This product is the dried rhizome of the Asteraceae plant 茅苍术 Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC. or 北苍术 Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz. Harvested in spring and autumn, the rhizomes are cleaned of soil, dried, and the fibrous roots are removed.
Properties
Taste: pungent, bitter; Nature: warm.
1. “The Essence of Materia Medica” states: “The flavor is pungent and intense.”
2. “Pearl Bag” states: “Sweet and pungent.”
3. “Crystal Essentials” states: “Bitter and sweet in taste, warm in nature, non-toxic.”
Meridians
Enters the Spleen, Stomach, and Liver meridians.
1. “Pearl Bag” states: “Enters the Foot Yangming and Taiyin meridians.”
2. “Compendium of Materia Medica” states: “Enters the Foot Taiyin, Yangming, Hand Taiyin, and Taiyang meridians.”
3. “New Compilation of Materia Medica” states: “Enters the Foot Yangming and Taiyang meridians.”
4. “Revised Materia Medica” states: “Enters the Spleen and Liver meridians.”
Efficacy
Dries dampness, strengthens the Spleen, dispels wind and cold, and brightens the eyes.
1. Tao Hongjing: “Eliminates evil qi.”
2. Liu Wansu: “Brightens the eyes and warms the water organs.”
3. “Pearl Bag” states: “Can strengthen the stomach and calm the Spleen; it cannot eliminate all dampness and swelling without this herb.”
4. Li Gao: “Eliminates dampness and induces sweating, strengthens the stomach and calms the Spleen; it is a key herb for treating atrophy.”
5. Zhu Zhenheng: “Dispels wind, benefits qi, and resolves all stagnation.”
6. “Compendium of Materia Medica” states: “Treats damp phlegm retention, or when accompanied by blood stasis forming cysts, and Spleen dampness leading to downward flow, turbid discharge, and diarrhea from intestinal wind.”
7. “Yuqiu Materia Medica” states: “Dries the earth, benefits water, eliminates phlegm, promotes blood circulation, opens stagnation, removes leakage, transforms skin diseases, eliminates cysts, regulates acid reflux, and clears turbid urination.”
8. “Materia Medica Inquiry” states: “Stops water retention, treats food stagnation and summer heat diarrhea, and Spleen dampness with blood.”
Indications
Used for damp obstruction in the middle Jiao, abdominal distension, diarrhea, edema, beriberi, wind-damp pain, wind-cold common cold, night blindness, and blurred vision.
Related Compatibility
1. For Spleen and Stomach disharmony, loss of appetite, stabbing pain in the abdomen and sides, bitter mouth with no taste, nausea and vomiting, and frequent diarrhea: Atractylodes (remove rough skin, soak in rice wash for two days) 5 jin, Magnolia Bark (remove rough skin, process with ginger juice, stir-fry until fragrant), Dried Tangerine Peel (remove white) each 3 jin 2 liang, Licorice (stir-fried) 30 liang. Grind into a fine powder. Take 2 qian with one cup of water, add two slices of fresh ginger and two dried dates, decoct until reduced to 70%, remove ginger and dates, take warm before meals; adding a pinch of salt and taking with boiling soup is also acceptable. (“Jufang” Pingwei Powder)
2. For Taiyin Spleen meridian dampness, water retention, slight heaviness and fullness, weakness and lack of strength, loss of appetite, and severe diarrhea: Atractylodes 2 liang, Peony 1 liang, Huangqin 0.5 liang. Grind together, take 1 liang, add a pinch of light-flavored cinnamon, 1.5 cups of water, decoct until reduced to 1 cup, take warm. (“Suwen Disease Mechanism and Life Preservation Collection” Atractylodes and Peony Decoction)
3. For summer heat diarrhea, strengthening the Spleen and warming the Stomach, promoting appetite, and treating food injury with chest fullness: Fermented Wheat (stir-fried), Atractylodes (soaked in rice wash overnight, dried) each equal parts ground into powder. Form into pills the size of a Chinese parasol seed. Take 30 pills, no time restriction, swallow with rice drink. (“Jufang” Quzhuyuan)
