er cha

儿茶·Catechu

acaciae catechu

About er cha

Er Cha (儿茶) is catechu, an extract boiled from the heartwood of acacia, recorded under that name. It is bitter and astringent in flavour, slightly cold, and enters the Lung channel alone. The catalogue files it among the substances for external application.

Names

Pinyiner cha
Chinese儿茶
Latin NameCatechu
English Nameacaciae catechu·black cutch·black cutch; acaciae catechu; catechu; gambir·catechu·gambir
Japanesejicha
Koreanaseonyak

Classification

Category
External Application
Channels
Lung
Flavour
Bitter, Astringent
Temperature
Slightly Cold

Actions and indications

Drains Damp, absorbs pus and heals sores

  • Sores full of pus, chronic or non-healing sores, and syphilitic sores
  • Weeping, Damp skin lesions and eczema, applied to dry the discharge and help the wound close

Stops bleeding and generates flesh

  • Bleeding from wounds and cuts, dusted on as a powder to stop the bleeding and help tissue regrow
  • Internal bleeding such as nosebleed, coughing or vomiting of blood, blood in the stool and irregular uterine bleeding

Heals mouth sores and throat swelling

  • Canker sores and other mouth sores, gum disease and sore throat, applied topically, classically with Peng Sha (borax)

Clears Lung Heat, transforms Phlegm, generates Fluids and stops diarrhea

  • Cough from Lung Heat with thick or yellow sputum
  • Thirst from Summerheat
  • Bloody diarrhea, dysentery and chronic diarrhea, drawing on its astringency
  • These internal uses are now uncommon

Relieves food stagnation in children and aids digestion

  • Poor digestion and food stagnation in children

Combinations

Dosage

AgeRawGranuleTinctureConcentrateFrequency
Any 1-3g; Pills and Powders: 0.1-0.9g1-3 g————

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions