Shi Chang Pu
StarAcorus tatarinowii Schott
Traditionally used for
- Ears & hearing
- Cough & breathing
- Digestion
- Mood & calm
- Pain & joints
Cautions & contraindications
- Liver conditions
- Seizure disorders
☯ TCM Properties
Expels Phlegm and Opens the Orifices; Awakens the Spirit and Sharpens the Mind; Transforms Dampness and Harmonizes the Stomach; Harmonizes the Middle Burner; Calms the Spirit
Traditional Chinese Uses
Shi Chang Pu (acorus rhizome, stone acorns) is a warm, pungent aromatic herb that opens the Heart orifices, transforms turbid Phlegm from the Heart and Pericardium, and calms the Spirit. It is used for mental cloudiness, memory difficulties, tinnitus, and confusion from Phlegm obstructing the sensory orifices. Its warm, penetrating aromatic nature also dispels Wind-Cold-Damp from the channels for joint and muscle pain, and it is an important herb in formulas for cognitive decline and for opening blocked sensory pathways.
Western Herbalism Properties
Pharmacological Effects
- CNS: Decoction, essential oil (A. gramineus) or asarone reduced spontaneous activity in mice, antagonized ephedrine stimulation, inhibited cardiazol convulsions and caused hypothermia; trans-4-propenyl veratrole (50 mg/kg i.v.) abolished righting reflex in rabbits; oil emulsion (0.2-0.3 ml/kg i.m.) sedative-hypnotic in several species.
- Spasmolytic and antitussive: Essential oil and α-, β-, γ-asarone (α most potent) relaxed guinea pig trachea and ileum against acetylcholine, histamine, 5-HT or BaCl2; oil emulsion was antitussive in SO2-induced cough in rats.
- Other: Decoction promoted digestive secretion and inhibited cancer cells and fungi in vitro; oil emulsion (0.085 ml/kg oral) inhibited sarcoma S180 and hepatoma in mice; α-asarone (80 mg/kg oral) lowered cholesterol 49.6%, triglycerides 83.7% and LDL-cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic mice while raising HDL.
Source: Zhu YP. Chinese Materia Medica: Chemistry, Pharmacology and Applications. Harwood Academic, 1998, p. 541.
Used In Formulas (18)
Relationships
Full-screen graph →Click a node for details · double-click to expand it · Ctrl/⌘ + scroll or two fingers to zoom and pan.
Botanical Description
Acorus tatarinowii is a perennial, semi-aquatic herbaceous plant in the family Acoraceae, native to wet rocky stream margins, seeps, and shaded moist woodlands across China, Korea, Japan, and northern India. It grows from a slender, branching, horizontally creeping rhizome 3-10 mm thick, with conspicuous nodal scars and tufts of fibrous roots; the rhizome is intensely aromatic when broken, releasing a sweet, spicy, camphor-like fragrance. Linear, grasslike, sword-shaped, glossy dark-green leaves 20-50 cm long and 2-6 mm wide arise in two-ranked fans directly from the rhizome, lacking a prominent midrib. Inconspicuous yellow-green flowers are densely packed in a slender, cylindrical, finger-like spadix 3-8 cm long, subtended by a leaflike spathe. The fruit is a small green berry.
Active Constituents
β-Asarone
Phenylpropanoid (volatile oil)Concentration: Predominant volatile component; α- plus β-asarone ≈ 95% of the essential oil
Principal neuroactive constituent. Crosses the blood-brain barrier; shows anticonvulsant, sedative, antidepressant and neuroprotective activity and promotes neurotrophic signaling. Note: β-asarone is also the constituent of toxicological concern (potential hepatotoxicity, mutagenicity/carcinogenicity), so dose and duration should be limited.
α-Asarone
Phenylpropanoid (volatile oil)Concentration: Second major volatile component (with β-asarone ≈ 95% of oil)
Neuroprotective and vasodilatory phenylpropanoid; potentiates NGF-induced neuronal differentiation and modulates neurotransmitter release. Shares the mutagenicity concerns of the asarone class.
cis-Methylisoeugenol
Phenylpropanoid (volatile oil)Concentration: Minor volatile component
Aromatic phenylpropanoid absorbed slowly after oral dosing; contributes to the aromatic, orifice-opening character of the herb.
β-Caryophyllene and other sesquiterpenes (δ-cadinene, germacrene D)
Sesquiterpene (volatile oil)Concentration: Minor volatile components
Anti-inflammatory sesquiterpenes; β-caryophyllene is a dietary CB2 agonist contributing to anti-inflammatory activity.
Shyobunone / acoronene
SesquiterpeneConcentration: Minor
Characteristic Acorus sesquiterpenoids that add to the aromatic volatile profile.
1,8-Cineole (eucalyptol)
Monoterpene (volatile oil)Concentration: Minor volatile component
Aromatic monoterpene with anti-inflammatory and mucolytic activity, consistent with phlegm-transforming use.
Flavonoids and organic acids (astragalin, caffeic acid, vanillic acid)
Flavonoid / phenolic acid (non-volatile)Concentration: Minor
Non-volatile antioxidants contributing to neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects.
⚠ Drug Interactions
CNS depressants (benzodiazepines, barbiturates, sedative-hypnotics, alcohol)
Asarones exert sedative and anticonvulsant CNS activity; combining with other CNS depressants may produce additive sedation.
Clinical note: Use caution and monitor for excess drowsiness when combined with sedatives or alcohol.