4. For diarrhea: Atractylodes 2 liang, Small Pepper 1 liang (remove seeds, stir-fry). Grind into a very fine powder, form into pills the size of a Chinese parasol seed. Take 20 pills, or 30 pills, with warm water before meals. For those with chronic dysentery that does not heal, add cinnamon. (“Suwen Disease Mechanism and Life Preservation Collection” Jiao Atractylodes Pills)
5. For water retention in the stomach, already formed cysts: Atractylodes 1 jin, remove skin, cut, grind, use half a liang of fresh sesame oil, 2 cups of water, grind and filter to extract juice, 15 dried dates, remove skin and pits, grind, mix with sesame juice to form a thin paste, and roll into pills the size of a Chinese parasol seed, dry. Take 50 pills with salt water on an empty stomach, increasing to 100 or 200 pills. Avoid peaches, plums, and pigeon meat. (“Ben Shih Fang”)
6. For Spleen meridian dampness, reduced appetite, damp swelling, weakness in the limbs, food injury, excessive alcohol consumption, and labor injury: Fresh Atractylodes 20 jin, soak to remove rough skin, wash clean and dry, chop finely, soak in rice wash overnight, wash clean, use 1 load of creek water, place in a large pot, simmer over low heat until half dry, remove dregs, then add 3 jin of stone heather leaves, brush off the red skin, add 1 jin of Chinese parasol seeds, 0.5 jin of Chinese Angelica, 4 liang of Licorice, chop and grind, decoct until yellow, filter through hemp cloth to remove dregs, then decoct until it becomes a thin porridge, finally add 3 jin of good white honey, and decoct into a paste. Each time take 3-5 qian on an empty stomach, far from food, with good wine, or if there is swelling, use white soup, and for vomiting, use ginger soup. (“Huo Ren Xin Tong” Atractylodes Paste)
7. For damp-heat with excessive sweating: Anemarrhena 6 liang, Licorice (stir-fried) 2 liang, Gypsum 1 jin, Atractylodes 3 liang, Japonica Rice 3 liang. Grind into powder the size of a soybean. Each time take 5 qian, with 1.5 cups of water, decoct until 8-9 parts remain, remove dregs to obtain 6 parts of clear juice, take warm. (“Classified Evidence of Living Books” Baihu Plus Atractylodes Decoction)
8. For seasonal epidemics, headache and neck stiffness, fever with chills, body aches, and for colds, nasal congestion, heavy voice, cough, and dizziness: Atractylodes (soaked in rice wash overnight, cut, and dried) 5 liang, Angelica (remove soil), Fragrant White Atractylodes, Asarum (remove leaves and soil), Qiang Huo (remove reed), Chuanxiong, Licorice (stir-fried) each 1 liang. Grind into fine powder. Each time take 3 qian, with 1 cup of water, 3 slices of fresh ginger, and 3 inches of green onion, decoct until 7 parts remain, take warm, no time restriction. If feeling cold and nasal congestion, just use green onion tea to take. (“Jufang” Shenju Powder)
9. For colds: Atractylodes 1 liang, Asarum 2 qian, Platycladus orientalis leaves 3 qian. Grind into fine powder, take four times a day, each time 1 qian 5 fen, dissolve in boiling water, using green onion as a guide, eat raw. (Inner Mongolia “New Medical Methods of Chinese Herbal Medicine”)
10. For body pain due to dampness: Atractylodes, soaked in rice wash, cut, and decoct, take the concentrated juice to make a paste, take with white soup. (“Simple and Convenient Prescriptions”)
11. For muscle and joint pain due to damp-heat: Huangbai (stir-fried), Atractylodes (stir-fried in rice wash). Grind these two herbs into powder, take with boiling water mixed with ginger juice. Both herbs have strong energy; for those with solid qi, add a little wine. (“Danxi Heart Method” Two Wonderful Powders, also known as “Shiyi Medical Efficacy Powder” Atractylodes Powder)
