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Toxicodendron, Gan Qi 干漆

Chinese Lacquer tree
Gan Qi (TCM)
Kämpher (Kaempfer), Amoenitatum exoticarum, (1712)
Botanical name:
Toxicodendron vernicifluum

Parts used:
Resin

Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Bitter, Pungent. Toxic

Classification:
K. Move the Blood

Uses:
1. Moves the Blood, Clears Stasis:
-Amenorrhea
-abdominal Masses from Blood stagnation
-Trauma, Lumbago
-considered effective for long-standing Blood stagnation
-Tumors, Cancer

2. Promotes Digestion:
-Cachexia or chronic weakness associated with poor digestion and blood stagnation
-Rickets, weakness or wasting in Children

3. Kills Worms:
-abdominal pain due to Worms


DOSE:
Only used in Pills or Powders.
60–100mg as a dose (Bensky)
2. 4–4. 5 grams (Chinese Pharmacopoeia)
The marked difference in dose is probably due to the low dose being unprepared, while the higher dose is for the burnt product.

PREPARATION:
It is prepared by breaking to pieces then burning until it withers and stops giving off dark fumes. (Chinese Pharmacopoeia)

SUBSTITUTE:
1. Lacca can be substituted as it has similar effects but is not toxic.

Main Combinations:
1. Amenorrhea with lower abdominal pain:
i. Toxicodendron Gan Qi (carbonised) with Peach kernel (Tao Ren), Costus (Mu Xiang), Dang Gui, Paeonia Chi Shao Yao, Cinnamon, Sal Ammoniac. Make pills and take with Ginger wine. (Sheng Hui)
ii. Toxicodendron Gan Qi (carbonised) with Rhubarb, Amber, Saltpeter, Corydalis Yan Hu Suo, Zedoary (E Zhu), Sal Ammoniac, Cinnamon. (Sheng Hui)
2. Chronic Blood Stagnation, Masses or Tumors, Toxicodendron Gan Qi (carbonised) with Rhubarb (Da Huang), Bitter Almond (Ku Xing Ren), Paeonia Bai Shao, Licorice (as in Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan)
3. Chronic Blood Stagnation with Deficiency:
i. Kidney weakness and Lumbago, Toxicodendron Gan Qi (carbonised) with Rehmannia Shu Di Huang, Paeonia Bai Shao, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi, Cornus Shan Zhu Yu, Lycium Gou Qi Zi (Goji) (as in Qi Wei Gan Qi San)
ii. Toxicodendron Gan Qi (carbonised) with Rhemannia Shu Di Huang, Cornus Shan Zhu Yu, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi, Achyranthes Niu Xi, Atractylodes Bai Zhu, Licorice (Gan Cao), Cinnamon, Dodder seed (Tu Si Zi), Velvet Deer Horn (Lu Rong) (as in Gan Qi Wan from Sheng Hui)
4. Abdominal masses from Qi and Blood stagnation:
i. Toxicodendron Gan Qi (carbonised), with Croton seed (prepared), Cyperus rotundus, Safflower, Rhubarb (vinegar-prepared), Costus (Mu Xiang), Curcuma Yu Jin, Sal Ammoniac (as in Fu Ke Tong Jing Pills)
ii. Toxicodendron Gan Qi (carbonised) with Rhubarb (Da Huang), Borax (Peng Sha), Toxicodendron resin Gan Qi, Croton Ba Dou. (as in San Leng Wan from Yi Xue Qie Wen [Pulse-taking and Interrogation on Medical Science]).
5. Cold Joint Pain from Kidney Yang deficiency with Blood stagnation, Toxicodendron Gan Qi (carbonised) with Velvet Deer Horn (Lu Rong), Rehmannia Shu Di Huang, Aconitum Fu Zi, made into Pills (as in Gan Qi Wan from Ji Feng)
6. Blood stasis in the Bladder Toxicodendron Gan Qi (carbonised) with Safflower (Hong Hua), Peach kernel (Tao Ren), Rhubarb (Da Huang)
7. Rickets, Wasting in Children, cook rice with Coptis Huang Lian and Citrus Chen Pi, add a little Toxicodendron Gan Qi (carbonised) powder.
8. Cancer, Toxicodendron Gan Qi (carbonised) with Citrus Zhi Ke, Agrimony (Xian He Cao), Strychnos Ma Qian Zi (Nux Vomica), Alum (Bai Fan), Niter (Xiao Shi) (as in Ping Xiao Dan)
9. Chronic Dysentery, Toxicodendron Gan Qi (carbonised) with Arsenic, Cinnabar, Musk, defatted Croton seed (Sheng Hui)

Major Formulas:
Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan
Ping Xiao Dan

Cautions:
1. Not used during Pregnancy
2. Not used in Debility without Blood Stasis

Main Preparations used: