Chi Xiao Dou (赤小豆) is the adzuki bean, a legume, recorded as Semen Phaseoli. It is sweet and sour in flavour and neutral in temperature, entering the Heart and Small Intestine channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that drain Dampness.

Pinyin

chi xiao dou

Chinese

赤小豆

Latin Name

Semen Phaseoli

English Name

Adzuki Bean·adzuki bean; rich bean; phaseolus·phaseolus·rich bean

Japanese

sekishozu

Korean

jeoksodu

Actions and indications

Promotes urination and reduces edema

Edema with a swollen, full abdomen and difficult urination
Ascites
Leg Qi with edema from water accumulation

Clears Damp-Heat and relieves jaundice

Jaundice of a mild, Damp-Heat type

Disperses Blood stasis, reduces swelling, resolves Fire toxicity and drains pus

Sores, carbuncles and furuncles (Chuang Yang), taken internally or applied as a paste of the powdered bean
Erysipelas and toxic swellings

Combinations

carp

Kidney Deficiency edema, taken as a soup

da zao

Edema from Deficiency, such as in malnutrition

gua di

Phlegm or Food Stagnation obstructing the chest and diaphragm

ma huang + lian qiao + sang bai pi

Mild Damp-Heat jaundice

dang gui

Damp-Heat Intestinal Wind (blood passed before the stool), abscesses of the Lung or Large Intestine, or bleeding hemorrhoids, by expelling pus, dispersing Blood and resolving toxicity; applied as a topical plaster for Chuang Yung (abscesses and similar)

jing jie sui

Itchy Wind rash and toxic swollen sores: clears Heat, promotes Blood flow, reduces rashes and relieves itching

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any

9-30 g

—

Cautions

caution Frequent or long-term use dries a person out, as it drains fluid strongly; use it for a presentation, not as a daily supplement

contraindication No signs of Damp: without excess fluid, it removes fluid the body needs

contraindication Yin deficiency, which a draining herb makes drier

pregnancy Overdose can cause miscarriage; in pregnancy, medicinal doses only under professional supervision (red beans eaten as food are not the concern)

caution Allergy has been recorded, with hives, itching, flushing, palpitations, nausea and vomiting

caution Edema, ascites and jaundice may point to disease of the heart, liver or kidneys, so swelling that persists or has no clear cause needs medical assessment

chi xiao dou

About chi xiao dou

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Promotes urination and reduces edema

Clears Damp-Heat and relieves jaundice

Disperses Blood stasis, reduces swelling, resolves Fire toxicity and drains pus

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions

About chi xiao dou

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Promotes urination and reduces edema

Clears Damp-Heat and relieves jaundice

Disperses Blood stasis, reduces swelling, resolves Fire toxicity and drains pus

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions

Related

Used in 1 formula