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Cura x Cura

Qian Jin Zi千金子

Euphorbiae Semen · Caper Spurge Seed · Xu Sui Zi

Downward-Draining Herbs 泻下药《蜀本草》

Overview

The seed of the caper spurge, also dispensed as Xu Sui Zi: acrid, warm and toxic, and with Ba Dou the only warm drug among the harsh water-expelling purgatives. It strips accumulated fluid out through the stool, breaks up static blood and abdominal masses, and is applied externally to ringworm and warts. Internal use is of the shelled, defatted seed or of the pressed powder Qian Jin Zi Shuang.

Nature & Flavor

Acrid · Warm · Toxic

Channels

Liver · Kidney · Large Intestine

Typical Dosage

1–2 g
千金子Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

4 core actions

  • Purges downward, drives out waterSevere edema and abdominal fluid distension with blocked stool and urine, in a patient robust enough for a purge.
  • Breaks up blood stasis and massesAmenorrhea and fixed abdominal masses from congealed blood — a use that follows directly from how forcefully it moves.
  • Treats ringworm, erodes wartsCrushed and applied to ringworm, warts and stubborn skin lesions; the oil is the active and irritant fraction.
  • Defatting is what makes it usableThe fatty oil carries both the drastic purgative action and most of the toxicity. Pressing it out gives Qian Jin Zi Shuang, which is what a prescription for internal use should specify.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Qian Jin Zi

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Severe edema and abdominal fluid accumulation in an excess pattern
    - Constipation and difficult urination accompanying fluid accumulation
    - Amenorrhea and fixed abdominal masses from blood stasis
    - Externally, on ringworm, warts and stubborn skin lesions

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

AscitesEdemaAmenorrheaWarts

Contraindications

Cautions

Toxic. The seed oil and its diterpenes are strongly irritant: overdose brings nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal pain and watery diarrhea with dizziness and palpitations, and can end in dehydration and collapse; skin contact with the crushed seed can inflame and blister. Internal use is limited to 1–2 g per day of the shelled, defatted seed, or 0.5–1 g of Qian Jin Zi Shuang , in pills or powder — the pharmacopoeia ceilings — never the untreated oily seed. Contraindicated in weak or deficient patients, in loose stools, and in anyone already dehydrated. No or pairing is recorded for it, but it should not be stacked with other harsh purgatives. Not a self-medication herb.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Absolutely contraindicated in pregnancy — it can bring on miscarriage; avoid while breastfeeding as well

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. 《中华本草》.

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.