Medicinals

bǔ gǔ zhī / 补骨脂 / 補骨脂 / psoralea [fruit];

Latin pharmacognostic name: Psoraleae Fructus

Alternate English names: scurfy pea [fruit]

Alternate Chinese names: 故纸 gù zhǐ; 破固脂 pò gù zhī; 破骨纸 pò gǔ zhǐ; 破故纸 pò gù zhǐ.

Origin: Plant

Use: medicinal and alimentary

Category: Supplementing agents / Yáng-supplementing agents

Properties: Acrid, sweet; warm.

Channel entry: spleen and kidney channels.

Indications:

Dosage & Method:

Oral: 6–15g in decoctions, pills, or powders. It may also be applied topically.

Warning:

Bǔ gǔ zhī is warm and dry; it can potentially damage yīn and foster fire. It is Unsuitable for patients with yīn vacuity with effulgent fire or with constipation.

Product Description:

This seed is elliptical or kidney-shaped, 3–5 mm long, 2–4 mm in diameter, and about 1.5 mm thick, with a depression in the center. The exterior surface is blackish brown and bears fine reticular wrinkles and dense glandular points. A small proportion of fruits have a persistent calyx on the outside. The exocarp is thin, and difficult to separate from the seed coat. Inside are two seeds, each with two cotyledons, which are oily and light brown or yellow. This seed has no smell.

Quality:

Large, clean, hard, full, black fruits are the best.

Product Area:

Sìchuān, Hénán, Shǎnxī (Shaanxi), and ānhuī.

Etymology:

补骨脂 (bǔ gǔ zhī), literally ""bone-supplementing fat,"" hints at the kidney-supplementing action.

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