12. To nourish deficiency, brighten the eyes, strengthen bones, and harmonize blood: Atractylodes (soaked in rice wash) 4 liang, cooked Rehmannia (baked) 2 liang. Grind into powder, form into pills the size of a Chinese parasol seed. Each time take 30-50 pills with warm wine, three times a day. (“Pujifang”)
13. For gum swelling due to wind: Large Atractylodes, cut into two pieces, make a hole in the middle, fill with salt, wrap in wet paper, burn until charred, grind finely, use this to rub, it will eliminate wind and phlegm. Rinse mouth with salt water. (“Pujifang” Atractylodes Powder)
14. To control malaria symptoms or for prevention: Atractylodes, White Atractylodes, Chuanxiong, and Cinnamon each equal parts ground into powder, use 1 gram, wrap in four layers of gauze into a long shape, insert into the nostrils 1-2 hours before a malaria attack, for 5 hours or 1 day. (“Shanxi Chinese Herbal Medicine”)
15. For treating Spleen deficiency with damp accumulation, phlegm retention, diarrhea, or external edema: Use with Poria, Alisma, and Polyporus for diuretic and damp-draining effects. (“Zheng Zhi Zhun Sheng”)
16. For dispelling dampness and treating damp-heat bi syndrome: Can be used with Job’s Tears and Angelica for wind-damp dispelling effects. (“Classified Evidence of Treatment”)
17. For treating wind-cold exterior syndrome with dampness: Often used with Qiang Huo, White Atractylodes, and Fang Feng. (“Harmonizing Formulas”)
Dosage
Decocted, 3-9 grams.
Contraindications
Contraindicated for those with Yin deficiency and internal heat, and those with Qi deficiency and excessive sweating.
1. “Compendium of Materia Medica” states: “Fang Feng and Dihuang are used as guides.”
2. “Pharmacological Properties” states: “Avoid peaches, plums, pigeon meat, mustard greens, and blue fish.”
3. “Introduction to Medicine” states: “Use cautiously for those with blood deficiency and weakness, and those with emotional distress and Qi stagnation. Misuse can deplete Qi and blood, dry body fluids, and aggravate internal heat and fullness.”
4. “Compendium of Materia Medica” states: “For diseases belonging to Yin deficiency, blood deficiency, insufficient essence, internal heat, bone steaming, dry mouth and lips, cough with phlegm, vomiting blood, nosebleeds, throat obstruction, constipation, and stagnation, it is best to avoid this herb. Do not use for those with liver and kidney Qi movement issues.”
5. “Pharmacological Properties” states: “Internal heat and Yin deficiency, with exterior sweating, are contraindicated.”
Preparation Methods
1. Atractylodes: Remove impurities, wash clean, soak thoroughly, cut into thick slices, and dry.
2. Wheat-fried Atractylodes: Take Atractylodes slices, fry according to wheat-frying method until the surface is deep yellow.
Physiological Characteristics
1. 茅苍术: Irregularly bead-like or nodular cylindrical shape, slightly curved, occasionally branched, 3-10 cm long, 1-5 cm in diameter. Surface is gray-brown, with wrinkles, transverse grooves, and residual fibrous roots, with the tip having stem scars or residual stem bases. The texture is solid, with a yellow-white or gray-white cross-section, scattered with numerous orange-yellow or brown-red oil chambers, which can yield white needle-like crystals when exposed for a while. The aroma is unique, with a slightly sweet, pungent, and bitter taste.
2. 北苍术: Knobby or nodular cylindrical shape, 4-25 cm long, 1-10 cm in diameter. Surface is black-brown, and the inner color is yellow-brown after removing the outer skin. The texture is relatively loose, with a cross-section scattered with yellow-brown oil chambers. The aroma is milder, with a pungent and bitter taste.
