This product is the root of the creeping dwarf shrub plant Vietnamese Sophora (Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep.) from the legume family. It is produced in provinces such as Guangxi, Guangdong, Jiangxi, and Guizhou. It can be harvested all year round, with the best quality obtained in autumn. After harvesting, the roots are washed to remove soil, dried in the sun, and sliced for use. This product is also known as Vietnamese Sophora Root.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Bitter, cold. act on lung and stomach channels.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Clearing heat and removing toxins, benefiting the throat, and reducing swelling.

bubble_chart Indications

1. Used for heat toxin accumulation, sore throat. This product is extremely bitter and Great Cold (24th solar term), functions in clearing heat and removing toxin, benefiting the pharynx and reducing swelling, making it a key medicine for treating sore throat. For mild cases, it can be used alone, decocted with water for oral administration or gargling; for severe cases, it should be combined with Scrophularia Root, Isatis Root, Belamcanda Rhizome, etc., to enhance efficacy.
2. Used for gum swelling and pain. This product is extremely bitter and Great Cold (24th solar term), enters the stomach meridian, clearing stomach fire, hence it can also be applied for gum swelling and pain, mouth and tongue sores caused by stomach fire flaring up. It can be used alone by decocting for mouthwash, or combined with Gypsum, Coptis Rhizome, Cimicifuga Rhizome, Peony Bark, etc.
3. In addition, this product can also be used for dampness-heat jaundice, lung heat cough, abscesses, sores, and toxins. In recent years, it has been used for leptospirosis and early-stage lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, bladder cancer, etc., with certain efficacy. For treating leptospirosis, it is often combined with Dyers Woad Leaf, Liquorice Root; for treating cancer, it is often combined with Hedyotis, Heartleaf Houttuynia Herb in combination of medicinals. This product also has certain efficacy for chronic persistent hepatitis.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Kaibao Bencao: "Relieves various dermatitis medicamentosa, alleviates pain, reduces swelling and toxicity of sores, treats acute jaundice fever in humans and horses, cough, and kills small insects."
2. Bencao Tujing: "The roots are used; nowadays, people cut them into small pieces and hold them in the mouth to relieve throat swelling and pain, which is extremely effective."
3. Bencao Beiyao: "Purges heat and removes toxins, eliminates wind-heat from the lungs and large intestine, holding it in the mouth and swallowing the juice can stop throat pain, tooth swelling, and toothache."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

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

bubble_chart Cautions and Contraindications

This product is extremely bitter and cold (24th solar term). Excessive consumption may cause vomiting, diarrhea, chest tightness, palpitations, and other side effects. Therefore, the dosage should not be excessive. It should be used with caution by those with deficiency-cold of the spleen and stomach.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

This product contains Sophora alkaloids, oxidized Sophora alkaloids, cytisine, and methylcytisine. Additionally, it contains various flavonoids such as Rosewoodin and Trifolirhizin. Vietnamese Sophora root has anticancer properties; the Sophora alkaloids and oxidized Sophora alkaloids it contains inhibit experimental tumors such as Sarcoma-180 and Yoshida sarcoma ascites liver cancer. The methylene blue tube method shows that Vietnamese Sophora root inhibits leukemia cells. It also inhibits gastric acid secretion, significantly repairs experimental ulcers, inhibits Staphylococcus aureus, Epidermophyton floccosum, and Candida albicans, and has the effects of increasing white blood cells and antiarrhythmic activity.

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TCM can effectively treat dry eye syndrome, floaters, retinopathy, and various chronic eye diseases

Asiatic Moon Seed Rhizome: The rhizome of the perennial vine Stephania Tetrandra (Menispermum dauricum DC.), commonly used in the north. This product has similar effects to Vietnamese Sophora Root. In addition to detoxifying and benefiting the throat, and treating throat swelling and pain, recent studies have found that it also has antihypertensive, antitussive, phlegm-dispelling, and anticancer effects. It mainly contains dauricine.