This product is the root of the perennial herb Dipsacus asper (Dipsacus asper Wall. ex Henry) from the Dipsacaceae family. It is primarily produced in Sichuan, Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou, and other regions. The roots are harvested in autumn, the root heads and fibrous roots are removed, and then they are lightly baked until semi-dry. They are then piled up to "sweat" until the interior turns green, after which they are dried again. Thin slices are used.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Bitter, sweet and acrid, slightly warm. Act on liver and kidney meridians.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Tonify the liver and kidneys, strengthen bones and tendons, stop bleeding and calm the fetus, heal injuries and mend fractures.

bubble_chart Indications

1. Used for liver and kidney deficiency, lumbago, weak legs, wind-dampness pain, and injuries, fractures, swelling, and pain. It can tonify the liver and kidneys, strengthen tendons and bones, and has a bitter and pungent taste, which helps to promote blood circulation, subdue swelling, and relieve pain. It is used to treat soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, often combined with Eucommia Bark, Achyranthes Root, Psoralea, etc., such as in the "Fushou Jingfang" Dipsacus Pill; for wind-cold-dampness impediment, muscular spasm, and bone pain, it is often used with Hypoglaucous Yam, Saposhnikovia Root, Achyranthes Root, etc., such as in the Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang Dipsacus Pill; for injuries, fractures, swelling, and pain, it is often combined with fortune's drynaria rhizome, pyrite, ground beetle, etc.
2. Used for liver and kidney deficiency, disharmony of the Chong and Ren meridians causing threatened miscarriage or menorrhagia and metrostaxis. It has the effects of tonifying the liver and kidneys, regulating the Chong and Ren meridians, stopping bleeding, and soothing the fetus. It is used to treat vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, threatened miscarriage, or habitual late abortion, often combined with Chinese Taxillus Herb, Dodder Seed, Donkey-hide Gelatin, etc., such as in the "Zhongzhong Canxi Lu" Fetus-Preserving Pill; for menorrhagia and metrostaxis, it can be used with Astragalus Root, Sanguisorba, Mugwort, etc., such as in the Furen Liangfang Dipsacus Pill.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Bencao Jingshu: "It enters the foot Jueyin and Shaoyin meridians, and is an essential medicine for treating childbirth, healing severed injuries, replenishing deficiencies, treating incised wounds, and regulating the waist and kidneys."
2. Bencao Huiyan: "Dipsacus is a medicine that replenishes and continues the blood vessels. Generally, the severed blood vessels cannot be continued without it; the injured tendons and bones cannot be nourished without it; the stagnant joints cannot be relieved without it; the damaged pregnancy cannot be stabilized without it. Long-term and regular use can tonify qi, have the effect of replenishing injuries and generating blood, replenish without stagnation, move without leakage, so it is often used in gynecology and surgery."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Decoct and take 10-15g. For external use, grind into powder and apply an appropriate amount.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

The root of Dipsacus contains daucosterol, β-sitosterol, triterpenoid saponins, sucrose, volatile oils, and other components.