Ma Wei Lian
StarThalictrum foliolosum DC. / Thalictrum baicalense Turcz. / Thalictrum delavayi Franch.
☯ TCM Properties
Clears Heat and dries Dampness and removes toxicity
Traditional Chinese Uses
Ma Wei Lian is the root and rhizome of several Thalictrum species (Ranunculaceae), a bitter, cold herb in the category that clears Heat and dries Dampness. Rich in berberine and related alkaloids, it is used regionally much as Huang Lian (Coptis) is: to drain Damp-Heat from the Intestines in dysentery and diarrhea with tenesmus, to clear Heart and Liver Fire, and to resolve Fire toxicity. Entering the Liver, Heart, and Large Intestine channels, it addresses damp-heat jaundice, red painful eyes and conjunctivitis, mouth and tongue sores, and hot skin sores, boils, and measles. It can be decocted (3-15 g) or powdered, and used as a topical wash for sores. Being bitter and cold, it readily injures Spleen and Stomach yang and is inappropriate for Cold-from-Deficiency patterns.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Ma Wei Lian is derived from several species of Thalictrum (Ranunculaceae) — most often T. baicalense, T. minus, T. foliolosum, or T. glandulosissimum — perennial herbs of cool montane meadows and forest margins across northern and western China and the Himalayan foothills. The plants grow 30–100 cm tall from a knotted rhizome producing wiry yellow roots that recall a horse's tail (hence the name). The foliage is tripinnately compound with small, three-lobed, glaucous leaflets reminiscent of columbine or meadow-rue. Small apetalous flowers with prominent tufts of stamens are borne in airy terminal panicles in early summer. The rhizome and rootlets are dug in autumn, washed, and dried; their bright yellow interior reflects a high content of berberine and related protoberberine alkaloids, the basis of the herb's use as a Coptis chinensis (Huang Lian) substitute.
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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