Niao Bu Su
StarAralia chinensis L.
Synonyms: Aralia decaisneana Hance, Aralia echinocaulis Hand.-Mazz., Aralia spinifolia Merr., Kalopanax septemlobus (Thunb.) Koidz.
☯ TCM Properties
Dispels Wind, resolves Dampness, disperses swelling and regulates menstruation
Traditional Chinese Uses
Under its corrected identity, Niao Bu Su here is the prickly Araliaceae shrub Aralia chinensis (楤木), whose root and bark are pungent, bitter, and warm, entering chiefly the Liver, Spleen, and Kidney channels. In the wind-damp-dispelling category it expels wind and drains dampness, invigorates the Blood and disperses stasis, and reduces swelling while promoting urination. It is used for wind-damp painful obstruction with rheumatic joint and muscle pain, for traumatic injury with swelling, and for water-retention patterns such as edema and ascites; folk practice also applies it to stomach pain, jaundice and hepatitis, sores, and scrofula, and to regulate menstruation. It is commonly decocted around 15-30 g or steeped in wine. (The record's earlier latin name 'Radix Zanthoxyli' is spurious and does not apply to this plant.)
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Niao Bu Su (literally 'the bird cannot perch') is chiefly derived from Aralia chinensis (Araliaceae), a deciduous shrub or small tree 2-5 m tall of subtropical Chinese mountains, whose stems are densely armed with stout sharp prickles that prevent birds from alighting — the basis of the Chinese name. Leaves are large, alternate and two- to three-pinnately compound, with ovate, serrate, softly pubescent leaflets. The inflorescence is a large terminal panicle of umbels bearing many small whitish five-merous flowers in summer. The fruit is a small black globose drupe about 3 mm across. The root, root bark, pith and stems are used to dispel wind-damp, invigorate the blood, disperse swelling and regulate menstruation.
Forests, thickets and open slopes on mountains, roughly 500-2700 m elevation.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 9-15g | 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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