Aidus & E-Fong Herbal Solution
Herbal Medicine for Clearing Heat and Cooling Blood- Zi Cao
                 
                          
                                                   Zi Cao
                   
                                          Arnebia (or Lithosperm) Root
                                       Radix Arnebiae seu Lithos  permi

This herb is the root of the perennial herb, Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb. et Zucc., and Macrotomia euchroma
(Royle)pauls. (Family Boruginaceae), ndis produced mainly in the provinces of Liaoning, Hunan, Hebei, and Xinjiang C ygur
Autonomous Region. harvested in spring and autumn, dried in sunlight nd sliced after getting rid of stems and leaves.It is also
called Zi Cao Gen, Lao Zi Cao,Ruan Zi Cao, Yin Zi Cao, etc.
Properties: Being sweet and salty in flavour, cold in nature, it acts on the eart and liver channels. The herb is mainly effective
in the heart, liver and lood. Its sweet and cold properties clear away heat and moisturize dryness. The effects of the herb
include removing blood heat, promoting blood circulation, detoxicating tacilitating eruption and loosening the bowel. It is
indicated for the syndromes of maculus and eruption, measles with subcutaneous dark purple rashes, swollen throat,
suppurative infections on body surface, particularly for the patients who are complicated by constipation.
Effects: Removing heat from the blood, promoting blood circulation, detoxicating and facilitating eruption.
Indications:
1. For heat toxin dormant in the body, dark purple subcutaneous rash, it is used in combination with red peony root and cicada
slough, and the drugs for removing heat from blood and removing ecchymoses. If the erupting of skin rash is hindered
manifested as the rashes showing dark purple colour, it is then in combination with the herbs for promoting eruption, such as
Niu Bang Zi (arctium fruit) and Lian Qiao (forsythia fruit), known as Zicao Xiaodu Yin (Detoxicant Cold Decoction of
Arnebia).
2. For suppurative infections on body surface or scald and burns, it  is applied externally with the single herb prepared as
oleo-infusion, or used in combination with other hers for detoxicating and removing heat from the blood.
Dosage and Administration: 3~10g, quantum satis when applied externally. Precautions: It is contraindicated for the patients
with loose stool due to insufficiency of the spleen.
Modern Researches: The decoction of the herb possesses significant excitatory effect on the heart and inhibitory activity
against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and influenza virus. It can be used as a contraceptive on certain degree the
herb also possesses curative effects on the chorioepithelioma and malignant mole. (Aidus & E-fong Herbal Solution)