Tianzhu Yellow, also known as Bamboo Yellow, Tianzhu Yellow, Bamboo Gum, and Bamboo Sugar, is mentioned in "Shu Ben Cao". It is a secretion formed by the exudate of the bamboo nodes of bamboo plants such as Bambusa textilis Mc Clure and Leptocanna chinensis (Rendle) Chia et H.L.Fung, which is dried and solidified. It is harvested in winter by cutting bamboo poles and extracting the yellow substance, which is then dried. Since natural production of Tianzhu Yellow is limited, it is often obtained by burning bamboo forests, causing the bamboo sap to overflow and solidify between the nodes, and then it is extracted and dried. Another method is to manually puncture the green bamboo to create Tianzhu Yellow.
[Processing Method] "Tai Ping Sheng Hui Fang": "Grind finely." "Xiao Er Yao Zheng Zhi Jue": "Grind." "Ben Cao Pin Hui Jing Yao": "Pound finely." Currently, the original medicinal material is taken, impurities are removed, and the ashes are filtered out. It is then crushed for use.
[Appearance of Prepared Slice] It is irregularly polygonal in shape or granular, with varying sizes. The surface is grayish-white, milky-white, gray-brown, or gray-blue, semi-transparent, and slightly glossy. It is light in weight, hard and brittle, easily broken, with a bright cross-section, slightly powdery, and feels smooth to the touch. It has strong water absorption and produces bubbles when immersed in water. It has a faint odor, a sweet taste, a cooling sensation, and is sticky when licked.
[Quality Requirements] When the decoction of this product is mixed with phenolphthalein indicator, it should not turn pale red. Impurities, including black coal-like lumps and mud, should not exceed 5%. The amount of powder should not exceed 10%. The moisture content should not exceed 30%.
[Processing Functions] Tianzhu Yellow has a sweet taste and a cold nature. It enters the Heart, Liver, and Gallbladder meridians. It has the functions of clearing heat, transforming phlegm, cooling the Heart, and calming the mind. This product is mostly used for pediatric convulsions, epilepsy, stroke-induced confusion, heat-induced coma, and phlegm-heat cough. For example, it is used in the treatment of pediatric convulsions in Li Jing Wan ("Xiao Er Yao Zheng Zhi Jue"); it is used in the treatment of wind-heat phlegm obstruction and convulsions in Bao Long Wan ("Xiao Er Yao Zheng Zhi Jue"); it is used in the treatment of madness epilepsy in Bao Dan Wan ("Chun Jiao Ji"); it is used in the treatment of pediatric phlegm stagnation and incessant cough in Dan Xing Tian Zhu Wan ("Zheng Zhi Zhun Sheng"). Processing improves the cleanliness of the medicine.
