Feng Yen Cao
StarAilanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle
Synonyms: Ailanthus glandulosa Desf., Toxicodendron altissimum Mill.
☯ TCM Properties
Eliminates Wind, invigorates the Blood, expels Dampness and controls leukorrhea
Traditional Chinese Uses
Feng Yan Cao (Fructus Ailanthi) is the dried winged fruit (samara) of Ailanthus altissima, the tree of heaven, used in TCM as an astringent, heat-clearing substance. Bitter, astringent and cool, it clears Heat, dries Dampness, binds the intestines and stanches discharge and bleeding. It is applied chiefly to Damp-Heat patterns of the lower burner: chronic dysentery and diarrhea, blood in the stool (hematochezia), and profuse or turbid vaginal discharge (leukorrhea). Its astringency also lends it to uterine bleeding and, topically, to weeping skin lesions.
It is typically decocted 3-9 g, often combined with other astringent, heat-draining herbs such as Bai Tou Weng, Huang Bai or Qin Pi for Damp-Heat dysentery and morbid leukorrhea. Because its action is drying and binding, it is unsuited to bleeding or discharge from deficiency-cold.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Feng Yan Cao (凤眼草), phoenix-eye herb, is the winged fruit (samara) of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle (Simaroubaceae), the tree of heaven, a fast-growing deciduous tree 15-20 m tall native to northern and central China and Taiwan. It bears large, odd-pinnate leaves with numerous lanceolate leaflets that give off a rank odour when crushed. The fruit is a flat, membranous, slightly twisted samara 3-5 cm long, reddish- to yellowish-brown when ripe, with a single seed set at the center — the phoenix eye. The samaras mature in autumn and are collected and dried. Bitter, astringent and cool, they clear heat, dry dampness, check leukorrhea and dysentery, and stop bleeding.
Hillsides, valleys, roadsides and disturbed ground; a hardy pioneer tree of warm-temperate China, now naturalized worldwide.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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