Xi Xin
Asarum heterotropoides Fr. Schmidt var. mandshuricum (Maxim.) Kitag.
☯ TCM Properties
Disperses Wind-Cold; Dispels Cold and Alleviates Pain; Unblocks the Nasal Passages; Warms the Lungs and Transforms Phlegm-Fluids
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Asarum heterotropoides var. mandshuricum (Manchurian wild ginger) is a small acaulescent perennial herb in the Aristolochiaceae family, native to northeastern China, Korea, and the Russian Far East. From a slender, branching, aromatic horizontal rhizome arise one to several long-petioled basal leaves with cordate to reniform blades 4-9 cm wide, dark green above and paler beneath, often mottled. The solitary, ground-level flowers are inconspicuous, bell-shaped, purplish-brown, with three reflexed, triangular calyx lobes; they are pollinated near the soil surface. The fruit is a fleshy capsule. The whole plant, especially the rhizome and roots, has a strongly pungent, camphoraceous aroma due to methyleugenol and safrole-related volatiles (POWO; Wikipedia).
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 3-9g | Daily | — | — | — |
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional Chinese Uses
Bi Cheng Qie (cubeb, Java pepper) is a warm, aromatic herb used in Chinese medicine primarily to warm the Stomach and move Qi stagnation in the digestive tract. It relieves stomach cold with pain, nausea, hiccup, and belching, and its warming, dispersing nature makes it helpful for the abdominal discomfort of cold and Qi stagnation. It is frequently found in compound digestive formulas that address cold-type stomach and intestinal complaints.
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.