gan song

Name: gan song
Creator: Bencao Index

干松·Rhizoma Nardostachydis Radis Seu

Nardostachys Root

About gan song

Gan Song (干松) is the root and rhizome of nardostachys, a plant of the valerian family, recorded as Rhizoma Nardostachydis. It is sweet and acrid in flavour, warm in temperature, and enters the Spleen and Stomach channels.

Names

Pinyin	gan song
Chinese	干松
Latin Name	Rhizoma Nardostachydis Radis Seu
English Name	Nardostachys Root
Japanese	kanshobo
Korean	kamsonghyang

Classification

Channels: Stomach, Spleen
Flavour: Acrid, Sweet
Temperature: Warm
Part used: Root
Family: Valerianaceae
Species: Nardostachys Chinensis
Tags: Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Moves Qi, awakens the Spleen, relieves stagnation, disperses Cold and stops pain

Distending pain of the epigastrium and abdomen, with poor appetite and a stuffy chest
Stagnant Qi of the chest and abdomen, with no appetite
Sluggish digestion from Damp, or linked to worry and rumination
Toothache

Combinations

mu xiang + sha ren + hou po
Stagnant Cold with anorexia and a painful, distended epigastrium and abdomen
chai hu + yu jin + bai dou kou
Overthinking and pensiveness damaging the Spleen and blocking Qi, with anorexia and a painful, distended epigastrium and abdomen
gan jiang + zhi fu zi + wu zhu yu + huang lian
Sudden turmoil disorder from true Cold that has become dangerous, with cramping that has moved into the abdomen; prepared as a wine with alcohol and ether
mu xiang + xiang yuan
Stagnant Qi in the abdomen and chest
sha ren + ding xiang + rou gui
Yang Deficiency and cold with Qi Stagnation
gao ben + he ye
Leg Qi, used externally as a wash; Kidney Deficiency toothache, used as a gargle

Dosage

Age	Raw	Granule	Tincture	Concentrate	Frequency
Any 2.5-6g; Tincture: 1-2ml; Essential oil: 1-2 drops in a gel capsule	2.5-6 g	—	1-2 ml	—	—

Cautions

contraindication Qi deficiency, since a moving herb depletes a patient further
contraindication Heat in the Blood, as the herb is warm
pregnancy Contraindicated in pregnancy; at the least, use only under a qualified practitioner
caution Mild toxicity that builds up with use: not to be taken continuously on its own
caution Yin deficiency or dryness: use sparingly, as with other warm aromatic herbs containing volatile oils
caution Check the identity of the supply: some jatamansi on the market is actually Valeriana jatamansi

Interactions

Drug interactions

Blood pressure and other cardiovascular medicines: may add to their effect; a small placebo-controlled trial saw blood pressure fall in stage 1 hypertension, some patients already on treatment. Patients should tell their prescriber before starting or stopping the herb