☯ TCM Properties
Disperses swelling; Antimalarial
Traditional Chinese Uses
Mao Zhua Cao is the small tuberous root of Ranunculus ternatus (Radix Ranunculi Ternati), named for its resemblance to a cat's claw and entering the Liver and Lung channels. Its best-documented use is to dissipate Phlegm nodules and reduce swellings while resolving toxicity: it is a principal herb for scrofula (cervical lymph-node tuberculosis) with hard, swollen nodes, and is also applied to simple goiter, toxic sores, boils and abscesses, and swelling from snakebite. Traditional texts additionally note an antimalarial use.
It is usually decocted at fairly high dose (roughly 15-30 g), and the fresh or powdered root may be applied topically to nodules and sores; it is frequently combined with other Phlegm-softening and toxicity-clearing herbs. As a buttercup-family plant, the fresh material is locally irritant, so the prepared root is used under professional guidance.
Botanical Description
Mao Zhua Cao is the tuberous root of Ranunculus ternatus, a small perennial buttercup of the family Ranunculaceae native to central and eastern China. The plant arises each spring from a cluster of slender, fleshy, spindle-shaped tuberous roots resembling tiny clawed fingers, which is the part collected for medicinal use and gives the herb its colloquial Chinese names. Slender erect stems 5 to 20 centimetres tall bear basal leaves on long petioles that are ternately divided into three rounded, lobed or toothed leaflets, while upper stem leaves are simpler and more linear. Solitary, glossy, bright yellow, five-petalled flowers about 1 centimetre across appear in early spring, followed by small heads of achenes. The species favours moist meadows, ditches, and grassy slopes below 1000 metres elevation.
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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