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Latin pharmacognostic name: Phragmitis Rhizoma

Alternate English names: reed [root] ditch reed [root]

Alternate Chinese names: 芦茅根 lú máo gēn; 苇根 wěi gēn; 芦菇根 lú gū gēn; 芦柴根 lú chái gēn; 芦通 lú tōng; 苇子根 wěi zǐ gēn; 芦芽根 lú máo gēn

Kingdom: Plant

Origin in PRC Pharmacopoeia: Phragmites communis Trin. (PRC Pharmacopoeia)

Origin (other sources): Phragmites communis Trin.

Use: Medicinal

Category: Heat-clearing agents / Heat-clearing fire-draining agents

Properties: Sweet; cold.

Channel entry: Lung and stomach channels.

Indications:

• Clears heat and engenders liquid: Damage to liquid in febrile disease, manifesting with heat vexation and thirst or a dry tongue with scant liquid; lung heat patterns of cough or pulmonary welling-abscess with ejection of pus.
• Eliminates vexation and checks vomiting: Retching or vomiting due to stomach heat.
• Additional actions: Lú gēn disinhibits urine and outthrusts papules.
• For short voidings of reddish urine or painful heat strangury (rè lìn), it is combined with Bái máo gēn (白茅根 Imperatae Rhizoma, imperata [rhizome]) and Chē qián zǐ (车前子 Plantaginis Semen, plantago seed). To treat inhibited eruption of measles papules, combine lú gēn with Chán tuì (蝉蜕 Cicadae Periostracum, cicada molting) and Bò hé (薄荷 Menthae Herba, mint).

Dosage & Method: Oral: 15–30g of the dried form, in decoctions. The dosage of the fresh form is 30–60g. Fresh lú gēn is better for clearing heat, engendering liquid, and disinhibiting urine; the dried form is inferior but is more readily available.

Warnings: Contraindicated in spleen-stomach vacuity cold.

Quality: Thick, tender, pale brown rhizomes with a sheen and without fine roots are the best.

Product Area: ānhuī, Jiāngxī, and Guǎngdōng.

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