☯ TCM Properties
Resolves Phlegm, disperses accumulation and swelling and relieves toxicity; Invigorates the Blood and alleviates pain; Suppresses tumors
Traditional Chinese Uses
Mo Yu is the tuber (Rhizoma Amorphophalli) of konjac, Amorphophallus konjac. Pungent, bitter and cold, it resolves Phlegm, disperses accumulations, swellings and nodules, relieves toxicity, invigorates the Blood and stops pain. Traditionally it was used for phlegm masses, goiter and scrofula, and hard swellings; in modern Chinese oncology processed konjac appears in adjuvant formulas for tumors of the breast, liver, lymph and other sites.
Important safety note: the raw tuber is toxic and strongly irritant (owing to its acridity and calcium-oxalate content) and must be thoroughly processed by prolonged cooking/boiling before internal use; it is never taken raw. It is used in decoction or as a prepared gel or flour. Although the record files it under heat-clearing, its core action is phlegm-transforming and mass-dispersing, and it is better understood within that group.
Botanical Description
Amorphophallus konjac (syn. A. rivieri), devil's tongue or konjac, is a tuberous perennial of the Araceae family native to the warm temperate to subtropical forests of central and southern China and Southeast Asia. The plant produces a single very large flattened-globose underground corm that may reach twenty-five centimeters across and several kilograms in weight. From this corm arises a single solitary leaf each season borne on a tall mottled green-and-purple petiole; the leaf blade is highly divided and palmately compound, giving an umbrella-like appearance and capable of reaching over a meter in diameter. In suitable years a striking inflorescence forms instead, with a tall dark-maroon spadix surrounded by a frilled spathe that emits a strong carrion odor to attract carrion-fly pollinators before the foliage emerges.
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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