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Cura x Cura

Ku Shen苦参

Sophorae Flavescentis Radix · Sophora Root · Flavescent Sophora Root

Herbs that Clear Heat 清热药《神农本草经》

Overview

Intensely bitter and cold, it dries damp-heat in the lower burner and in the skin and kills the parasites behind certain kinds of itching — which gives it two quite different lives: an internal herb for damp-heat dysenteric disorder, jaundice and vaginal discharge, and a much-used external wash for eczema, tinea and genital itch. Dry-fried Ku Shen tempers its cold and is easier on the stomach.

Nature & Flavor

Bitter · Cold

Channels

Heart · Liver · Stomach · Large Intestine · Bladder

Typical Dosage

5–10 g in decoction
苦参Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Clears heat, dries dampDamp-heat dysenteric disorder and diarrhea, jaundice, and yellow foul vaginal discharge.
  • Kills parasites, stops itchingEczema, tinea, scabies and genital itching — most often as a wash or sitz bath.
  • Promotes urinationBurning, difficult urination from damp-heat in the Bladder.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Ku Shen

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Damp-heat diarrhea and dysenteric disorder
    - Damp-heat vaginal discharge and genital itching
    - Eczema, tinea and scabies (external wash)
    - Burning, difficult urination from damp-heat

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

EczemaVaginitisBacillary dysenteryTinea

Contraindications

Cautions

Very bitter and very cold — it injures the Spleen and Stomach and consumes yin, so it is wrong for deficiency cold of the middle burner and not intended for long courses. Classical incompatibility: not combined with Li Lu 藜芦.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Use with caution in pregnancy: internal use of so bitter and cold a herb should be a practitioner's decision, and external washes are the usual route.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing《神农本草经》(classical source, public domain).
    2. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    3. 《中华人民共和国药典》.

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.