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Cura x Cura

Xuan Shen玄参

Scrophulariae Radix · Ningpo Figwort Root · Scrophularia Root

Herbs that Clear Heat 清热药《神农本草经》

Overview

Sweet, bitter, salty and cold, Xuan Shen does three things at once: it cools heat that has entered the blood level, nourishes the yin that heat has consumed, and — through its saltiness — softens hard nodules. Hence two very different homes: high fever with a crimson tongue and rash, and scrofula, goiter and sore swollen throat with lumps that will not resolve.

Nature & Flavor

Sweet, bitter, salty · Slightly cold

Channels

Lung · Stomach · Kidney

Typical Dosage

10–15 g in decoction
玄参Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Cools the blood, resolves toxicityWarm-disease heat at the nutritive and blood levels with high fever, agitation, a crimson tongue and skin eruptions.
  • Nourishes yin, generates fluidsDry mouth and throat, thirst, dry stool and night heat after a febrile illness has consumed fluids.
  • Softens hardness, dissipates nodulesScrofula, goiter and a swollen painful throat with nodules; commonly with Mu Li and Bei Mu.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Xuan Shen

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Warm-disease heat entering the nutritive and blood levels: high fever, agitation, crimson tongue, rash
    - Yin depletion with dry mouth and throat, thirst and dry stool
    - Sore, swollen throat
    - Scrofula, goiter and subcutaneous nodules

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

PharyngitisTonsillitisGoiterLymphadenitis

Contraindications

Cautions

Cold and cloying: not for loose stool, poor appetite and abdominal fullness from Spleen deficiency with damp. Classical incompatibility: not combined with Li Lu 藜芦.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: No specific restriction — practitioner judgment applies

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.