Nü Wan also known as Bai Wan, Zhi Nü Wan, Nü Chang, is a non-toxic, warm and pungent herb. It is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine to warm the lungs, resolve phlegm, strengthen the spleen, and promote urination. Let's get to know more about Nü Wan, including its composition, contraindications, and more:
Nü Wan
Nü Wan
[Source] From "Shennong Bencao Jing" and "Gangmu": Bai Wan refers to the white-colored variety of Zhi Wan. Lei Xu mentioned that "Zhi Wan is white like silk, and is also known as Yang Xu Cao." It is believed that this refers to the same plant.
[Other Names] Bai Wan, Zhi Nü Wan, Nü Wan, Nü Chang, Yang Xu Cao, Mao
[Origin] Bai Wan, Zhi Nü Wan, Nü Wan, Nü Chang, Yang Xu Cao, Mao
[Description] Nü Wan is a perennial herb, growing up to 30-100cm tall. The stem is erect, smooth in the lower half and covered with fine hairs in the upper half. Leaves are alternate; the basal leaves are linear-lanceolate, 5-12cm long, 5-12mm wide, gradually narrowing into short petioles, with pointed tips, rough margins, and sparse serrations. They wither and fall after flowering. The upper stem leaves are sessile, linear-lanceolate to linear, smooth on the upper surface, green, and covered with fine soft hairs on the lower surface, with rough margins and slightly rolled edges. The inflorescences are head-like, densely arranged in compound umbel-like clusters. The involucral bracts are 3-4 layers, herbaceous, with membranous margins and blunt tips. The outer layer contains female flowers, with white, elliptical ligules. The central part contains numerous hermaphroditic flowers, with tubular corollas, yellow, about 3.5mm long, with blunted and entire anther bases. The styles are divided into two lobes, with elongated rounded tips. The fruit is achene, elongated and about 1mm long, slightly flattened, covered with hairs, and with fine ribs along the edges. The corona is white or slightly red, with numerous rough hairs. The flowering period is in autumn.
Nü Wan Image
[Habitat] Ecological Environment: It grows in wastelands and moist slopes.
Resource Distribution: It is distributed in Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, and other regions.
Effects and Uses of Nü Wan
Nü Wan warms the lungs, resolves phlegm, harmonizes the middle burner, and promotes diuresis. It is used to treat cough, asthma, intestinal rumbling, diarrhea, dysentery, and short, difficult urination.
1. "Ben Jing": "It treats wind-cold invasion, cholera, dysentery, unpredictable intestinal rumbling, epilepsy, and various cold and fever illnesses."
2. "Bie Lu": "It treats lung injury with cough and counterflow, excessive sweating, prolonged coldness in the bladder, fullness, and the onset of symptoms after drinking alcohol and eating at night."
3. "Hunan Materia Medica": "It warms the lungs, resolves phlegm, and promotes diuresis."
Application of Nü Wan in Chinese Medicine
Prescriptions with Nü Wan
1. Treatment of cough and asthma
Nü Wan 5g, Jin Xian Diao Bai Mi 3g, Lu Bian Jing 5g. Decoction and take orally.
2. Treatment of intestinal rumbling and diarrhea
Nü Wan 5g, Chen Pi 2g, Chang Pu 2g. Decoction and take orally.
3. Treatment of short, difficult urination
Nü Wan 5g, Che Qian Cao 5g. Decoction and take orally. (Prescription from "Hunan Materia Medica")
Contraindications of Nü Wan
"Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu": "It is incompatible with salty foods."
