Lemna, Duckweed, Fu Ping 浮萍
Lens palustris, Lens lacustris, L. aquatica, Muscus palustris
Fu Ping (TCM)
Fu Ping (TCM)
Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491
Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578
Kreutterbuch, Matthiolus, 1586
4 different varieties of Duckweed (Lemna)
Lindman, Bilder ur Nordens Flora, vol. 2 (1922-1926)
Lindman, Bilder ur Nordens Flora, vol. 2 (1922-1926)
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Botanical name:
Lemna spp., including L. minor There are a number of types of Duckweed TCM uses the related Spirodela polyrrhiza and others, and in some parts, Lemna species (incl. L. minor) are used. Parts used: Dried herb Temperature & Taste: Cool, dry. Pungent |
L. minor
Flora von Deutschland, Kohler, 1886 |
Uses:
1. Clears Wind-Heat, Promotes Sweat:
-acute wind-heat cold / flu with fever, headache, body aches (TCM)
-acute Heat diseases and Fevers (Lonicerus)
-Rhinitis, Pharyngitis
2. Clears Heat, Promotes the Expression of Rashes
-promotes expression of Rashes such as Measles (Chinese Pharmacopoeia)
-wind-heat Itching
3. Clears Heat, Promotes Urine:
-Edema with Oliguria (Chinese Pharmacopoeia)
4. Externally:
-applied to hot inflammations and tumors (Lonicerus)
-'applied on acute gout and painful arthralgia'. (Avicenna)
-Boils, Carbuncles
-Nasal Polyps
-Acute Swellings, Erysipelas and Herpes (Avicenna)
-'when used with old olive oil, softens aud soothes the Nerves'. (Avicenna)
-as a palster, applied to Hernia (Avicenna)
-burned to drive away Mosquitoes. (Bensky)
DOSE:
It can be taken as a solo medicine to clear Heat and promote Sweat.
In Decoction: 3–9 grams
Of the Powder: 1–3 grams
NOTE:
1. This is an especially effective cooling herb to promote Sweating. Ancient TCM practitioners claimed it more effective than Ephedra Ma Huang to promote sweat.
2. Ashes contain iodine and bromine.
It can be taken as a solo medicine to clear Heat and promote Sweat.
In Decoction: 3–9 grams
Of the Powder: 1–3 grams
NOTE:
1. This is an especially effective cooling herb to promote Sweating. Ancient TCM practitioners claimed it more effective than Ephedra Ma Huang to promote sweat.
2. Ashes contain iodine and bromine.
Main Combinations:
1. Acute Wind-Heat cold or flu, combine with Peppermint (Bo He), Cicada slough (Chan Tui), Forsythia Lian Qiao
2. Beginning stages of Measles or other Eruptive Fevers, with Peppermint (Bo He), Burdock seed (Niu Bang Zi)
Cautions:
1. Not used in deficient conditions, especially with spontaneous sweating.
Main Preparations used:
Distilled Water
1. Not used in deficient conditions, especially with spontaneous sweating.
Main Preparations used:
Distilled Water