guan zhong

Name: guan zhong
Creator: Bencao Index

贯众·Rhizoma Cyrtomii

cyrtomii rhizoma

About guan zhong

Guan Zhong (贯众) is the rhizome of a holly fern, recorded as Rhizoma Cyrtomii. It enters the Liver, Lung and Large Intestine channels, and the catalogue files it among the herbs that kill parasites.

Names

Pinyin	guan zhong
Chinese	贯众
Latin Name	Rhizoma Cyrtomii
English Name	cyrtomii rhizoma·Cyrtomium
Japanese	kanju
Korean	gwanjung

Classification

Category: Kill Parasites
Channels: Lung, Large Intestine, Liver
Family: Dryopteridaceae
Species: Cyrtomium Fortunei
Tags: Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Kills parasites

Roundworm, tapeworm or hookworm (some sources add pinworm), usually combined with other anti-parasitic herbs for a stronger effect

Clears Heat and resolves toxicity

Epidemic febrile illness from warm toxin
Traditionally taken as a seasonal preventive during influenza and other epidemics, and in formulas to prevent mumps or measles

Cools the Blood and stops bleeding (charred, as Guan Zhong Tan)

Heat-type bleeding, chiefly from the uterus, but also nosebleeds and bloody stools

Cautions

caution Slightly toxic; for use under professional supervision
pregnancy Contraindicated in pregnancy; the herb has also been linked with stimulating the uterus
caution Weak or deficient patients
paediatric Use with caution in children
caution Existing ulceration of the stomach or intestines
caution Cold from deficiency, or Yin deficiency
caution Avoid fatty or oily food with it: dietary fat greatly increases how much of its toxic phloroglucinol compounds the gut absorbs
caution Stay within supervised dosing; long use can dull the sense of taste and the appetite and can affect the gums

Interactions

Drug interactions

Medicines that add to the liver's workload, or anything that increases fat absorption from the gut: caution is reasonable because fat raises uptake of its toxic compounds; an inference from its toxicology, not a demonstrated interaction