Three thorns, such as the roots or stems of Black Pearl, Mahonia, and Black Stone Pearl, are commonly used Chinese medicine. They can effectively treat various diseases in clinical practice. Let's learn about the efficacy and functions of three thorns!
【Efficacy and Functions of Three Thorns】
1. Clearing heat and dampness
Three thorns have a bitter taste and a cold nature. Bitterness can dry dampness, and coldness can clear heat. They have the effect of clearing heat and dampness, and can be used for jaundice, dysentery, sore throat, and other conditions.
2. Clearing liver and improving vision
The liver opens to the eyes. When liver fire attacks the eyes, there may be redness, swelling, pain, sensitivity to light, restless mind, bitter taste in the mouth, yellow tongue coating, and rapid pulse. Three thorns, with their bitter taste and cold nature, can clear and descend liver fire, making them suitable for treating such conditions.
3. Dispelling stasis and reducing swelling
At the early stage of trauma, there may be blood stasis, poor blood circulation, and local redness, swelling, and pain. Three thorns can cool the blood, stop bleeding, and dispel stasis, making them suitable for treating conditions with blood heat and stasis.
【Formulations and Applications of Three Thorns】
1. Combination with Gardenia
By combining Gardenia with three thorns, heat and dampness can be cleared, jaundice can be relieved, and Gardenia can promote bowel movements, while three thorns can promote diuresis. This combination helps eliminate dampness and heat through the digestive and urinary systems, and is effective in treating jaundice.
2. Combination with Coptis
Coptis is extremely bitter and cold, and is a specialized medicine for clearing heat and drying dampness in the treatment of dysentery. Although three thorns are not as bitter and cold as Coptis, they can cool the blood and clear heat and toxins in the blood. By combining these two herbs, the treatment of dysentery can be more effective.
3. Combination with Peppermint
Peppermint has a refreshing fragrance and can relieve wind-heat. It is commonly used for treating throat conditions. Three thorns have a bitter, cold, and cooling nature, which can clear the upper heat and reduce swelling. By combining these two herbs, they can clear the lungs, relieve throat discomfort, and resolve toxic heat more effectively.
【Clinical Applications of Three Thorns】
1. Damp-heat dysentery, jaundice, eczema
Three thorns have the effect of clearing heat and drying dampness. They can enter the stomach and large intestine meridians to treat bloody dysentery. They can be used alone or in combination with other herbs such as Purslane and Qinpi.
For treating damp-heat jaundice, they can be combined with herbs such as Artemisiae Scopariae and Lysimachia Christinae. For treating eczema, the powdered form of three thorns can be applied externally, or they can be combined with herbs like Indigo Naturalis and Talcum for external use.
2. Abscesses, swelling, sore throat, red and swollen eyes
With their ability to clear heat and detoxify, three thorns can be used to treat abscesses, swelling, and sore throat. They can be combined with herbs such as Honeysuckle, Wild Chrysanthemum, and Forsythia.
If treating red and swollen eyes, they can be combined with herbs such as Gentiana scabra, Plantago asiatica, and Gardenia flowers.
