Prickly ash peel (Huajiao)

Pharmaceutical Name : Pericarpium Zanthoxyli

Botanical Name : 1. Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim; 2. Zathoxylum schinifolium Sieb. et Zucc.

Common Name : Chinese pepper, Prickly ash peel, Zanthoxylum

Source of Earliest Record: Xinxiu Bencao

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The prickly ash peel is gathered in autumn and dried in the sun.

Properties & Taste : Pungent, hot and slightly toxic

Meridians : Spleen, stomach and kidney

Functions:
1. To warm the spleen and stomach;
2. To stop pain;
3. To kill parasites

Indications & Combinations:

1. Yang deficiency of the spleen and stomach manifested as epigastric and abdominal cold pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Prickly ash peel (Huajiao) is used with Pilose asiabell root (Dangshen), Dried ginger (Ganjiang) and Malted barley (Yitang) in the formula Da Jianzhong Tang.

2. Roundworm manifested as abdominal pain and vomiting. Prickly ash peel (Huajiao) is used with Black plum (Wumei), Dried ginger (Ganjiang) and Coptis root (Huanglian) in the formula Wumei Wan.

Dosage: 2-5 g