Da Ji – Euphorbia pekinesis or Knoxia valerianoides – Peking spurge root – “Big Lance from the Capital”

Nature: bitter, acrid, cold, toxic

Enters: Lung, Kidney, Large Intestine

Actions: Strongly eliminates harmful body fluid by purging the bowels; relieves swelling, dissipates nodules.

Indications:
• Retention of harmful fluid: relatively moderate accumulation of fluid in the chest and flanks with such symptoms as labored breathing, dull pain in the lateral aspect of the chest, expectoration of thick sputum, a thick, greasy tongue coat; ascites, hydrothorax, edema.
• Phlegm and fire: lumps.
• Heat and toxicity: carbuncles and boils, red, swollen, painful, toxic, sores. Also used topically for sores and scrofula.
• Acute or chronic nephritis.
• Ascites due to schistosomiasis.
• Milder than Gan Sui.
• Cooking it with honey and Da zao reduces its harsh properties.
• Frying it in vinegar reduces its toxicity.
• Traditionally forbidden in combination with Gan cao. Recent animal studies have shown that a mixture of the two herbs has a much lower LD50 (i.e much higher toxicity) than Da ji alone.
MLT: Very similar to Gan sui. The two are often combined.

Dose: 1.5-3g (1g in powders)

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