Scrophularia, Figwort, Xuan Shen 玄参

Xuan Shen (Chinese Figwort)
Gyer shing pa  གཡེར་ཤིང་པ  (Tibetan)
Herbarum Vivae Eicones, Otto Brunfels, 1530

Flora von Deutschland (17), Kohler, 1884
Botanical name:
Scrophularia spp.
  1. S. nodosa (West)
  2. S. ningpoensis, S. buergeriana (TCM)
  3. S. incisa, S. ningpoensis, S. koelzii (Tibetan)

Parts used:
Root

Temperature & Taste:
Cold, dry (warm in the West). Bitter

Classifications:
2D ATTENUATERS OF CONGEALED BLOOD

Uses:
1. Clears Heat, Moves the Blood, Clears Stasis, Resolves Masses (TCM, West):
-Lymphatic Swellings, Scrofula, Lymphadenitis etc.

2. Clears Heat and Poison from the Blood (TCM, West):
-obstinate and chronic skin diseases including Eczema, Psoriasis, Leprosy, chronic itching

3. Clears Heat and Toxin, Benefits the Throat (TCM, West):
-heat and toxin type swellings of the throat including Tonsillitis.

4. Clears Deficient Heat, Benefits the Yin (TCM, West):
-chronic infections, chronic fevers, and the aftermath of various chronic diseases.

5. Moves the Blood, Promotes Menstruation (West):
-although infrequently used for this purpose, it has been found successful to relieve the pain of Menstruation if the decoction is taken freely.

6. Promotes Urine, Benefits the Kidneys (West):
-‘They exert an unusually excellent influence on the Kidneys, moderately promoting the flow of urine, relieving torpor, and imparting a soothed and toned impression to these organs’. (Cooks Dispenstaory)

7. Kills Worms (West).

8. Externally:
-externally (and internally) as a Wound herb; Wounds, Bruising, Hematomas, inflammations of the Breast etc.
-ointment may be used on all Swellings, Nodes, Scrophula, Ringworm, Gout, Eczema, Hemorrhoids etc.
-‘dries up the superfluous moisture of hollow and corroding ulcers’ (Culpeper)
-‘virulent Tumors that pit not, and to soften Malignant Tumors, as Scrophulas, &c.’ (Schroder)
-‘Its juice cleanses the most putrid Ulcers, even though carcinomatous [cancerous]’ (Medicina Britannica, Thomas Short, 1746)
-powdered root is sprinkled on moist Ulcers.
-distilled water is used for Pimples and Redness of the Face
-Earache, with Saltpeter (Bock)


NOTE:
The appearance, functions, uses and constituents of the Eastern and Western species of Scrophularia are similar enough to be considered synonymous. The Chinese Xuan Shen may be used in place of Western Figwort.

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Main Combinations:
1. Scrofula, Neck Swellings:
i. from Heat and Yin deficiency, Figwort with  ... available in PRO version
ii. from heat and toxin, Figwort with  ... available in PRO version
iii. from heat and toxin, Figwort with  ... available in PRO version
iv. from Heat, Figwort with  ... available in PRO version
v. Figwort with  ... available in PRO version
vi. Figwort with  ... available in PRO version
2. Chronic Sore Throat:
i. from Heat and Toxin, Figwort with  ... available in PRO version
ii. from Heat and Yin deficiency, Figwort with  ... available in PRO version
3. Erysipelas and Purpuric Rashes, Figwort with  ... available in PRO version
4. Scaly chronic skin conditions, Figwort with  ... available in PRO version
5. Hard Swellings, Figwort with  ... available in PRO version
6. Cancer, Figwort with  ... available in PRO version
7. Diabetes, Figwort with  ... available in PRO version
8. As a plaster for Tumors and Swellings, Figwort with  ... available in PRO version

Major Formulas:
Decoction of Figwort
Decoction for Cancer (Fuller)
Electuary of Figwort (Avicenna)

Bai He Gu Jin Tang
Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang
Tian Wan Bu Xin Wan


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Cautions:
Not used in Cold and Weak digestion

Main Preparations used:
Distilled Water of the root