber

Temperature & Taste:
Cool, dry. Bitter, Pungent

Classifications:
K. Move the Blood

Uses:
1. Moves the Blood, Clears Stasis, Relieves Pain:
-pain from Trauma; Bruising
-Chest, Abdomen or Menstrual pain from Blood stagnation
-promotes healing of chronic sores
-"good for treating chronic abdominal pain of a woman" (Zhen Quan)
-"It removes blood stasis and tones the blood at the same time" (Su Gong)

2. Calms the Heart, Opens Obstructions of the Brain:
-anxiety, agitation, mental disorders, emotional constraint
-seizures, convulsions
-"Ancient doctors used the drug to treat a pent-up condition that cannot ascend" (Zhu Zhenheng)

3. Clears Heat, Opens the Liver and Gall Bladder:
-Jaundice, Cholecystitis
-helps clear Gall Stones
-Hepatitis, Cirrhosis, hardness of the Liver

4. Clears Heat, Stops Bleeding:
-various forms of Heat-type Bleeding

5. Worms and Parasites:
-traditionally for Gu Du (disease caused by various Parasites)


Dose:
Powder: 1–3 grams
Decoction: 6–12 grams

Substitutes:
1. Turmeric
2. "Its root is similar to Zedoary" (Li Shi Zhen)

Preparation:
Some older TCM texts suggested to grind with warm vinegar. This makes it stronger to move the Blood and clear Stasis.

Main Combinations:
1. Menstrual Pain, Curcuma Yu Jin with Dang Gui and Cyperus rotundus
2. Pain and distention of the hypochondria, Curcuma Yu Jin with Bupleurum Chai Hu
3. Chest Pain, Angina Pectoris from Blood stagnation:
i. Curcuma Yu Jin with Salvia Dan Shen
ii. Curcuma Yu Jin with Dalbergia Jiang Xiang, Peach kernel (Tao Ren)
4. Atherosclerosis, Curcuma Yu Jin with Gynostemma Jiao Gu Lan, Salvia Dan Shen
5. Blood heat with purplish Maculae or Bleeding, with Paeonia Mu Dan Pi
6. Vomiting or Spitting Blood, Curcuma Yu Jin powder with Ginger juice, Leek juice (Jiu Cai) and Boy's Urine. (Zhu Zhenheng)
7. Obstruction of the Sense Organs by Heat and Phlegm, Curcuma Yu Jin with Tabasheer (Tian Zhu Huang) and Calamus (Shi Chang Pu)
8. Mental disorder and Mania, "Grind seven liang ofYu Jin and three liang of Alum into powder. Make pills with wheat flour paste the size of a parasol seed" (Li Shi Zhen)
9. Seizure disorders, Curcuma Yu Jin with Antelope horn (Ling Yang Jiao), Uncaria Gou Teng, Tabasheer (Tian Zhu Huang)
10. Gall Bladder inflammation or obstruction, Curcuma Yu Jin with Artemisia Yin Chen Hao and Gardenia Zhi Zi
11. Cirrhosis of the Liver:
i. Curcuma Yu Jin with Isatis Radix Ban Lan Gen, Artemisia Yin Chen Hao, Coix Yi Yi Ren
ii. Curcuma Yu Jin with Ligusticum Chuan Xiong, dry-fried Paeonia Chao Bai Shao, dry-fried Scutellaria Chao Huang Qin, Melia toosendan Chuan Lian Zi, Corydalis Yan Hu Suo, Chicken Gizzard skin (Ji Nei Jin), charred Saposhnikovia Tan Fang Feng, Costus (Mu Xiang), Poria Fu Ling (The Formulas of Dr. John H.F. Shen)
12. Hepatitis:
i. Hepatitis C, Curcuma Yu Jin with Ligusticum Chuan Xiong, dry-fried Paeonia Chao Bai Shao, dry-fried Scutellaria Chao Huang Qin, Corydalis Yan Hu Suo, dry-fried Coptis Chao Huang Lian, Costus Mu Xiang, Lycium Gou Qi Zi, Bitter Orange fruit (Zhi Ke) (The Formulas of Dr. John H.F. Shen)
13. Gu poison (disease caused by parasites), situated in the lower abdomen, Curcuma Yu Jin with Cimicifuga Sheng Ma

Major Formulas:
An Gong Niu Huang Wan
Ping Xiao Capsules
Bo Ying Compound
Shi Xiang Fan Sheng Wan

Cautions:
Use cautiously during pregnancy, avoid full doses.

Main Preparations used: