1. Description:
Draba nemorosa (scientific name: Draba nemorosa L., Chinese Pinyin: Ting Li, Simplified Chinese: 葶苈, 葶苈子, 宽叶葶苈, 光果葶苈), is a species of biennial flowering and herbaceous plant in genus Draba (Brassicaceae family). Found in the north temperate zone (from between 1,700 to 4,200 metres in elevation), the plant can grow up to 45 cm tall. The seeds of Draba nemorosa is used as discutient, expectorant, antitussive and antiasthmatic in traditional Chinese medicine (CTM) and widely adopted in treating diseases and health problems including typhoid fever and edema.
2. Odour, Properties And Channels:
The seeds of Draba nemorosa is considered to have pungent, bitter and cold properties and to be associated with the lung, heart, liver, stomach and bladder meridians.
3. Uses, Health Benefits of Draba Nemorosa & Medical Formulas:
3.1 Typhia Fever
Proper dosage of powdered sulfur can be taken with moxa soup (Chinese: 艾汤, a decoction of vinegar, draba nemorosa and moxa) to heal typhia fever.
3.2 Reducing Inflammation And Relieving Pain
Medicated rice wine with Draba nemorosa seeds is taken to treat edema (swelling caused by fluid retention).
Draba nemorosa seeds and almond are smashed and taken to treat abdominal edema.
Powdered Draba nemorosa seeds mixed with wine can be used externally to relieve head-wind type headache.
3.3 Bleeding Stopping
A decoction of Draba nemorosa seeds (powdered) is taken orally to treat lung related coughing up blood.
3.4 Skin Health
A mixture of Draba nemorosa seeds and fermented soya beans are cooked and applied externally to treat scrofula of the neck.
3.5 The Excretory System
Ash of xanthium strumarium fruit and powdered draba nemorosa is taken orally with water to treat abdominal edema accompanied with difficulty passing urine.
4. Contraindication, Side-effects & Cautions:
Administration with caution for people with spleen and stomach deficiency.
The Ben Cao Medical Book (also known as Compendium of Materia Medica or Ben Cao Gang Mu; Chinese: 本草纲目) is the most famous and comprehensive medical book ever written in the history of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Compiled and written by Li Shi-zhen (1518~1593), a medical expert of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) over 27 years.
The Ben Cao Medical Book records and describes all the plants, animals, minerals, and other objects that were believed to have medicinal properties in TCM. The book reflects the pharmaceutical achievements and developments of East Asia before the 16th century. On the basis of his predecessors’ achievements in the pharmacological studies, Li contributed further by supplementing and rectifying many past mistakes and misconception in relate to nature of many medicinal substances and causes of various illnesses. Charles Darwin, originator of the biological theory of evolution, regards the book as the “ancient Chinese encyclopedia”.
Disclaimer: The Ben Cao Medical Book is translated by ChinaAbout.net . The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of CTM knowledge and information from the research and experience from the author Li Shi-zhen. Kindly be alert that the CTM knowledge and ancient formulas given above are likely NOT medically proven and may contain misconceptions.