About zhi cao wu

Zhi Cao Wu (制草乌) is the root of wild aconite after processing, recorded as Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii Praeparata. It is acrid and bitter in flavour and hot in temperature, entering the Liver, Spleen and Kidney channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that warm the Interior and expel Cold, and marks it toxic.

Pinyin

zhi cao wu

Chinese

制草乌

Latin Name

Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffi Preparata·Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii Praeparata

English Name

prepared kusnezoff monkshood root·Processed Wild Aconite Root

Japanese

seisowu

Korean

jechoo

Actions and indications

Disperses Cold, expels Wind, overcomes Damp and stops pain

Chronic Wind-Cold-Damp Bi with fixed, severe, cold pain in the joints and limbs
Cold pain of the abdomen, Cold hernia (Shan) pain, and pain of a Cold nature after traumatic injury
Cold-Damp aches, numbness and swelling, treated externally; it is used mainly topically

Reduces swelling and treats abscesses and lesions

Yin-type sores
Stubborn sores that will not come to a head
Ulcerated sores that fail to heal

Combinations

sheng nan xing + gan jiang + chi shao + bai zhi + rou gui

Cold-Damp painful obstruction, applied warm as an alcohol-based liniment

sheng chuan wu + di long + bai jiang can + bai lian

Chilblains, applied topically as a paste

zhi chuan wu + di long + ru xiang + mo yao

Cold-Damp or Blood Stagnation with muscle pain and spasm and restricted movement

wu ling zhi

Wind-Damp causing atrophy

chi shi zhi

Excess Cold with cold and pain in the chest and abdomen and shortness of breath

zhi fu zi + chuan jiao + gan jiang + chi shi zhi

Angina. Intense chest pain that radiates through to the back

feng mi

Hernia due to Cold.

ma qian zi

Bi syndrome, applied topically in ointments or plasters

dan nan xing + zhi ban xia + lang du

Cellulitis with hard swelling.

zhi tian nan xing + chuan bei mu + tian hua fen

Abscesses and ulcerations, mixed with vinegar and applied topically

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any 1.5-8g; Tincture: 0.5-2ml

1.5-8 g

—

0.5-2 ml

—

Cautions

pregnancy Contraindicated in pregnancy

contraindication Yin deficiency, including Heat from Yin deficiency

contraindication False Cold patterns

caution The root must be processed; fresh or raw root is never used

caution Combine with herbs such as Gan Cao or Sheng Jiang to lessen its toxicity

caution Extremely toxic, more so than Chuan Wu: only the processed root, in small amounts, cooked first and for a long time, and only under qualified professional supervision

caution Do not take with alcohol, which increases absorption of its alkaloids and so its toxicity

Interactions

Incompatible with

bai ji One of the Eighteen Incompatibles: do not combine with Bai Ji (Bletilla)
bai lian One of the Eighteen Incompatibles: do not combine with Bai Lian (Ampelopsis)
chuan bei mu One of the Eighteen Incompatibles: do not combine with Chuan Bei Mu (Fritillaria)
gua lou One of the Eighteen Incompatibles: keep apart from Gua Lou (Trichosanthes fruit)
zhe bei mu One of the Eighteen Incompatibles: do not combine with Zhe Bei Mu (Fritillaria)
zhi ban xia One of the Eighteen Incompatibles: keep apart from Zhi Ban Xia (prepared Pinellia)

Drug interactions

Antiarrhythmic medicines (quinidine, procainamide, disopyramide, flecainide, propafenone, amiodarone), or any history of heart disease: take only with extreme caution
Cardiac glycosides and other drugs acting on the heart: its cardioactive alkaloids and narrow safety margin make added risk plausible

zhi cao wu

About zhi cao wu

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Disperses Cold, expels Wind, overcomes Damp and stops pain

Reduces swelling and treats abscesses and lesions

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions

Interactions

Incompatible with

Drug interactions

About zhi cao wu

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Disperses Cold, expels Wind, overcomes Damp and stops pain

Reduces swelling and treats abscesses and lesions

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions

Interactions

Incompatible with

Drug interactions

Related

Used in 1 formula