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Gleditsiae Spina

Gleditsia thorn

皂角刺 〔皂角刺〕 zào jiǎo cì

Alternate English names: Chinese honey locust thorn soap bean thorn

Alternate Chinese names: 皂刺 zào cì; 天丁 tiān dīng; 大角莿 dà jiǎo cì; 皂角针 zào jiǎo zhēn; 皂荚刺 zào jiá cì; 角刺 jiǎo cì; 角针 zào zhēn

Kingdom: Plant

Origin in PRC Pharmacopoeia: Gleditsia sinensis Lam. (PRC Pharmacopoeia)

Origin in unofficial sources: Gleditsia sinensis Lam.*; Gleditsia officinalis Hemsley

Use: Medicinal

Category: Phlegm-transforming cough-relieving panting-calming agents / Phlegm-transforming agents

Properties: Acrid; warm; nontoxic*.

Actions and indications: Tracks wind, draws out toxin, disperses swellings, and expels pus. Treats swollen welling-abscesses (yōng zhǒng) and sore-toxin; pestilential wind; lichen (xiǎn) and sores; retention of the placenta.

Dosage and method: Decoct (3–9g) or use in pills or powders. Topical: Decoct with vinegar; or grind and sprinkle on dry or mixed.

Quality: Slender finely cut twigs without bark and unbroken thorns are signs of good quality.

Production area: Shǎnxī (Shaanxi), Shāndōng, and Sìchuān.

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