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Alternate English names: yanhusuo [root]

Alternate Chinese names: 延胡 yán hú; 元胡索 yuán hú suǒ; 元胡 yuán hú; 玄胡索 xuán hú xuǒ; 玄胡 xuán hú

Kingdom: Plant

Origin in PRC Pharmacopoeia: Corydalis yanhusuo W.T. Wang. (PRC Pharmacopoeia)

Origin in unofficial sources: Corydalis yanhusuo W.T. Wang*; Coydalis ambigua Cham. et Schlecht.; Coydalis ambigua Cham. et Schlecht. var. amurensis Maxim.; Corydalis hamosa Migo

Use: Medicinal

Properties: Acrid, bitter; warm.

Channel entry: Liver, heart, and spleen channels.

Actions and indications: Quickens the blood, moves qì, and relieves pain: Pain due to qì stagnation and blood stasis.

Dosage and method: Oral: 3‒10g in decoctions; when swallowed as a powder, each dose should be 1‒3g. The pain-relieving effect may be strengthened by stir-frying it with vinegar. This increases the solubility of the active analgesic constituents.

Warnings: Contraindicated in pregnancy.

Product description: This tuber is spheroid or ovate, sometimes single, sometimes attached to another. It is about 1.5‒2.5 cm in diameter and a yellowish brown in color. On one side, it has a depression where the base of the stalk was removed, and on the other, numerous tuberous protuberances. It is hard and breaks to reveal a smooth, granular fracture that is a greenish yellow in color. It is cut into thin transverse slices, which are then stir-fried until they turn dark brown, or mix-fried with vinegar or wine until light brown.

Quality: Firm large plump tubers that have finely wrinkled wax-yellow skin, and golden yellow interiors are the best.

Production area: Zhèjiāng, Tianjin, Hēilóngjiāng.

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