Physalis, Winter Cherry

Alkekengi, Halicacabus, Cardispermum
Kaknaj, Habul Kaknaj (Unani)
New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563

Dioscorides Materia Medica, Ruellio, 1549
Kurtzes Handtbuchlein, Ryff, 1599
Flora von Deutschland (16), Kohler, 1884

Winter Cherry at the Urumqi Herbal Medicine Market, Xinjiang (Adam, 2017)
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Botanical name:
Physalis alkekengi
P. alkekengi var. francheti and P. pubescens of TCM are used similarly;
The related P. minima and P. minima var. indica are also used in Unani.

Parts used:
Fruit; herb and root less commonly

Temperature & Taste:
Cool, moist. Bitter, Sour

Classifications:
3E. DIURETIC.    3F. LITHONTRIPTIC.    3P. ANTHELMINTIC
4g. HEPATIC

Uses:
1. Clears Heat and Damp, Resolves Stones, Promotes Urine:
-Edema, Stopped, Difficult, Dribbling or Burning Urine.

2. Benefits the Kidneys:
-chronic Kidney weakness; Diabetes.
-Joint pain, Arthritis and Rheumatism.

3. Moves the Blood, Clears Stasis:
-traditionally for congealed Blood

4. Clears Heat, Stops Cough:
-heat-type Cough with yellow phlegm, and Sore Throat

5. Clears Heat of the Stomach and Liver:
-Liver debility and to correct Liver function (Unani)

6. Kills Worms:
-listed as Anthelmintic in older Herbals

7. Externally:
-fresh leaves applied to Inflammations, pemphigus and eczema. (TCM, Unani)
-paste of the berries resolve hard swellings and inflammations. (Unani)
-applied over Ulcers and Chronic Wounds.


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Main Combinations:
1. Heat-type Urinary diseases, Gravel, Stones, with Tragacanth, Frankincense, Pine nut, Bitter Almonds, Poppy seed, Cold Seeds, Amber (as in Troches of Winter Cherry)
2. Kidney Ulcers:
i. with Melon seed, Sorrel, Almond, Tragacanth, Celery seed, Fennel seed, Saffron (Unani)
ii. Tragacanth, Gum Arabic, Red Coral, Dragons Blood, Red Earth, Mastic, Melon seed, Marshmallow seed (as in Pills for Kidney and Bladder Ulcers)
3. Gout, with Willow bark, Horsechestnut bark, Walnut shell, Horsetail (Meyer)

Major Formulas:
Syrup of Chicory and Rhubarb (Nicholas)
Troches of Winter Cherry (Trochisci Alkekengi) (Mesue)
Troches of Winter Cherry (Unani)


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Cautions:
1. Not used during Pregnancy
2. Use cautiously in marked Spleen deficiency.
3. Large doses are Narcotic

Main Preparations used:
Troches of Winter Cherry