Medicinals

bí qí / 荸荠 / 荸薺 / water chestnut[1]

Latin pharmacognostic name: Heleocharitis Cormus

Alternate English names:

Alternate Chinese names: 马蹄 mǎ tí; 葧脐 bó qí; 马荠 mǎ qí; 通天草 tōng tiān cǎo; 鸟芋 niǎo yù; 尾梨 wěi lí; 红慈菇 hóng cí gū

Origin: Plant

Use: alimentary

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

Properties: Sweet; cold; nontoxic*.

Channel entry: lung, stomach, and large intestine channels.

Indications:

  • Transforms phlegm and disperses accumulation: Phlegm-heat cough; yīn vacuity lung dryness; scrofula and phlegm nodes.
  • Clears heat and engenders liquid: vexation and thirst in febrile disease; intestinal dryness constipation.
  • Brighten the eyes and abates screens: Painful red swollen eyes; eye screens.

    Dosage & Method:

    Oral: Decoct (30–90g) or grind to a powder and decoct. The fresh product can be crushed to obtain the juice (30–60g). The dried or fresh product can be used topically on as an eye dab.

    Warning:

    Use with care in vacuity cold and in blood vacuity.

    Product Area:

    Most parts of China.

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