Gentiana macrophylla, Qin Jiao 秦艽
Large Leaf Gentian
Qin Jiao (TCM)
Qin Jiao (TCM)
G. dahurica
Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, vol. 141 (1915)
Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, vol. 141 (1915)
Botanical name:
Gentiana spp.
A number of species are used:
Parts used:
Root
Temperature & Taste:
Neutral/slightly Cool, neutral in regards to dryness. Bitter, Pungent
Classification:
D. Clear Wind and Damp
Gentiana spp.
A number of species are used:
- G. macrophylla
- G. straminea
- G. crassicaulis
- G. dahurica
Parts used:
Root
Temperature & Taste:
Neutral/slightly Cool, neutral in regards to dryness. Bitter, Pungent
Classification:
D. Clear Wind and Damp
Uses:
1. Clears Wind-Damp, Soothes the Sinews:
-Wind-Damp joint pain, with muscular contracture and tightness of the Sinews
-Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis
-Arthralgia due to Cold, Damp and Wind (Shen Nong Ben Cao)
-Hemiplegia with hypertonicity, tightness and contortion of the sinews
-Paralysis of the hands and feet. (Li Shi Zhen)
-can be used for acute or chronic, hot or cold disorders
2. Clears Deficient Heat:
-Heat from Yin deficiency
-Night Sweats, Low-Grade Fever, Afternoon Fever; 'Fever in the Bones'
-low fever in infants with malnutrition (Chinese Pharmacopoeia)
-'good for treating consumptive and infectious diseases, hectic fever due to Yin deficiency'. (Da Ming)
-deficient Heat after prolonged Febrile disease
3. Clears Damp-Heat, Opens Obstructions:
-Damp-Heat obstruction of the Liver; Jaundice
-'jaundice due to alcoholism' (Zhen Quan)
-severe Diarrhea (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
-painful or obstructed Urine (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
-'relieves contractures and spasms in any part of the body' (Ming Yi Bie Lu)
-also for acute conditions with Damp
4. Moves the Bowels:
-gentle laxative, useful for dryness of the Intestines
5. Externally:
-powder is applied to chronic Skin Ulcers (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
DOSE:
1. Used in decoctions, pills, powders, or medicated Wines.
Decoction: 5–10 grams (up to 30 grams); best decocted for a short time.
Powder: 1–3 grams
The powder can be mixed with water, a suitable decoction, wine, or alcohol for topical application.
COMMENT:
Gentians are widely used in the various traditions. In general, they are viewed as Cold, and good to clear Heat and Damp from the Liver. The standard species such as the European Gentian and the Chinese Long Dan Cao are largely synonymous. The Western Gentian has been used in formulas for Arthritis and Joint disease, similar to Gentian Qin Jiao. This suggests that most or all the Gentians may be used for this function, but that Gentiana Qin Jiao is more specific for this indication.
SUBSTITUTE:
Centuary is closely related therapeutically and taxonomically to the Gentians. It has been widely used for Joint disease, Arthritis and tightness of the Sinews. It can be regarded as a suitable substitute for Gentian Qin Jiao.
1. Used in decoctions, pills, powders, or medicated Wines.
Decoction: 5–10 grams (up to 30 grams); best decocted for a short time.
Powder: 1–3 grams
The powder can be mixed with water, a suitable decoction, wine, or alcohol for topical application.
COMMENT:
Gentians are widely used in the various traditions. In general, they are viewed as Cold, and good to clear Heat and Damp from the Liver. The standard species such as the European Gentian and the Chinese Long Dan Cao are largely synonymous. The Western Gentian has been used in formulas for Arthritis and Joint disease, similar to Gentian Qin Jiao. This suggests that most or all the Gentians may be used for this function, but that Gentiana Qin Jiao is more specific for this indication.
SUBSTITUTE:
Centuary is closely related therapeutically and taxonomically to the Gentians. It has been widely used for Joint disease, Arthritis and tightness of the Sinews. It can be regarded as a suitable substitute for Gentian Qin Jiao.
Main Combinations:
1. Joint Pain, Arthritis:
i. hot joint pain, Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with Anemarrhena Zhi Mu, Lonicera Caulis Ren Dong Tang
ii. Wind-Damp joint pain, Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with Saposhnikovia Fang Feng, Angelica pubescens Du Huo
iii. Wind-Damp joint pain, Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with Gastrodia Tian Ma, Notopterygium Qiang Huo, Dang Gui, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong (as in Qin Jiao Tian Ma Tang from Yi Xue Xin Wu [Medical Revelations])
iv. Wind-Cold-Damp Joint pain, Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with Notopterygium Qiang Huo, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong, Aconitum Chuan Wu.
2. Body pain with fever and restlessness, Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with Bupleurum Chai Hu and Licorice, powder and take 3 grams with hot water. (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
3. Tuberculosis, Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with Bupleurum and Licorice
4. Deficient Heat, Low-grade Fever after Febrile diseases:
i. Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with Soft-Shelled Turtle Shell (Bie Jia), Artemisia annua Qing Hao, Lycium Cortex Di Gu Pi (as in Large Gentian and Soft-Shelled Turtle Shell Powder [Qin Jiao Bie Jia San])
ii. Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with Soft-Shelled Turtle Shell (Bie Jia), Ginseng, Bupleurum Chai Hu (as in Qin Jiao Fu Lei Tang from Yang Shi Jia Cang Fang (Yang Family Depository of Formulas).
iii. Hectic Fever in children, Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with Licorice and Mint. (Li Shi Zhen)
5. Hemiplegia with tightness of the sinews, Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with Dang Gui, Paeonia Bai Shao, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong, Gastrodia Tian Ma (as in Major Large Gentian Decoction [Da Qin Jiao Tang]).
6. Childhood Malnutrition:
i. Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with Peppermint (Bo He) and Honey-fried Licorice (as in Qin Jiao San from Xiao Er Yao Zheng Zhi Jue [Key to the Therapeutics of Children’s Diseases]).
ii. with Wind-Damp arthralgia, Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with Lycium Cortex Di Gu Pi, Picrorrhiza Hu Huang Lian, Stellaria Yin Chai Hu.
7. Jaundice,:
i. Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with Scutellaria Huang Qin, Citrus Qing Pi
ii. Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with Artemisia Yin Chen Hao, Gardenia Zhi Zi, Rhubarb (Da Huang) (as in Shan Yin Chen Wan from Sheng Ji Zong Lu [Complete Record of Holy Benevolence]).
8. Constipation from dryness, Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with Cannabis seed (Huo Ma Ren)
9. Severe Diarrhea, Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with prepared Licorice (Zhi Gan Cao) (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
10. Threatened Miscarriage, Gentiana macrophylla Qin Jiao with prepared Licorice Zhi Gan Cao, fried Deer Horn Gelatin (Lu Jiao Jiao), Chinese Mugwort (Ai Ye) and Sticky Rice. (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
Major Formulas:
Da Qin Jiao Tang
Qin Jiao Tian Ma Tang
Qin Jiao San
Qin Jiao Bie Jia San
Cautions:
Not used in Spleen and Stomach deficiency with loose bowels.
Main Preparations used:
Not used in Spleen and Stomach deficiency with loose bowels.
Main Preparations used: