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Cang Zhu (Atractylodes) is a species of the Asteraceae family, a wild medicinal plant that is harvested in spring and autumn. Its underground rhizome is cleaned, sliced, and dried for medicinal use. In the family of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it is also known as Cang Zhu, a material that can strengthen the spleen, dry dampness, and relieve depression. Clinically, it is used to treat various common diseases with particularly good therapeutic effects. Below is a detailed introduction to the efficacy and medicinal value of Cang Zhu, which everyone should understand after taking it.
The Efficacy and Functions of Cang Zhu
1. Enhancing Gastrointestinal Function
Cang Zhu has a very positive effect on human gastrointestinal function. Its medicinal components can prevent smooth muscle and small intestine spasms, and protect the gastrointestinal mucosa, reducing damage from drugs and viruses to the human gastrointestinal mucosa. It can alleviate common conditions such as enteritis, gastritis, and gastrointestinal dysfunction.
2. Anti-Ulcer
Ulcers are a common disease in humans, often caused by damage to the mucosa from bacteria or viruses. Cang Zhu has significant anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties and can inhibit gastric acid secretion in the body. It has a clear alleviating effect on gastric ulcers, and its volatile oils can also suppress the secretion of salivary and intestinal glands, providing relief for duodenal ulcers and oral ulcers.
The Medicinal Value of Cang Zhu
1. Treating Loss of Appetite
Cang Zhu is a commonly used herb in TCM for treating loss of appetite. For treatment, prepare 10 grams of Cang Zhu and an appropriate amount of water. After cleaning the Cang Zhu, boil it in a pot with water. Once boiling, simmer on medium heat for 30 minutes. After extracting the soup, consume it in two doses within a day. After three consecutive days of use, the symptoms of loss of appetite will significantly improve. Additionally, it can also alleviate symptoms of abdominal distension and diarrhea due to spleen deficiency.
2. Treating Exogenous Wind-Cold
Exogenous wind-cold is a common disease in humans. Patients often experience symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, fever, and cold pain in the limbs. Cang Zhu can be used for treatment by combining it with licorice, Fang Feng (Siler), scallions, and ginger, and boiling them with water. Most patients will sweat quickly after taking the medicine, and their discomfort will subsequently lessen.
Aliases: Chi Zhu, Qing Zhu Cai
Cang Zhu refers to the dried rhizome of the Asteraceae plant, either Cang Zhu (Atractylodes macrocephala) or Bei Cang Zhu (Atractylodes lancea), harvested in spring and autumn, cleaned of soil, dried, and the fibrous roots removed. It is commonly prepared as decoctions, extracts, or in pill and powder forms. Its properties are: warm in nature, pungent and bitter in flavor; it enters the spleen, stomach, and liver meridians.
Functions: It is primarily used to dry dampness, strengthen the spleen, dispel wind, and scatter cold. It is indicated for abdominal distension, diarrhea, edema, rheumatic pain, wind-cold common cold, and night blindness.
Contraindications: It is contraindicated for those with yin deficiency and excess heat, or those with excess pathogenic factors causing constipation; it should also be avoided by those with qi deficiency and excessive sweating.
Summary from Ancient Texts:
From the “Compendium of Materia Medica”: Treats damp phlegm retention, or when accompanied by blood stasis forming a mass, and for spleen dampness leading to turbid discharge and diarrhea.
From the “Materia Medica Seeking Origins”: Stops diarrhea from food injury or summer heat, and spleen dampness with blood.
Selected Formulas:
Formula 1
Ingredients: 10-15 grams of Cang Zhu
Preparation: Boil Cang Zhu with water on high heat, then simmer on low heat for 20 minutes, filter out the residue to obtain 300 ml of medicinal juice.
Dosage: 1 dose per day, drink in small amounts frequently, with a course of 3 months.
Function: Suitable for gastric prolapse.
Formula 2
Ingredients: 1 piece of Cang Zhu, 5-7 moxa cones.
Preparation: Shape Cang Zhu into a cone, pierce several small holes, insert into the external ear canal, then place a moxa cone on top and light it.
Dosage: Once daily or every other day, with a course of 10 treatments.
Function: Suitable for neurogenic tinnitus.
Note: This method has certain risks and should be performed under a doctor’s guidance.
Formula 3
Ingredients: 10 grams each of Cang Zhu, Ban Xia (Pinellia), Fu Ling (Poria), Hou Po (Magnolia Bark), Bai Jie Zi (White Mustard Seed), and Lai Fu Zi (Radish Seed); 6 grams of Chen Pi (Dried Tangerine Peel); 5 grams of Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-Fried Licorice).
Preparation: Boil the above herbs in water to extract the juice.
Dosage: 1 dose per day, divided into 2 servings.
