Nature: acrid, hot, toxic

Enters: Stomach, Lung, Large Intestine

Actions: Unblocks cold accumulation and vigorously purges the bowels; drives out water and reduces edema; dispels clogged phlegm, benefits the throat; promotes healing of abscesses and ulcers.

Indications:
• Severe cold accumulation in the interior: constipation, abdominal fullness, distention, pain.
• Phlegm clogging the throat: difficult breathing, wheezing, severe fullness and distention in the chest and diaphragm.
• Phlegm misting the sensory orifices.
• Ascites.
• Topical: for abscesses that have suppurated but not yet ulcerated, to accelerate the ulcerating process. Also for severe ulcers such as phagedena.
• Bowel obstruction: The prepared herb (see below) was used in 50 cases of intestinal obstruction. The adult dosage was 150-300mg; a lower dosage was used for children. When necessary, the dosage was repeated every 3-4 hours. 40 cases were cured. When there is severe obstruction or no response to this treatment within 48 hours, immediate surgery is required.
• This herb is extremely harsh and should always be used with caution. It is said to be able to “chop through the gate and open the door.”
• When taking this herb, one should avoid drinking hot liquids, as this may severely aggravate its laxative effect.
• If the herb causes unremitting diarrhea, one should take cold rice congee or a tea made from Huang lian and Huang bai.
• The herb is mainly used in its de-fatted form, Ba dou shuang.
• The oil: Oral administration of ½ to 1 drop of the oil causes a burning sensation in the mouth, gastric mucosa, and vomiting, then multiple episodes of watery diarrhea within 30-40 minutes, together with severe abdominal pain and tenesmus, and inflammation of the oral mucosa and GI tract. External application of the oil stimulates the skin and causes redness which may progress to blisters.

Dose: 0.1-0.3g in pills