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Strychni Semen
Nux vomica
马钱子 〔馬錢子〕 mǎ qián zǐ
Alternate Chinese names: 番木鳖 fān mù biē; 番木虌 fān mù biē; 马前 mǎ qián; 牛银 niú yín; 苦实 kǔ shí; 苦实把豆儿 kǔ shí bǎ dòu ér
Kingdom: Plant
Origin in PRC Pharmacopoeia: Strychnos nux-vomica L.; Strychnos pierriana A.W. Hill. (PRC Pharmacopoeia)
Origin in unofficial sources: Strychnos nux-vomica L.*; Strychnos perriana A.W. Hill
Use: Medicinal
Category: External-use agents / Toxin-attacking, worm-killing, and itch-relieving agents
Properties: Bitter; cold; highly toxic. (Some sources add acrid.)
Channel entry: Liver and spleen channels.
Actions and indications:
- Attacks toxin and disperses binds and swelling: Painful swollen
welling- and flat-abscesses (yōng jū); injury from knocks and falls. - Quickens the blood, frees the network vessels, and relieves pain: Wind-damp impediment; hypertonicity, pain, numbness and tingling, or paralysis.
Dosage and method: Oral: 0.3–0.6g of the processed form is used, usually in powders or pills. It is often used externally.
Warnings: Mǎ qián zǐ is highly toxic and must be processed for internal use. It should not be used in excessive quantities and should not be used over a prolonged period of time. Mǎ qián zǐ is contraindicated in pregnancy and in weak health.
Product description: The dried ripe fruit is round and flat like a button, thicker at the edge, and often with a distinct depression in the middle of one side. It is 1–3 cm in diameter, and 3–6 mm thick. The external surface is brown or green-gray. It is densely covered with fine, silver gray, surface-running hairs that radiate from the center. In the middle of the under surface is a ridge line. This seed is hard and difficult to break. Inside is a slightly translucent pale endosperm. The longitudinal section shows a heart-shaped cotyledon. It has a bitter flavor, but care should be taken when tasting it, since it is highly toxic. It is usually prepared by frying in sesame seed oil and grinding to a powder.
Quality: Large, thick, hard seeds are the best.
Production area: India, Vietnam, Burma, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Yúnnán.
Etymology: The name mǎ qián zǐ 马钱子 literally means horse money seed.
The original name fān mù biē 番木鳖 means foreign momordica seed.