Ku Shen "Bitter Root"

Channels: BL, HT, LIV, LI, SI

Properties: Bitter, Cold

Common: Sophora Root

Latin: Radix Sophorae Flavescentis

Actions:

• Eliminates heat and dries dampness: used for jaundice, acute dysentery, leukorrhea, and sores.
• Stops wind, itching, and kills parasites: used for damp skin toxins with chronic itching, genital itching and bacterial infections, trichomonas, ringworm, eczema, pus, and bleeding anywhere on the skin. Can be used both internally and topically.
• Promotes urination: for acute urinary tract infections due to heat, for patterns such as damp heat in the small intestine, and heat induced edema.

Contraindications:

• Do not use in cases of cold from deficiency of the spleen and stomach. Traditionally this herb is noted to be incompatible with Semen Cuscutae Chinensis (tu si zi), Rhizoma et Radix Veratri (li lu), and Bulbus Fritillariae (bei mu).

Dosage:

• 3-15g, up to 30g when used as an external wash. Part used = root.