Function: This formula can strengthen the spleen, dry dampness, transform phlegm, and stop cough, suitable for alleviating phlegm-damp obstructing the lungs in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Formula 4
Ingredients: 10 grams each of Cang Zhu, Gao Ben (Ligusticum), Chao Shen Qu (Fermented Barley), Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig), Fu Ling, and Ze Xie (Alisma); 15 grams of Chao Mai Ya (Fried Barley Sprouts); 9 grams of Chai Hu (Bupleurum); 7 grams of Chuan Xiong (Szechuan Lovage); 4 grams of Zhi Gan Cao.
Preparation: Boil the above herbs in water to extract the juice.
Dosage: 1 dose per day, divided into 4 servings, taken warm.
Function: Raises yang, transforms qi, harmonizes the stomach, and aids movement, suitable for stomach qi stagnation, dampness retention, and sinking of clear yang.
Formula 5
Ingredients: 10 grams each of Cang Zhu, Chai Hu, Xiang Fu (Cyperus), Yu Jin (Curcuma), Zhi Qiao (Bitter Orange), Ban Xia, Yuan Hu (Corydalis), and Jian Qu (Fermented Barley); 15 grams of Bai Shao (White Peony); 8 grams each of Zhi Chuan Xiong and Zhi Zi (Gardenia); 5 grams of Zhi Gan Cao.
Preparation: Boil the above herbs in water to extract the juice.
Dosage: 1 dose per day, divided into 2 servings.
Function: Soothe the liver, harmonize the stomach, regulate qi, and relieve pain, suitable for chronic superficial gastritis, recurrent abdominal pain, worsened after eating, chest tightness, irritability, acid reflux, loss of appetite, and dry stools.
Formula 6
Ingredients: Equal parts of Cang Zhu, Xiang Fu, Chuan Xiong, Shen Qu, and Zhi Zi.
Preparation: Grind the above herbs into a fine powder and roll into pills the size of mung beans.
Dosage: 6-9 grams each time, taken with warm water.
Function: Moves qi and relieves depression, effective for acid reflux, bloating, chest and abdominal distension, and indigestion caused by qi, food, heat, and dampness.
Formula 7
Ingredients: 720 grams each of Cang Zhu, Zhi Qiao, and Ma Huang (Ephedra, root removed); 200 grams each of Jie Geng (Platycodon, root removed) and Hou Po (Magnolia, rough skin removed); 120 grams of Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger); 90 grams each of Bai Zhi (Angelica Dahurica), Chuan Xiong, Zhi Gan Cao, Yun Ling (Poria), Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis), Ban Xia (washed), and Rou Gui (Cinnamon, rough skin removed).
Preparation: Except for Rou Gui and Zhi Qiao, crush the other herbs into a coarse powder, stir-fry on low heat until they change color, cool, then add Rou Gui and Zhi Qiao, and mix well.
Dosage: 9 grams each time, taken twice daily.
Function: Suitable for internal heat and external injury causing stagnation, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite.
Formula 8
Ingredients: 10 grams each of Cang Zhu, Bai Zhu (Atractylodes), Fu Ling, Bian Dou (Lima Bean), Chen Pi, and Ban Xia; 15 grams of Dang Shen (Codonopsis); 12 grams of Huai Shan (Chinese Yam); 8 grams of Sha Ren (Amomum, ground into powder and mixed into the decoction); 7 grams each of Mu Xiang (Saussurea) and Gan Cao.
Preparation: Boil the above herbs in water to extract the juice.
Dosage: 1 dose per day, divided into 2 servings.
Function: This formula can strengthen the spleen, benefit the stomach, and tonify qi, suitable for diarrhea caused by spleen and stomach qi deficiency.
Formula 9
Ingredients: Appropriate amounts of Cang Zhu and sesame oil.
Preparation: Dry Cang Zhu and grind it into a fine powder, then mix with sesame oil to form a thin paste.
Dosage: Apply the paste to the burn area three times a day.
Function: Suitable for burns.
Formula 10
Ingredients: 15 grams each of Cang Zhu and Wu Zhu Yu (Evodia), 3 grams of cloves, and 15 grains of pepper.
Preparation: Roast the four ingredients and grind them into a fine powder.
Dosage: Take 1-3 grams of the powder, mix with cooking oil to form a paste, apply to the navel, cover with sterile gauze, and secure with adhesive tape, changing the dressing once a day, usually healing in 1-2 applications.
Function: Warms the middle, dries dampness, suitable for abdominal distension and diarrhea due to cold damp obstruction.
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Disclaimer: This article is reproduced from the internet and published materials. If there is any infringement, please contact us for removal. The various prescriptions and remedies mentioned are for informational sharing only and do not constitute medical advice, recommendations, or guidance. Please use them under the guidance of a physician.