Phaseolus angularis, Chi Xiao Dou 赤小豆

Adzuki Bean

Botanical name:
Phaseolus angularis; also P. calcaratus

Parts used:
Seed (Bean)

Temperature & Taste:
Neutral. Sweet, Sour

Uses:
1. Clears Damp, Promotes Urine:
-Edema, abdominal swelling, fluid retention
-swollen, painful legs
-Urinary difficulty

2. Clears Damp-Heat:
-Jaundice (mild cases, or in cases with weakness)

3. Moves the Blood, Clears Toxin:
-Abscesses, Boils, Sores, Carbuncles, Furuncles (internally and topically)
-when abscesses or boils have ruptured, the powdered seed can be applied topically
-Itchy rashes (topically)
-Hemorrhoids

DOSE:
10–30 grams. Often cooked with Rice as a Congee.

Main Combinations:
1. Edema, fluid swelling:
i. cooked with Carp in China for Edema and swelling of the legs.
ii. cooked with Peanuts and Red Dates (Da Zao) for Edema from deficiency
iii. Adzuki bean, Corn (50 grams each), Rice (100 grams). Boil together to form a Congee
iv. traditionally cooked with Dang Gui to promote Urine and clear Heat (Jin Gui Yao Lue [Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Coffer]).
2. Toxic Sores, Sores with Pus, taken internally with Barley
3. Appendicular Abscess, with Coix Yi Yi Ren, Stephania Fang Ji and Licorice.
4. Bleeding Hemorrhoids, with Dang Gui as a topical plaster
5. Itchy rashes and swollen sores, with Schizonepetae Jing Jie

Cautions:
Large doses can induce miscarriage.

Main Preparations used: