This product is the root of the perennial herb Milkwort Root (Polygala tenuifolia Willd.) or Siberian Milkwort (Polygala sibirica L.) from the Milkwort Root family. It is primarily produced in Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Jilin, Henan, and other regions. The roots are dug up before the seedlings emerge in spring or after the above-ground parts wither in autumn. The roots are then cleaned of residual bases and soil, and dried. They can be used raw or processed.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Bitter and acrid, slightly warm. act on heart, kidney and lung channels.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Tranquilize the mind and calm the spirit, resolve phlegm for resuscitation, and disperse abscesses and swellings.

bubble_chart Indications

1. Used for palpitation due to fright, insomnia, and forgetfulness. Milkwort Root primarily enters the heart and kidney, capable of opening heart qi to tranquilize the mind and calm the spirit, as well as unblocking kidney qi to strengthen memory and prevent forgetfulness. It is an excellent product for restoring coordination between the heart and kidney and stabilizing the mental state. Therefore, it is often used to treat symptoms such as non-interaction between the heart and kidney, palpitation due to fright, insomnia, and forgetfulness. It is commonly combined with Ginseng, dragon's teeth, Poria with Pine, and other medicinal combinations, such as Spirit-Tranquillizing Mind-Stabilizing Pill.
2. Used for phlegm obstructing the heart orifice, epilepsy, and mania. This herb has a pungent taste and is diuretic, capable of dispelling phlegm and benefiting the heart orifice, thus used to treat epilepsy convulsions and phlegm-induced manic and depressive psychosis. For epilepsy with fainting and convulsions, it can be combined with Pineilia, Gastrodia Tuber, scorpion, and other medicinal combinations; for treating manic and depressive psychosis episodes, it is also used with Acorus, Curcuma Root, Alum, etc.
3. Used for cough with excessive phlegm. This herb enters the lung to resolve phlegm and relieve cough, thus treating sticky phlegm and difficult expectoration. It is often used with Bitter Apricot Seed, Fritillaria Bulb, Platycodon Root, etc.
4. Used for Yongju sores and breast swelling and pain. This herb is bitter and warm, unblocking qi and blood stagnation to reduce swelling and disperse abscesses. It can treat all types of Yongju, regardless of cold or heat, deficiency or excess, by grinding it into powder and taking it with yellow wine, and applying it externally to the affected area for immediate effect.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Benjing: "It treats cough and counterflow, injuries to the center, supplements deficiencies, eliminates pathogenic qi, benefits the nine orifices, enhances wisdom, sharpens hearing and vision, prevents forgetfulness, strengthens the will, and doubles strength."
2. Bielu: "It stabilizes heart qi, stops palpitations due to fright, benefits essence, removes qi below the heart and diaphragm, heat in the skin, and yellowing of the face and eyes."
3. Yaopin Huayi: "Milkwort Root, with a pungent and heavy taste, enters the heart for resuscitation, and is a dispersing medicine. When phlegm and saliva accumulate in the heart, blocking the heart orifices, causing heart qi to become hot and excessive, leading to confusion, dullness, difficulty in speech, restless sleep, vague fears, forgetfulness, nightmares, and infantile fright, it temporarily clears phlegm and opens the orifices, allowing heart qi to flow freely, thereby calming the spirit and soul."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Decoct and take 5-15g. Apply an appropriate amount externally.

bubble_chart Cautions and Contraindications

Use with caution in patients with gastritis and gastric ulcers.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

This product contains saponins, which can be hydrolyzed to yield Milkwort Root sapogenin A and Milkwort Root sapogenin B. It also contains Milkwort Root alcohol, fine-leaf Milkwort Root alkaloid, fatty oil, resin, etc.

1. The whole Milkwort Root has sedative, hypnotic, and anticonvulsant effects;
2. it has a strong dispelling phlegm effect;
3. the decoction has an excitatory effect on both non-pregnant and pregnant uteri in vitro;
4. the ethanol extract has inhibitory effects on human-type subcutaneous node bacillus, Staphylococcus aureus, dysentery bacillus, cold-damage disease bacillus, etc.;
5. the contained saponins also have hemolytic effects.