☯ TCM Properties
Drains Heat, r elieves Fire toxicity, r educes swelling and inflammation and s tops pain; Extinguishes Liver Wind and settles tremors
Traditional Chinese Uses
Qi Ye Yi Zhi Hua, better known as Chong Lou (Rhizoma Paridis, from Paris polyphylla), is a bitter, cold, slightly toxic heat-clearing herb entering the Liver and Heart channels. Its core function is to clear Heat and relieve Fire toxicity while reducing swelling and stopping pain, and it is a leading herb for toxic-heat sores, carbuncles, boils, mumps, and sore, swollen throat. Topically and internally it is a classic remedy for venomous snakebite and insect stings.
Because it enters the Liver, it also extinguishes Liver Wind and settles convulsions and tremors, and cools the Liver to calm fright. It appears in patent formulas such as Yunnan Baiyao and is combined with herbs like Ban Lan Gen or Jin Yin Hua for toxic swellings. Usual dose is small (3-9 g). It is slightly toxic, so it must be used under professional supervision, avoided in the absence of true Heat, and contraindicated in pregnancy.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Qi Ye Yi Zhi Hua, also written Chong Lou, is the rhizome of Paris polyphylla Sm. and related Paris species (Melanthiaceae, formerly Trilliaceae), an erect perennial herb 30-100 cm tall growing in shaded forest understories of southern and southwestern China. A single unbranched stem rises from a stout, knobbly, ringed creeping rhizome and bears at its summit a single whorl of typically 7-10 (occasionally 5-12) sessile, oblanceolate to elliptic leaves, 7-15 cm long with acuminate tips. From the center of the whorl emerges a solitary terminal flower with four to six narrow green outer tepals and equally many threadlike yellow inner tepals, surrounding a deep purple ovary that ripens into a fleshy red-seeded capsule. The rhizome contains steroidal saponins (polyphyllins, paridins) and is classically used to clear heat-toxin in snakebite, abscesses, and tumors. The plant is moderately toxic; species are listed in CITES Appendix II in some jurisdictions due to overharvest.
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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