Production Areas
Mainly produced in Jiangsu, Henan, Hebei, Shanxi, and Shaanxi, with the best quality from the Maoshan area in Jiangsu.
Related Discussions
1. “Compendium of Materia Medica”: For great wind bi, weak muscles and bones, dispels wind, removes dampness, and resolves stagnation. Juice brewed into wine treats all wind-damp muscle and joint pain.
2. “New Compilation of Materia Medica”: Dries the stomach and strengthens the Spleen. Induces sweating to remove dampness. Can elevate the Yang Qi in the stomach. Stops vomiting and diarrhea. Eliminates phlegm and water.
[2-4]
Atractylodes Powder
【Composition】Atractylodes 20 grams.
【Usage】Brew with boiling water, drink in small amounts frequently as a tea. One dose per day.
【Function】Elevates clear Qi, promotes Spleen function, and eliminates dampness.
【Indications】Stomach prolapse is often due to Spleen deficiency and sinking Qi.
【Formula Explanation】Atractylodes is pungent and bitter, warm in nature, enters the Spleen and Stomach meridians, and is a key herb for drying dampness, strengthening the Spleen, and resolving stagnation. Inspired by Zhu Lao’s use of Atractylodes pills to treat “water retention in the stomach… already formed cysts,” he used Atractylodes tea to treat stomach prolapse, achieving remarkable results.
Zhu Lao believed that the saying in Xu Shuwei’s “Pujifang”: “The Spleen is the earth, it hates dampness, and water flows dampness; nothing is better than drying the Spleen to overcome dampness, and raising the earth to fill the cavity, then the disease will be eliminated.” Thus, he used only Atractylodes for three months, and the disease was resolved, which is indeed profound.
For Spleen deficiency, the transformation is impaired, and dampness must be mixed in, causing turbid dampness to not be eliminated, how can clear Qi rise? Stomach prolapse is often due to Spleen deficiency and sinking Qi, hence he always advised patients to drink Atractylodes 20 grams as tea daily. After taking, there is no harm to Yin or drying, as it can assist the Spleen in dispersing essence.
Case Study 1
Sun, male, 33 years old, an official. Came for diagnosis on January 25, 1979. Had a history of stomach disease, thin and tall, limbs weak and fatigued, pain in the stomach after eating, feeling of heaviness and rumbling in the abdomen, slight relief when lying down.
Barium swallow examination: Stomach prolapse, the small curvature of the stomach is 11 cm below the iliac line. Thin tongue coating, pale tongue, pulse is thin and soft.
Diagnosis: Spleen Qi deficiency, sinking Qi.
Treatment: Strengthen the Spleen, benefit Qi, elevate the sinking.
Prescription:
1. Atractylodes 20 grams, 10 packets, take 1 packet daily, brew as tea.
2. Honey-fried Astragalus 20 grams, Chinese Yam 30 grams, stir-fried White Atractylodes 15 grams, Dried Tangerine Peel 6 grams, honey-fried Bupleurum and Chai Hu each 5 grams, Poria and stir-fried White Peony each 12 grams, honey-fried Licorice 5 grams. 7 doses.
Second Diagnosis (February 1):
After taking the medicine, he felt slight relief in the stomach area, his spirit improved, appetite gradually returned, no other special symptoms, thin tongue coating, pulse thin.
Since the medicine was effective, he continued with the same prescription for 10 doses, and then took Atractylodes alone for 50 doses, after which all symptoms were resolved. Barium swallow examination: the small curvature of the stomach is now 3 cm below the iliac line.
Case Study 2
Qin, female, 62 years old, housewife.
Diagnosed on August 2, 1980: Symptoms persisted for half a year, with abdominal heaviness and reduced appetite, difficult bowel movements.
