chi xiao dou

Name: chi xiao dou
Creator: Bencao Index

赤小豆·Semen Phaseoli

Adzuki Bean

About chi xiao dou

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.

Names

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

Classification

Category: Drain Dampness
Channels: Heart, Small Intestine
Flavour: Sweet, Sour
Temperature: Neutral
Part used: Bean
Family: Fabaceae
Species: Phaseolus Calcartus
Tags: Chinese Herbs, Common

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

Dosage

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

Interactions

Drug interactions

Prescribed diuretics: raise the combination with the prescriber, especially where fluid or electrolyte balance is already being managed (precautionary; no demonstrated interaction)

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