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Cura x Cura

Xu Duan续断

Dipsaci Radix · Japanese Teasel Root · Dipsacus Root

Herbs that Tonify the Yang 补阳药《神农本草经》

Overview

The name states the use — Xu Duan means to reconnect what is broken. Bitter, acrid and slightly warm, it tonifies Liver and Kidney, strengthens sinew and bone, helps fracture and sprain mend, and settles a restless fetus; because it supplements while it moves, it suits trauma as readily as chronic low back and knee weakness. Wine-fried Xu Duan leans toward invigorating blood for injury, salt-prepared Xu Duan is directed to the Kidney for the low back and knees, and plain dry-fried Xu Duan is gentler and favoured where bleeding or an unsettled fetus is the concern.

Nature & Flavor

Bitter, acrid · Slightly warm

Channels

Liver · Kidney

Typical Dosage

9–15 g in decoction
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Actions

3 core actions

  • Tonifies Liver and Kidney, strengthens sinew and boneSore, weak low back and knees, weak legs, and the stiffness of long-standing joint disorders.
  • Reconnects sinew and boneFracture, sprain and soft-tissue injury, taken internally and used in topical preparations.
  • Calms the fetus, stops uterine bleedingThreatened miscarriage with low back ache and spotting, and Kidney-deficient uterine bleeding — usually with Sang Ji Sheng and Du Zhong.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Xu Duan

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Sore, weak low back and knees from Liver and Kidney deficiency
    - Fracture, sprain and soft-tissue injury
    - Threatened miscarriage with low back ache and spotting
    - Uterine bleeding and heavy menstrual flow of deficiency type

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

OsteoporosisLow back painFracture healingThreatened miscarriage

Contraindications

Cautions

Warming and supplementing: not for damp-heat or a full-heat pattern, and combined with cooling partners where heat signs are present. Bleeding in pregnancy needs immediate obstetric assessment — herbs are prescribed alongside that care, never in place of it.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Prescribed during pregnancy to settle a restless fetus and stop spotting — not a pregnancy contraindication, but to be taken only under a practitioner's supervision

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.