HomeTraditional Chinese Medicine HerbsLargeleaf Gentian Root

Largeleaf Gentian Root

Latin Pharmaceutical Name

Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix

Chinese Name

秦艽

Category

Roots and rhizomes

Largeleaf Gentian RootMore Info

Production Regions

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai, Sichuan.

Macroscopic Features

Gentiana macrophylla Pall: Sub-spherical shape, thick upper portion and thin lower portion, 10~30cm long, 1~3cm diameter. Externally yellowish-brown or grayish-yellow, with longitudinal or wrinkled longitudinal wrinkles, apex has remnants of stem base and fibrous leaf sheaths. Hard and brittle texture, easily broken, fractured surface is slightly oily, cortex is yellow or brownish-yellow, xylem is yellow. Distinctive aroma, bitter and slightly astringent taste. Gentiana straminea Maxim: sub-conical, numerous small roots are tangled and enlarged, up to 7cm diameter. Externally brown, rough, with cracks in reticular lines and holes. Loose and brittle texture, easily broken, fractured surface is often rotten. Gentiana dahurica Fisch: sub-conical or sun-cylindrical, 8~15cm long, 0.2~1cm diameter. Externally brownish-yellow. Often one main root, remnants of stem base and fibrous leaf sheaths, lower portion has branches. Fractured surface is yellowish-white.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material has firm texture, brownish-yellow color, potent aroma.

Properties

Acrid, bitter, slightly cold.

Functions

Dispels wind-damp, comforts sinews, clears deficiency heat. Apply to wind-damp impediment, contracture of bones and muscles, sour pain of bone and joint, afternoon tidal fever, infantile malnutrition with fever.

Origin

The dried root of Gentiana macrophylla Pall., Gentiana straminea Maxim., Gentiana crassicaulis Duthie ex Burk., or Gentiana dahurica Fisch.(Gentiannaceae)

Largeleaf Gentian RootHerbs in the formula

Pubescent Angelica and Mistletoe Decoction

Action：Dispels wind-dampness, relieves pain, boosts the liver and kidney, supplements qi and blood.

Indication：This formula is indicated for long-term bi syndrome associated with deficiency of the liver and kidney and insufficiency of qi and blood. The symptoms include pain and flaccidity of the waist and knees, disorder of flexion and extension of the joints, numbness, fear of cold with a preference for warmth, palpitations, and shortness of breath. The tongue is pale with a white coating and the pulse is thready and weak.

View Details Dampclearing formulas

Bone-Clearing Powder

Action：Clears deficiency-heat and relieves steaming bone fever.

Indication：This formula is indicated for deficiency of the liver and kidney yin, and deficiency-heat harassing the interior. The symptoms are steaming bone fever, prolonged low-grade fever, emaciation, red lips and cheeks, fatigue and night sweat, thirst and vexation, a red tongue with a scanty coating, and a thready, rapid pulse.

View Details Heat-clearing formulas

Large Gentian Decoction

Action：Scatters wind and clears heat, nourishes and invigorates blood.

Indication：Da Qin Jiao Tang is indicated for an early stage of a wind attacking the channels and collaterals pattern. The symptoms are deviation of the eyes and mouth, difficulty in speaking due to stiff tongue, an inability to move the extremities, often accompanied by aversion to cold with fever, spasms and tension of the extremities, a white or yellow tongue coating, and a superficial, rapid pulse or wiry, thin pulse.

View Details Wind-calming formulas