This product is the root of the perennial deciduous subshrub Sophora (Sophora flavescens Ait.) from the legume family. It is produced in various regions of the mainland. Harvested in spring and autumn, sliced, and dried in the sun for raw use.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Bitter, cold. Act on heart, liver, stomach, large intestine and bladder meridians.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Clearing heat and drying dampness, killing worms, and promoting diuresis.

bubble_chart Indications

1. Used for dampness-heat diarrhea and dysentery, jaundice, and dark urine. This product is bitter and cold, with the function of clearing heat and drying dampness. It is used to treat dampness-heat accumulation in the stomach and intestines, abdominal pain, diarrhea, as well as dysentery with pus and blood. It can be used alone or in combination with Aucklandia Root, etc.; for treating dampness-heat bloody stool, bloody defecation, hemorrhoid bleeding, it can be used with Unprocessed Rehmannia Root 黃, such as in Sophora Rehmannia Pill; for treating damp-heat accumulation and jaundice with dark urine, this product can both clear heat and dry dampness, as well as clear heat and promote urination, guiding dampness-heat outwards. It is often used with Gardenia and Gentian, etc., showing good effects in removing dampness-heat and relieving jaundice.
2. Used for leukorrhea, vulvar pruritus, eczema, scabies, and difficulty in urination. This product clears dampness-heat in the lower energizer and can also promote urination, allowing dampness-heat to be expelled through urine. It also has the effect of killing worms and stopping itching. For treating dampness-heat pouring down, yellow leukorrhea, vulvar swelling and pruritus, as well as eczema and cutaneous pruritus, it is often used with Phelloendron Bark and Cnidium Fruit, and can be taken orally or used externally for washing; for treating scabies, it can be combined with alum and Sulfur to make an ointment for application on the affected area; for treating pregnancy with difficulty in urination, it is used with Chinese Angelica and Fritillaria Bulb to nourish blood, promote qi, clear heat, and promote urination, such as in Angelica, Fritillary and Sophora Pill; for treating dampness-heat accumulation in the bladder, difficulty in urination, burning and painful urination, it can be used with Dandelion and Pyrrosia Leaf, etc.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Benjing: "Governs heart and abdominal qi stagnation, abdominal mass abdominal mass, jaundice, residual dribbling of urine, expels water, eliminates abscesses and swellings."
2. Bielu: "Removes hidden heat and intestinal disorders, quenches thirst, sobers up, dark urine, treats malignant sores, and lower body ulcers."
3. Bencao Gangmu: "Treats bloody defecation, diarrhea with blood, and heat dysentery."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Decoct and take 3-10g. Apply an appropriate amount externally.

bubble_chart Cautions and Contraindications

This product is bitter and cold, which can harm the stomach and damage yin. It is contraindicated or should be used with caution in cases of deficiency-cold of the spleen and stomach, as well as yin deficiency with fluid damage. It is incompatible with false hellebore.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

This product contains various alkaloids such as Sophora alkaloid, hydroxy Sophora alkaloid, methylcytisine, and anagyrine. It also contains flavonoids.

1. Sophora, Sophora alkaloid, and Sophora flavonoids all have anti-arrhythmic effects.
2. Sophora can increase coronary flow, protect against myocardial ischemia, and reduce blood lipids.
3. The total alkaloids also have the effects of preventing leukopenia and anti-radiation.
4. The alcohol extract has a killing effect on Trichomonas vaginalis and amoeba. The decoction has inhibitory effects on subcutaneous nodule bacillus, dysentery bacillus, Staphylococcus aureus, and large intestine bacillus, as well as inhibitory effects on various skin fungi.
5. It also has diuretic, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, analgesic, and anti-asthmatic effects, as well as the effect of dispelling phlegm.