Astringents medicines stop Leakage. They are used when excess fluid or Qi is lost from the body, or for various types of discharge. They tone and firm the tissues, and some have secondary Tonic effects due to an ability to stop leakage of Qi and Essence.

Examples of Use:

1. Diarrhea; Dysentery
2. Leukorrhea
3. Spermatorrhea, Noctural Emission, Premature Ejaculation
4. Chronic Cough and Wheezing
5. Chronic Illness
6. Old Age
7. Spontaneous and Deficient-type Sweating
8. Loss of Essence
9. Bleeding

Combination with other Medicines:

1. With medicines that clear Damp in Leukorrhea and Diarrhea from Damp
2. With Warming Medicines for Leakage associated with Cold and Damp.
3. With Tonics for chronic Leakages
4. With Yin and Essence Tonics to astringe and tonify the Essence.
5. With Medicines that clear Heat for acute Heat-type Diarrhea, Leukorrhea
6. With Blood tonics or medicines to stop Bleeding for Bleeding.

Sample Astringent Combinations:

1. Oak bark, decocted to half, then add Syrup of Rose or Cinnamon
2. Catechu, Nutmeg (equal parts), form a bolus with Syrup of Orange peel
3. Alum, Nutmeg, form a bolus with Syrup of Ginger
4. Pomegranate peel, Cinnamon, Pomegranate flower, Rose, Tormentil

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Other:
Barberry fruit, Marshmallow seed, Plantain seed, Lettuce seed, Black Nightshade fruit
TCM:
Nelumbo Semen (Lotus Seed) Lian Zi, Euryale Seeds Qian Shi, Betel nut Bing Lang, Ginkgo nut Bai Guo, Ailanthus Chun Pi

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