san leng

三棱·Rhizoma Sparganii

common burr reed tuber

About san leng

San Leng (三棱) is the rhizome of burr reed, recorded as Rhizoma Sparganii. It is bitter and acrid in flavour and neutral in temperature, entering the Liver and Spleen channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that invigorate the Blood.

Names

Pinyinsan leng
Chinese三棱
Latin NameRhizoma Sparganii
English Namecommon burr reed tuber·common burr reed tuber; sparganium·Sparganium
Japanesesanryo
Koreansamreung

Classification

Channels
Spleen, Liver
Flavour
Acrid, Bitter
Temperature
Neutral
Family
Sparganiaceae
Species
Sparganium Stoloniferum
Tags
Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Forcefully breaks up Blood stasis, moves Qi and relieves pain

  • Severe, stubborn Blood stasis with abdominal masses that can be felt
  • Amenorrhea, painful periods or abdominal pain after childbirth, from Blood stasis

Dissolves accumulations

  • Stagnant food and Qi causing severe abdominal pain and distension

Regulates menstruation

  • Irregular periods

Promotes lactation

  • Absent breast milk

Combinations

Dosage

AgeRawGranuleTinctureConcentrateFrequency
Any 3-10g; Tincture: 2-4ml3-10 g2-4 ml

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions

Prepared forms (1)

san leng Cu Zhi

三棱·Rhizoma Sparganii

San Leng (Cu Zhi) (三棱) is san leng processed with vinegar, the rhizome of sparganium, recorded as Rhizoma Sparganii. No category, channels or actions are recorded for it.

The catalogue records no separate actions, dose or cautions for this preparation. Unless noted above it follows san leng.