葛根

Pueraria root (Gegen)

Pharmaceutical Name: Radix Puerariae

Botanical Name: 1. Pueraria lobata (willd.) Ohwi. 2. Pueraria thomsonii Benth.

Common Name: Pueraria root

Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing

Part Used: The roots are dug in spring or autumn. They are cut into slices and dried in the shade, or the slices are baked.

Natural Properties & Taste: Pungent, sweet and cool

Meridians: Spleen and stomach

Therapeutic Effects:
1. To release the exterior.
2. To bring measles rash to the surface.
3. To cause yang to ascend so as to alleviate diarrhea.

4. To clear heat and promote production of body fluids.

Indications:
1. Exterior syndrome due to invasion by exogenous wind and cold manifested as stiffness of upper back or neck, absence of sweating, aversion to wind, fever and headache. Pueraria root (Gegen) is used with Ephedra (Mahuang), Cinnamon twigs (Guizhi) and White peony root (Baishao) in the formula Gegen Tang.

2. Exterior syndrome due to invasion by exogenous wind and heat manifested as headache, fever, painful eyes and dry throat. Pueraria root (Gegen) is used with Bupleurum root (Chaihu) and Scutellaria root (Huangqin) in the formula Chai Ge Jieji Tang.

3. Early stage of measles with incomplete expression of the rash, fever and chills. Pueraria root (Gegen) is used with Cimicifuga rhizome (Shengma) in the formula Shengma Gegen Tang.

4. Damp-heat dysentery. Pueraria root (Gegen) is used with Coptis root (Huanglian) and Scutellaria root (Huangqin) in the formula Gegen Huangqin Huanglian Tang.

5. Diarrhea due to deficient spleen. Pueraria root (Gegen) is used with Pilose asiabell root (Dangshen), White atractylodes (Baizhu) and Costus root (Muxiang) in the formula Qiwei Baishu San.

6. Thirst in febrile diseases or diabetes. Pueraria root (Gegen) is used with Ophiopogon root (Maidong), Trichosanthes root (Tianhuafen) and Fresh rehmannia root (Shengdihuang).

Dosage: 10-20 g

Cautions & Contraindications: To treat diarrhea, the herb is first baked.