☯ TCM Properties
Dispels Wind; Generates flesh and strengthens bones and tendons; Strengthens the Stomach and regulates the digestive tract; Invigorates Blood circulation
Traditional Chinese Uses
Zou Ma Tai is the rhizome of Ardisia gigantifolia, a pungent, neutral herb of the Lung, Stomach, Spleen and Large Intestine channels, used in southern Chinese folk and clinical practice as a Wind-Damp-dispelling remedy. It dispels Wind and unblocks the channels for Wind-Damp bi syndrome, rheumatic and rheumatoid arthritis, and aching joints and low back, and it invigorates Blood to reduce swelling and pain from traumatic injury and fracture, where it is said to generate flesh and strengthen sinew and bone.
It additionally strengthens the Stomach and regulates the digestive tract, being applied to poor appetite, diarrhea and dysentery. It is typically decocted, and also used in medicated wines and topical applications for musculoskeletal complaints.
Botanical Description
Zou Ma Tai ("running-horse platform") is a southern Chinese folk-medicine name that has been variously attributed in regional sources to Ardisia crispa (Primulaceae) and to several other small evergreen shrubs of comparable habit, but no single authoritative binomial is given by Bensky and Gamble, the Chinese Pharmacopoeia or the standard Zhong Yao Da Ci Dian entries consulted. Because the same name is applied to more than one species and the references conflict, no responsible morphology, parts used or therapeutic actions can be specified with confidence here. The entry is therefore treated as botanically unidentifiable.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 9-15g | 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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