Wiseman’s Chinese Medical Database

lǜ dòu / 绿豆 / 綠豆 / mung bean;

Latin pharmacognostic name: Phaseoli Radiati Semen

Alternate English names: green gram

Alternate Chinese names: 青小豆 qīng xiǎo dòu

Origin: Plant

Use: medicinal and alimentary

Category: Heat-clearing agents / Heat-clearing toxin-resolving agents

Properties: Sweet; cold.

Channel entry: heart, stomach channels.

Indications:

• Clears heat and resolves toxin: Toxin swelling of welling-abscesses and sores.
• Disperses summerheat: Summerheat-heat with vexation and thirst.
• Resolves the toxin of medicinals: Poisoning by bā dòu (巴豆 Crotonis Fructus, croton [fruit];), fù zǐ (附子 Aconiti Radix Lateralis Praeparata, aconite [accessory root]), or other medicinals.

Dosage & Method:

Oral: 15–30g in decoctions. The ground seeds can also be soaked in water and strained as mentioned above. Lǜ dòu may be used topically as well.

Warning:

Contraindicated in spleen-stomach vacuity cold diarrhea.

Product Area:

Widely cultivated.