Pueraria, Ge Gen 葛根
Kudzu root
Ge Gen (TCM)
Ge Gen (TCM)
Gartenflora [E. von Regel], vol. 45 (1896)
Botanical name:
Pueraria montana (syn. P. lobata)
P. lobata subsp. chinensis (syn. P. thomsonii)
P. hirsuta
Parts used:
Root
Temperature & Taste:
Cool, dry. Sweet, Pungent
Classifications:
A. Clear Exterior Wind-Heat
Pueraria montana (syn. P. lobata)
P. lobata subsp. chinensis (syn. P. thomsonii)
P. hirsuta
Parts used:
Root
Temperature & Taste:
Cool, dry. Sweet, Pungent
Classifications:
A. Clear Exterior Wind-Heat
Uses:
1. Clears Wind-Heat, Clears the Exterior:
-Fever, Cold and Flu
-promotes expression of rashes in measles and other spotted fevers
2. Clears Heat, Settles Wind:
-stiffness in the neck and upper back
-Hypertension with the associated Headache, Dizziness, Tinnitus
-Palpitation
3. Nourishes Fluids, Stops Thirst:
-Thirst due to Heat or Fever
-adjunct in Diabetes
4. Clears Damp–Heat, Stops Diarrhea:
-Diarrhea or Dysentery due to Heat
-acute Gastroenteritis
5. Cosmetic:
-root extract is used in moisturizing, skin-lightening, sun-screen and hair-growth promoting formula
DOSE:
6–18 grams in decoction
COMMENT:
1. Pueraria tuberosa (Vidari) is a related species used in Ayurveda. P. lobata (Ge Gen) is considered a variety of Vidari in Ayurveda (Khare). We have separated them due to their different uses, however, they may be fairly synonymous.
6–18 grams in decoction
COMMENT:
1. Pueraria tuberosa (Vidari) is a related species used in Ayurveda. P. lobata (Ge Gen) is considered a variety of Vidari in Ayurveda (Khare). We have separated them due to their different uses, however, they may be fairly synonymous.
Main Combinations:
1. External Wind-Heat:
-Pueraria Ge Gen with Bupleurum Chai Hu, Scutellaria Huang Qin
2. External Wind-Cold:
-Pueraria Ge Gen with Ephedra Ma Huang, Cinnamon twig Gui Zhi, Paeonia Bai Shao
3. Early stages of Measles before the rash appears, to promote the rash:
i. Pueraria Ge Gen with Cimicifuga Sheng Ma, Peppermint (Bo He)
ii. Pueraria Ge Gen with Cicada shell (Chan Tui), Burdock seed (Niu Bang Zi)
4. Thirst from Stomach Heat or Wasting and Thirsting disorder:
-Pueraria Ge Gen with Trichosanthes root (Tian Hua Fen), Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong
5. Diarrhea and Dysentery from Damp-Heat, Pueraria Ge Gen with Scutellaria Huang Qin, Coptis Huang Lian
6. Diarrhea from Spleen deficiency (poor appetite, weakness), Pueraria Ge Gen with Atractylodes Bai Zhu, Poria Fu Ling
7. Diabetes, Pueraria Ge Gen with Pseudostellaria Tai Zi Shen, Trichosanthes root Tian Hua Fen, Chicken Gizzard skin (Ji Nei Jin)
8. Thrombosis, Pueraria Ge Gen with Notoginseng San Qi, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong, Astragalus Huang Qi, Paeonia Bai Shao, Salvia Dan Shen
9. Hangover:
i. Pueraria Ge Gen with Chrysanthemum Ju Hua
ii. Pueraria Ge Gen with Hyacinth bean (Bai Bian Dou), Amomum rotundus Bai Dou Kou
Major Formulas:
Ge Gen Tang
Ge Gen Huang Lian Huang Qin Tang
Ge Gen Jia Ban Xia Tang
Ge Gen Qin Lian Tang
Gui Zhi Jia Ge Gen Tang
Sheng Ma Ge Gen Tang
Po Chai Pill
Cautions:
1. Overdose may cause arrhythmia
2. According to traditional sources, Apricot kernel / Almond kernel (Xing Ren) antagonizes Ge Gen.
Main Preparations used:
1. Overdose may cause arrhythmia
2. According to traditional sources, Apricot kernel / Almond kernel (Xing Ren) antagonizes Ge Gen.
Main Preparations used: