About tian zhu huang

Tian Zhu Huang (天竹黄) is the siliceous concretion that forms in the joints of bamboo, recorded as Concretio Silicea Bambusae and known in English as tabasheer. It is sweet in flavour and cold in temperature, entering the Heart, Liver and Gallbladder channels. The catalogue files it among the substances that cool and transform Phlegm-Heat.

Pinyin

tian zhu huang

Chinese

天竹黄

Latin Name

Bambusae Concertio Silicea·Concretio Silicea Bambusae

English Name

Bamboo Sugar·bamboo sugar; tabasheer·tabasheer

Japanese

tenchikuo

Korean

cheonjukhwang

Actions and indications

Clears and transforms Phlegm-Heat

Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs, with sputum that will not come up easily
Cough with chest pain

Clears Heat, cools the Heart and settles convulsions

Convulsions and spasms, loss of speech or loss of consciousness from Phlegm-Heat
Wind-stroke where Phlegm blocks the throat and rattles
Convulsions and spasms in children from Phlegm-Heat, sometimes with wheezing
Of the bamboo medicinals, the one classically chosen for children, as it is gentler on digestion than bamboo sap

Combinations

zhi ban xia

Phlegm-Heat with cough, chest pain and sputum that is hard to bring up; Phlegm-Heat with spasms and convulsions; Damp-Heat retained internally, with deep-lying sputum hard to expectorate, nausea, a stifling chest and insomnia or disturbed sleep, by clearing Heat, drying Damp, dislodging Phlegm and calming the Spirit

dan nan xing

Phlegm-Heat obstructing the Lungs in children, with wheezing and febrile convulsions

jiang can

Wind, Heat and Phlegm causing unconsciousness, delirium and convulsions together with cough and laboured breathing, above all in children

jiang can + zhi zi + yu jin

A stronger remedy for unconsciousness, delirium and convulsions with cough and breathing difficulty from Wind, Heat and Phlegm, especially in children

shi chang pu + tian ma + quan xie + dan nan xing

Heat and Wind-Stroke with obstructing Phlegm, leading to coma

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any 3-10g; Taken Straight: 0.6-1.2g; Powder: 0.7-1g; Tincture: 1-3ml

3-10 g

—

1-3 ml

—

Cautions

caution Prolonged use can chill the Middle Jiao

contraindication Cold Phlegm or a Cold cough, with copious clear or white sputum that worsens with cold

caution Cold of the Spleen and Stomach with loose stools, although it is milder here than bamboo sap

paediatric A child having convulsions needs urgent medical assessment; the traditional indication does not replace emergency care