Source Baical Skullcap Root is the dried root of Scutellaria Baicalensis Georgi (Fam. Labiatae).
Producing Areas Hebei, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Henan, Shaanxi and the provinces in Northeast China. The best is produced in Chengde, Hebei province.
Producing Bitter, Cold
Channels Gall Bladder, Large Intestines, Lung, Stomach
Action
- Clears heat, fire, and drains dampness
Especially for heat and damp in the upper jiao, symptoms include high fever, thirst, cough, irritability, and sputum that is thick and yellow. Used topically or internally for hot sores and swellings. - Clears damp-heat in the stomach and intestines
For diarrhoea or dysentery with high fever, thirst with inability to drink, or painful urination. Also used with other herbs for treating damp-heat jaundice. - Clears heat and stops bleeding
For blood in the stool, epistaxis, or vomiting with blood. - Calms the foetus
For threatened miscarriage when the foetus is restless due to heat. - Calms liver yang rising
For headache, red eyes, bitter taste in the mouth, irritability, or hypertension.
Usage and Dosage
3 – 9g is decocted for oral use. The crude is for clearing away heat and purging fire. The carbonised is for stopping bleeding.
The stir-baked with wine is for exogenous fire in the upper energiser. The stir-baked with pig bile is for fire in the liver and gallbladder.
Notes Contraindicated in the case with asthenic cold of the spleen and stomach and without asthenic fire.
Storage
Keep in a cool, dry place. Protect from moisture.
Description of Quality Herb
The good one is long in size, yellow in colour, hard and compact.
Professional Advice
Tiaoqin has a solid centre and large size. Kuqin has a decayed centre or is broken with hollow centre.
