Hu Ci
StarDamnacanthus indicus C.F.Gaertn.
Synonyms: Damnacanthus esquirolii H.Lév.
☯ TCM Properties
Expels Wind, eliminates Dampness, invigorates the Blood and resolves swelling
Traditional Chinese Uses
Herba/Radix Damnacanthi (Hu Ci) is the root and whole plant of Damnacanthus indicus (Rubiaceae, 虎刺), a spiny shrub whose beaded fleshy roots are used medicinally. Bitter and sweet in taste and neutral in nature, it belongs to the wind-damp-dispelling group and expels wind, drains dampness, invigorates the Blood, and relieves pain and swelling. It is used mainly for wind-damp painful obstruction with rheumatic joint and muscle pain, and for traumatic injury with swelling; folk sources also employ it for jaundice and hepatitis and for cough. A traditional preparation decocts about 30-90 g in equal parts wine and water, taken in divided doses, for rheumatic joint and muscle pain. This corrects both earlier errors in the record, where the scientific name pointed to Elaeagnus pungens (Hu Tui Zi) and the prose to Lycium.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Damnacanthus indicus C.F.Gaertn. (Rubiaceae) is the source of Hu Ci, Herba seu Radix Damnacanthi. It is a small, densely branched evergreen shrub 0.3-1 m tall whose stems bear paired, stout, needle-like spines (modified stipules) at the leaf nodes, giving the plant its name. The opposite leaves are small, ovate to elliptic, 1-3 cm long, leathery and glossy dark green, with entire margins and a short apical point. Small white, funnel-shaped 4-lobed flowers hang in the leaf axils and are followed by rounded red drupes. The whole plant, often with its yellowish root, is harvested and dried as the drug. Acrid and slightly bitter, it expels Wind, eliminates Dampness, invigorates the Blood and resolves swelling, used for Wind-Damp painful obstruction and traumatic injury.
Shaded understory of forests, thickets and ravines on hills and mountain slopes.
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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