☯ TCM Properties
Warms the Spleen and Stomach, descends Qi and relieves hiccups; Supplements Kidney Qi and Assists Yang
Traditional Chinese Uses
Dao Dou Zi (Semen Canavaliae) is the mature seed of the sword bean, Canavalia gladiata. Sweet and warm, entering the Stomach, Spleen, and Kidney channels, it warms the middle burner and directs rebellious Stomach qi downward to stop hiccup, nausea, and vomiting arising from Stomach cold and deficiency - its signature use. It is often dry-fried and ground to powder for this purpose.
It additionally has a mild Kidney Yang-supplementing action and is combined with stronger Kidney tonics for lower-back pain and weakness from Kidney Yang deficiency. Usual decoction dose is around 9-15 g. Because it is warming, it is contraindicated in patterns of excess Stomach Heat.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Dao Dou Zi (刀豆子), or simply Dao Dou, is the mature dried seed of Canavalia gladiata (Jacq.) DC. (Fabaceae), the sword bean, a vigorous twining annual or short-lived perennial legume cultivated across southern China and Southeast Asia. The plant climbs 4–10 meters with trifoliolate leaves and pale violet to white papilionaceous flowers, producing large, flattened, scimitar-shaped pods 20–35 cm long that contain several large, smooth, reddish to pinkish seeds about 2–3 cm long. The seeds are harvested at maturity, shelled, and dried. In TCM, Dao Dou Zi is classified as sweet and warm, entering the Stomach and Kidney channels, and is used to warm the middle, descend rebellious qi, stop hiccup and vomiting, and tonify the Kidneys, with classical indications including stubborn hiccup, lumbar weakness, and cold-deficient stomach.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 3-9g | 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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