Lightyellow Sophra Root

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Henan, Hebei, Shanxi,etc.

Long cylindrical, lower portion often has branches, 10~30cm long, 1~2.5cm diameter. Externally brownish-yellow to grayish-brown, with longitudinal wrinkles and horizontal lenticels. Thin cortex, often breaks and rolls back, easily falls off, explores yellow inner skin. Hard texture, not easily broken, fractured surface is fibrous. Pieces are 3~6mm thick, cut surface is yellowish-white, with radial striations. faint odor; bitter taste.

Superior medicinal material has even strip, yellowish-white fractured surface, very bitter taste.

Bitter, cold

Clears heat, dries dampness, dispels wind, kills worms. Apply to diarrhea due to damp heat, hematochezia due to intestine wind, jaundice, dysuria, edema, vaginal discharge, vaginal itch, abscess and tinea, lepra, skin itch, sore with damp toxin.

Ku shen charcoal: Fry the cleaned ku shen with fast fire, till surface turned to burnt-black, inside is burnt-yellow, spray some clean water to cease fire spark, take out and cool.