Chinese name:

Source:

Saposhnikoviae Radix - root

Nature:

• warm (slightly warm, slightly cool, yang)

Taste:

• pungent, sweet

Tropism:

• bladder
• lungs
• spleen (liver, kidneys)

Direction of action:

• superficial

Effects:

• disperses wind from the surface

• stops diarrhoea caused by the liver invading the spleen

Dosage:

• 3 – 9 g, standardly 3 g

Contraindications:

• caution is required when using in cases of pain due to qi and blood deficiency, fire rising from yin deficiency, and spasms due to blood deficiency