Guan Zhong
StarDryopteris crassirhizoma Nakai
☯ TCM Properties
Expels Parasites; Clears Heat and Resolves Toxicity; Cools the Blood and Stops Bleeding
Traditional Chinese Uses
Guan Zhong (dryopteris rhizome, shield fern rhizome) is a bitter, cool herb used in Chinese medicine to clear Heat toxin, stop bleeding, and expel intestinal parasites. It is applied for internal Heat with bleeding conditions such as uterine bleeding, nosebleeds, and bloody dysentery from Blood Heat. Its antiparasitic action addresses tapeworms and roundworms, and it is also used for febrile illnesses where the Heat has entered the blood level. It is toxic in excess and requires professional guidance for internal use.
Botanical Description
Dryopteris crassirhizoma is a robust terrestrial fern in the Dryopteridaceae, native to cool temperate forests of northeastern China, Korea, the Russian Far East, and Japan. It forms a stout, ascending to nearly erect rhizome densely covered in persistent, broad, brown, lustrous scales and the swollen scaly bases of old stipes. The crown bears a vase-like cluster of fronds 60-120 cm long; the lance-shaped, bipinnate to bipinnate-pinnatifid blades taper at both ends, with the lower pinnae shortened. Pinnules are oblong with serrate margins. Round sori with kidney-shaped indusia are arranged in two rows on the underside of fertile pinnules. The dried rhizome together with the persistent stipe bases is the medicinal Guan Zhong.
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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