Shi Da Gong Lao Gen
StarMahonia bealei (Fortune) Carrière
☯ TCM Properties
Clears Heat, purges Fire and dries Dampness
Traditional Chinese Uses
Shi Da Gong Lao Gen, the root and root bark of Mahonia bealei (Radix Mahoniae), is intensely bitter and cold, entering the liver, stomach, spleen and large intestine channels. Rich in berberine and related alkaloids, it clears heat, purges fire and dries dampness. It is used above all for damp-heat in the intestines presenting as dysentery and diarrhea, and for damp-heat jaundice. Its fire-draining action addresses febrile conditions, sore and swollen throat, red painful eyes, and toothache and gum inflammation from stomach heat, while its heat-clearing, drying and antimicrobial qualities suit damp-heat skin disorders such as eczema. It may be decocted internally or applied externally, and like other bitter-cold, berberine-bearing herbs it is contraindicated in spleen-stomach deficiency cold.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Shi Da Gong Lao Gen (十大功劳根) is the dried root and root bark of Mahonia bealei (Fortune) Carrière and Mahonia fortunei (Lindl.) Fedde, evergreen shrubs in the Berberidaceae native to central and southern China. These shrubs reach 1–4 m tall and bear stout, pithy stems and large pinnately compound leaves of 5–19 stiff, spiny-toothed, holly-like leaflets that are glaucous beneath in M. bealei. Erect terminal racemes of fragrant yellow flowers appear in autumn or winter, followed by clusters of glaucous blue-black berries. The wood and inner bark of roots and lower stems are bright yellow from high concentrations of berberine and related isoquinoline alkaloids; the dried root is used as a bitter anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent comparable in actions to Huang Lian.
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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