tong cao

通草·Medulla Tetrapanacis

Rice Paper Plant Pith

About tong cao

Tong Cao (通草) is the pith of the rice paper plant, recorded as Medulla Tetrapanacis. It is sweet and bland in flavour, slightly cold, and enters the Lung and Stomach channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that drain Dampness.

Names

Pinyintong cao
Chinese通草
Latin NameMedulla Tetrapanacis
English NameRice Paper Plant Pith·rice paper plant pith; tetrapanax·tetrapanax
Japanesetsuso·tuuso
Koreantongcho

Classification

Channels
Lung, Stomach
Flavour
Sweet, Bland
Temperature
Slightly Cold
Part used
Pith
Family
Araliaceae
Species
Tetrapanax papyferus
Tags
Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Promotes urination, drains Damp and clears Heat

  • Damp-Warm febrile disease
  • Painful urinary dysfunction from Damp-Heat
  • Damp-Heat in the Lower Jiao with edema and scanty, dark or painful urination
  • Mild Lin patterns
  • Mostly given in a supporting role

Clears Heat through the Lungs and opens the water passages

  • Fluids failing to descend along the upper water pathway

Promotes lactation

  • Scanty or absent breast milk, classically combined with herbs that support Qi and Blood

Combinations

Dosage

AgeRawGranuleTinctureConcentrateFrequency
Any 2-10g; To promote lactation: 15-18g; Tincture: 1-3ml2-10 g1-3 ml

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions