Glehnia, Bei Sha Shen 北沙参
Adenophora, Nan Sha Shen 南沙参
Botanical name:
There are two main varieties of Sha Shen:
1. Bei Sha Shen: Glehnia littoralis (Northern China)
2. Nan Sha Shen: Adenophora tetraphylla, A. stricta (Southern China)
The two roots are largely synonymous, and were only differentiated in the 17th century.
Parts used:
Root
Temperature & Taste:
Cool, moist. Sweet, slightly Bitter
Classifications:
Uses:
1. Nourishes Lung Yin, Clears Lung Heat:
-dry, non-productive Cough from Heat and Yin deficiency
-chronic Cough
-Hemoptysis, Consumption
-it has been used alone for Lung-heat Cough
-also used alone for weak pulse and cold limbs after Blood loss (Chengdu Chinese Herbal Medicine)
-“replenishes Lung Qi”. (Shen Nong Ben Cao)
-“good for treating prolonged coughing”. (Li Shi Zhen)
2. Nourishes Stomach Yin, Generates Fluids:
-dry mouth, thirst, irritability
-also for toothache caused by Stomach Fire from Yin deficiency
-“treats impediment in the Stomach, relieves epigastric and abdominal pain”. (Ming Yi Bie Lu)
3. Promotes Milk:
-cooked with Pork and the soup drunk, promotes breast Milk
4. Nourishes Yin, Settles Wind:
-“Relieves Convulsions” (Shen Nong Ben Cao)
-“good for relieving Headache and Vertigo” (Ming Yi Bie Lu)
-“stops convulsions and restlessness”. (Da Ming)
-“disperses invading pathogenic Wind on skin and muscle”. (Zhen Quan)
-“nourishes the Liver and disperses invading pathogenic Wind from the Five Viscera”. (Zhen Quan)
5. Clears Wind-Heat:
-“various kinds of malignant sores, tinea, scabies and bodily itching. It dispels pus, and eliminates pyogenic infection”. (Da Ming)
Dose:
Powder: 2–4 grams
Decoction: 4–9 grams
Glehnia vs Adenophora
1. Glehnia is generally regarded as stronger, and is more commonly used. If Sha Shen is written in a prescription without specifying a particular variety, Glehnia is generally prescribed.
2. Glehnia is heavier, richer, and better to nourish Yin, especially of the Stomach. Adenophora is better to clear heat and phlegm from the Lungs while still nourishing Lung Yin.
3. The two roots are often combined.
Substitutes:
“To treat a case of chronic Cold, Ginseng root should be used. To treat a case of prevalence of Heat, Glehnia Sha Shen should be given as a substitute for Ginseng” (Zhang Yuan Su)
Main Combinations:
1. To nourish Lung and Stomach Yin:
i. Glehnia Bei Sha Shen with Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong
ii. Glehnia Bei Sha Shen with Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong, Solomon’s Seal (Yu Zhu), Mulberry leaf (Sang Ye), Trichosanthes Tian Hua Fen, Licorice (as in Sha Shen Mai Dong Tang)
2. Dry Cough, Glehnia Bei Sha Shen with Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong, Almond (Xing Ren), Licorice
3. Qi and Yin deficiency following Fever, Glehnia Bei Sha Shen, Pseudostellaria Tai Zi Shen, Dioscorea Shan Yao
4. Hemoptysis with Lung Yin deficiency, Glehnia Bei Sha Shen with Anemarrhena Zhi Mu, Fritillaria Chuan Bei Mu
5. Stomach Yin deficiency with Heat, Glehnia Bei Sha Shen with Rehmannia Sheng Di Huang, Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong (as in Yi Wei Tang)
6. Heart and Lung Fire with Palpitations and shortness of Breath, Glehnia Bei Sha Shen with Aloeswood, Sandalwood, Safflower, Nutmeg, Tabasheer (as in Aloeswood Clear the Heart 8 Powder)
Major Formulas
Sha Shen Mai Dong Tang
Yi Guan Jian
Aloeswood Clear the Heart 8 Powder
Cautions:
1. Not used for Cold-type Cough
2. Use cautiously in cold and weak digestion
Drug Interactions:
1. Incompatible with Veratrum
Main Preparations used:
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