Atractylodes lancea Rhizome(Cang Zhu) and Rhizoma Atractylodes Macrocephalae (Bai Zhu)

Applications of Atractylodes lancea Rhizome(Cang Zhu).

Atractylodes Rhizome Extract Swordlike Atractylodes Rhizome Atractylodes lancea Thunb DC Atractylodes chinensis DC Koidz photo picture image 1. Disturbance of the middle-jiao due to the accumulation of dampness with manifes-tations of epigastric distress, abdominal distension, anorexia, nausea and vomiting, lassitude, turbid and greasy tongue coating, etc. This herb is one of the most important herbs for eliminating dampness and strengthening the spleen. It is often used with magnolia bark and tangerine peel, as in Peptid Posere (Pingwei San).

2. For wind-cold-damp arthralgia-syndrome with pain in the joints and extremities, it is often used with notopterygium root and cinnamon twig. Besides the effects of dispelling wind and removing dampness, this herb can also induce diaphoresis, so it is also used for exterior syndrome due to affection by exopathogens marked by headache and anhidrosis and aches in the extremities, in combination with notopterygium root and ledebouriella root; for swelling pain in the knees and feet due to the downward flow of damp-heat, it is often used with phellodendron bark and achyranthes root in powder form called Powder of Three Wonderful Herbs(Sanmiao San).

3. Eye problems such as external orinternal oculopathy, optic atrophy, night blindness, etc. It can be used alone or together with black sesame seed and pig's liver, as in Atractylodes Pill (Cangzhu Wan).

Action: To remove damp and invigorate the function of the spleen,to disple windcold,and to improve eyesight.for treatment of yeast infection and dries dampness and flatulence; strengthens the digestion; expels wind-dampness; for diarrhea with vomiting; edema with fullness of the abdomen; induces sweating in patients unable to sweat; headaches, body aches, solar plexus pain, and pain in extremities due to wind-cold-dampness, and edema in lower limbs; headache of women due to deficiency, improves night vision and diminishing vision.

Simmering cang zhu in water to release fragrance can help in getting rid of fungi and bacteria.