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Scrophularia [root]
玄参 〔玄參〕xuán shēn
Latin pharmacognostic name: Scrophulariae Radix
Alternate English names: Ningpo figwort [root]
Alternate Chinese names: 重台 chóng tái; 玄台 xuán tái; 咸 xián; 元参 yuán shēn; 黑参 hēi shēn
Kingdom: Plant
Origin in PRC Pharmacopoeia: Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl. (PRC Pharmacopoeia)
Origin (other sources): Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl.*; Scrophularia buergeriana Miq.
Use: Medicinal
Category: Heat-clearing agents / Heat-clearing blood-cooling agents
Properties: Bitter, sweet, salty; cold.
Channel entry: Lung, stomach, and kidney channels.
Indications:
- Clears heat and cools the blood: Warm evil entering the provisioning aspect; warm evil falling inward into the pericardium; maculopapular eruption due to warm toxin; constipation from damage to liquid.
- Drains fire and resolves toxin: Painful swollen throat, scrofula and phlegm nodes, toxin swelling of
sore s and welling-abscesses. - Enriches yīn and downbears fire: Various patterns of yīn vacuity with internal heat.
Dosage & Method: Oral: 10–15g in decoctions.
Warnings: Xuán shēn is cold and stagnating, so it should be used with care in spleen-stomach vacuity cold with reduced eating and sloppy stool. It is traditionally said to clash with lí lú (Veratri Nigri Radix et Rhizoma).
Product Description: This root is spindle-shaped and slightly fatter in the middle. It is about 10–14 cm long, and 2–2.5 cm thick. The exterior surface is brown and bears large wrinkles or folds, and lenticels in transverse configuration. The top bears the remains of stem base, is sometimes densely noded. This root is hard and does not break easily. It is processed by soaking in brine and steaming. It then is cut into slices, which are black, with light flecks. The black coloring is reflected in the Chinese name xuán shēn 玄参, which literally means black root.
Quality: Soft fat roots with fine skin and sweet flavor are the best.
Product Area: Zhèjiāng, ānhuī, Shāndōng, Héběi, Húběi, Jiāngxī, Shǎnxī (Shaanxi), Guìzhōu, Jílín, Sìchuān, and Korea.
Etymology: Xuán shēn 玄参, literally black root,
reflects the color of root. The Latin scrophularia reflects the fact that similar European species were also known to treat scrofula (from diminutive of the Latin scrofa, breeding sow).