Scrophularia, Figwort, Xuan Shen 玄参
Xuan Shen (Chinese Figwort)
Gyer shing pa གཡེར་ཤིང་པ (Tibetan)
Herbarum Vivae Eicones, Otto Brunfels, 1530
Flora von Deutschland (17), Kohler, 1884
Botanical name:
Scrophularia spp.
1. S. nodosa (West)
2. S. ningpoensis, S. buergeriana (TCM)
3. S. incisa, S. ningpoensis, S. koelzii (Tibetan)
Parts used:
Root
Temperature & Taste:
Cold, dry (warm in the West). Bitter
Classifications:
Uses:
1. Clears Heat, Moves the Blood, Clears Stasis, Resolves Masses (TCM, West):
-Lymphatic Swellings, Scrofula, Lymphadenitis etc.
2. Clears Heat and Poison from the Blood (TCM, West):
3. Clears Heat and Toxin, Benefits the Throat (TCM, West):
4. Clears Deficient Heat, Benefits the Yin (TCM, West):
5. Moves the Blood, Promotes Menstruation (West):
6. Promotes Urine, Benefits the Kidneys (West):
7. Kills Worms (West).
8. Externally:
-externally (and internally) as a Wound herb; Wounds, Bruising, Hematomas, inflammations of the Breast etc.
Dose:
Decoction: 6–15 grams
Powder: 1–3 grams
Comment:
1. The appearance, functions, uses and constituents of the Eastern and Western species of Scrophularia are similar enough to be considered synonymous. The Chinese Xuan Shen may be used in place of European Figwort.
Substitute:
Main Combinations:
1. Scrofula, Neck Swellings:
i. from Heat and Yin deficiency, Figwort with … available in PRO version
ii. from heat and toxin, Figwort with … available in PRO version
iii. from heat and toxin, Figwort with … available in PRO version
iv. from Heat, Figwort with … available in PRO version
v. Figwort with … available in PRO version
vi. Figwort with … available in PRO version
2. Chronic Sore Throat:
i. from Heat and Toxin, Figwort with … available in PRO version
ii. from Heat and Yin deficiency, Figwort with … available in PRO version
3. Erysipelas and Purpuric Rashes, Figwort with … available in PRO version
4. Scaly chronic skin conditions, Figwort with … available in PRO version
5. Hard Swellings, Figwort with … available in PRO version
6. Cancer, Figwort with … available in PRO version
7. Diabetes, Figwort with … available in PRO version
8. As a plaster for Tumors and Swellings, Figwort with … available in PRO version
Major Formulas:
Decoction of Figwort
Decoction for Cancer (Fuller)
Electuary of Figwort (Avicenna)
Bai He Gu Jin Tang
Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang
Tian Wang Bu Xin Wan
Cautions:
Not used in Cold and Weak digestion
Main Preparations used:
Distilled Water of the root
