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Cura x Cura

Bei Sha Shen北沙参

Glehniae Radix · Glehnia Root · Coastal Glehnia Root

Herbs that Tonify the Yin 补阴药《本草汇言》

Overview

A slender white root that moistens in two places at once: it nourishes Lung yin for a dry, unproductive cough and generates Stomach fluids for a dry mouth, a peeled tongue and the poor appetite that trails a febrile illness. It is cooler and more single-mindedly moistening than its southern namesake Nan Sha Shen 南沙参, which leans further toward supplementing qi. Dry-frying tempers its coldness for a weak stomach; honey-frying strengthens its moistening effect on the Lung.

Nature & Flavor

Sweet, slightly bitter · Slightly cold

Channels

Lung · Stomach

Typical Dosage

4.5–9 g in decoction
北沙参Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Nourishes Lung yin, clears Lung heatDry cough with little or sticky sputum, hoarseness, and cough that lingers after a warm-febrile illness.
  • Benefits the Stomach, generates fluidsDry mouth and thirst, a peeled or mirror tongue, poor appetite and dry stool from depleted Stomach yin.
  • Processed forms differDry-fried moderates the coldness and sits better on a weak stomach; honey-fried leans further toward moistening the Lung for dry cough.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Bei Sha Shen

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Dry cough with scanty or sticky sputum, hoarseness
    - Lingering dry cough after febrile illness
    - Stomach yin depletion: dry mouth, thirst, poor appetite, dry stool

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

Dry coughXerostomiaChronic pharyngitisConvalescence

Contraindications

Cautions

Moistening and cool: not for cough from wind-cold, nor for phlegm-damp cough with copious sputum, and not for Spleen deficiency with loose stools — in those patterns it thickens phlegm and burdens digestion. Classical incompatibility: the shen group, Sha Shen included, is not combined with Li Lu 藜芦.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Not a classical pregnancy contraindication — practitioner judgment applies

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    2. 《中华人民共和国药典》.
    3. 《中药学》(standard materia medica curriculum).

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.