P-glycoprotein substrates (e.g., digoxin, some chemotherapeutics)
α- and β-asarone inhibit P-glycoprotein function at the intestine and blood-brain barrier, which can increase absorption and CNS exposure of co-administered P-gp substrate drugs.
Clinical note: Monitor for elevated levels/toxicity of narrow-therapeutic-index P-gp substrates such as digoxin.
Antiepileptic drugs
Asarones modulate GABAergic and neuronal excitability pathways; pharmacodynamic interaction with antiseizure medications is plausible.
Clinical note: Do not substitute for prescribed anticonvulsants; monitor seizure control if combined.
Hepatotoxic drugs (e.g., acetaminophen at high dose, methotrexate)
β-Asarone carries hepatotoxicity and genotoxicity concerns; concurrent hepatotoxic agents could compound liver risk, especially with prolonged high-dose use.
Clinical note: Avoid prolonged high-dose use; consider liver monitoring in patients on hepatotoxic medications.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 3–10 g | Daily | — | — | 中国药典 2020 【用法与用量】3～10g。 【性味与归经】辛、苦，温。归心、胃经。 — Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020, quoted verbatim; route and cautions preserved. Replaces a cleared category-filler value. |
Preparation Methods
Decoction (dried rhizome)
Parts: rhizome
Usually 3–10 g dried rhizome decocted in water. Because the active asarones are volatile, add near the end of decoction and avoid prolonged boiling. Owing to β-asarone toxicity concerns, avoid high doses and prolonged continuous use, and avoid in pregnancy.
Fresh rhizome / powder
Parts: fresh rhizome
Fresh rhizome (double the dried dose) may be used for stronger orifice-opening, spirit-awakening effect; also given as a fine powder (0.5–1 g) in pills or as expressed juice. Aromatic volatile-oil olfactory (inhalation) preparations are used in cognitive-support research settings.
Dui Yao — Herb Pairs
The classical two-herb combinations this herb appears in, each with an action neither herb has alone.
Together they transform phlegm-damp and open the orifices while cooling the Heart and moving qi and blood, clearing turbid phlegm that clouds the spirit.
Phlegm-damp or damp-heat clouding the pericardium with muddled consciousness; also used by Shi Jinmo for chest pain from phlegm with qi and blood stagnation.
Named pairing — Lü Jingshan, Shi Jinmo Dui Yao
Opens the orifices and transforms phlegm while connecting heart and kidney, calming the spirit and improving memory.
Forgetfulness, palpitations and insomnia with phlegm misting the heart; also in Kong Sheng Zhen Zhong Dan (Qian Jin Yao Fang).
Named pairing — Lü Jingshan, Shi Jinmo Dui Yao
Evidence Tier
Moderate evidence · 3 studiesRecorded studies by study design, strongest design at the top. This is a study-design tier only, not a GRADE rating: it does not weigh risk of bias, consistency or precision.
Systematic review / meta-analysis
0
Randomized controlled trial
1
0 verified · 1 unverified
Other clinical trial
0
Observational / case report
0
In vitro / animal
2
1 verified · 1 unverified
Other / unclassified
0
Verified: design read from PubMed for a DOI that resolves to the cited paper Unverified: taken from the study's recorded description
Clinical Studies
The Therapeutic Effects of Acorus Tatarinowii Volatile Oil and Electroacupuncture in Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment Patients: A Clinical Trial Protocol
Protocol for a randomized controlled trial in 210 post-stroke cognitive impairment patients evaluating Acorus tatarinowii volatile-oil olfactory therapy and electroacupuncture on cognitive outcomes.
Safety assessment of Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma: acute and subacute oral toxicity
Acute and 14-day subacute oral toxicity study; no deaths and no significant changes in body weight or food/water intake, informing safe dosing windows for the rhizome.
β-Asaronol, the Neuroactive Component of Acorus tatarinowii: Mitigating Seizures with Minimal Developmental Risk in Dravet Syndrome
β-Asaronol, a hydroxylated metabolite of β-asarone, reduced seizures in a Dravet model with a 3.5-fold higher LC50 (lower developmental toxicity) than β-asarone, offering a safer neuroactive lead.
⚠ Safety & Contraindications
- Liver conditions
- Seizure disorders
Contraindications
Its use is cautious in patients with yin deficiency and yang hyperactivity, vexation and agitation, cough, spitting of blood, or spontaneous seminal emission.
Source: Xi S, Gong Y. Essentials of Chinese Materia Medica and Medical Formulas. Academic Press/Elsevier, 2017, pp. 323–326.
Side Effects
- Oral 10 g daily for 3 months to 3 years in 60 patients produced no side effects.
- Intramuscular essential-oil injection caused nausea, vomiting and vertigo in a few cases.
- Intravenous doses over 50 mg/kg (of asarone; printed 'asarum') caused convulsion or slight tetanic muscle contraction in animals.
Source: Zhu YP. Chinese Materia Medica: Chemistry, Pharmacology and Applications. Harwood Academic, 1998, p. 541.
Historical Texts
Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (神农本草经, Divine Farmer's Materia Medica)
Han dynasty (c. 200 CE)Ben Cao Gang Mu (本草纲目, Compendium of Materia Medica)
Ming dynasty, 1596, Li ShizhenReferences
- Liu S, et al.. Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma: A comprehensive review of its chemical composition, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and toxicity . Frontiers in Pharmacology (2023) [DOI]
- Frontiers in Pharmacology study group. Safety assessment of Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma: acute and subacute oral toxicity . Frontiers in Pharmacology (2024) [DOI]
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.
📝 Notes
Public notes from the community and your own private notes on Shi Chang Pu.
No notes yet.