Barium swallow examination: Stomach prolapse is 7 cm below the iliac line. Thin tongue coating, red tongue, pulse is thin and wiry.
Diagnosis: Middle Qi deficiency, Qi stagnation, insufficient Stomach Yin.
Treatment: Supplement the middle, move Qi, and benefit Stomach Yin.
Prescription:
1. Atractylodes 20 grams, 10 packets, take 1 packet daily, brew as tea.
2. Honey-fried Astragalus 15 grams, Chinese Yam 30 grams, Dendrobium and Hemp Seed each 12 grams, honey-fried Chicken Inner Gold and Hedgehog Skin each 10 grams, Licorice 5 grams. 10 doses.
After taking a total of 45 doses, symptoms improved.
Barium swallow examination: the small curvature of the stomach is now 2 cm below the iliac crest.
Insights
Why is the “Atractylodes tea” packaged separately, to be taken daily as tea in small amounts frequently?
In the past, disciples did not understand Zhu Lao’s clever use and the intention of using strong medicine lightly, adding Atractylodes directly into decoctions, resulting in not only harm to Yin and drying but also unsatisfactory efficacy.
Thus, it is understood that warming and promoting water, without large doses of Atractylodes, is essential; warming and dispersing dampness, assisting the Spleen in dispersing essence, requires using strong medicine lightly, and using strong medicine in small amounts frequently, to allow clear Qi to rise frequently and dampness to be continuously eliminated. This is the clever use of fragrant, drying, and pungent herbs.
Considering Atractylodes is pungent, bitter, and warm, aromatic and drying, entering the Taiyin and Yangming meridians, it functions to strengthen the Stomach and Spleen, assist the Spleen in dispersing essence, and promote the movement of water and grain Qi, directly entering various meridians, dispelling Yangming dampness, promoting the flow of dampness, and resolving stagnation.
Due to its pungent nature and strong drying power, Zhu Lao emphasized the use of Atractylodes to eliminate dampness and awaken the Spleen, balancing the middle earth, aiming to remove the obstacles of dampness and turbid stagnation in the middle Jiao. Moreover, Atractylodes’ aroma can awaken Qi, and its drying property can overcome dampness, making it particularly effective in transforming turbid dampness in the middle Jiao, elevating clear Yang, and resolving stagnation.
Huang Yuanyu’s “Yuqiu Materia Medica” states: “Atractylodes dries the earth and benefits water, eliminates phlegm, and promotes the flow of water.” It also states: “White Atractylodes retains and does not move, while Atractylodes moves and does not retain; thus, White Atractylodes is good for tonifying, while Atractylodes is good for moving. Its functions in digesting food and promoting appetite, stopping vomiting and diarrhea are similar to White Atractylodes, but Atractylodes excels in eliminating water and resolving stagnation.”
Zhu Lao pointed out that Atractylodes is pungent and aromatic, capable of dispelling wind-damp externally and drying Spleen dampness internally. For treating stomach prolapse, it is not necessary to be restricted to the presence of dampness and turbid signs; Atractylodes tea can be used frequently, and with proper compatibility in decoctions, satisfactory results can be achieved.
The secret of treating stomach prolapse with “Atractylodes tea” is Zhu Lao’s unique approach to using herbs based on diagnosis, and it is also a testament to Zhu Lao’s academic thought of combining syndrome differentiation and disease differentiation.
Zhu Lao also often used Atractylodes and Bupleurum as paired herbs to treat stomach prolapse, stating: “Bupleurum elevates clear Yang, while Atractylodes promotes Spleen function and disperses essence; the combination of these two herbs can invigorate Qi transformation, having the effect of lifting and revitalizing.”
Copyright Statement:
· This article is excerpted from “Zhu Liangchun’s Clinical Experience with Formulas,” edited by Zhu Jianping, Ma Xuanqing, Qiang Gang, and Wang Weiheng, published by the People’s Military Medical Press.