Atractylodes Rhizome is a perennial aquatic or marsh herb with toxic properties. The underground rhizomes have a greater toxicity. How should Atractylodes Rhizome be processed and what precautions should be taken when using it?
Effects of Atractylodes Rhizome
Promotes diuresis, eliminates dampness, and relieves heat. Used for urinary difficulty, edema, vomiting, diarrhea, phlegm retention, foot swelling, gonorrhea, and hematuria.
①Shennong Bencao Jing: Treats wind, cold, and damp arthralgia, difficult lactation, clears water, nourishes the five viscera, enhances vitality, and promotes weight gain.
②Bielu: Supplements deficiency and treats the five viscera's fullness, nourishes yin, stops ejaculation, relieves thirst, promotes urination, eliminates edema, and stops leakage from the bladder and triple burner.
③Yaoxing Lun: Treats kidney deficiency with spontaneous emission, treats five types of stranguria, relieves bladder heat, and directly opens the water pathway.
④Rihuazi Bencao: Treats the five types of labor and seven types of injury, dizziness, tinnitus due to kidney deficiency, muscle contraction, clears the small intestine, stops nocturnal emission and hematuria.
⑤Yixue Qiyuan: Treats urinary dribbling, eliminates sweat between the yin spaces. Eliminates old water, nourishes new water, promotes urination, eliminates edema, and relieves thirst.
⑥Li Gao: Eliminates turbidity in the bladder and water stagnation below the heart.
⑦Gangmu: Eliminates damp-heat, resolves phlegm retention, stops vomiting, diarrhea, hernia pain, and foot swelling.
Processing Method of Atractylodes Rhizome
Atractylodes Rhizome: Remove impurities, sort by size, soak in water until about 80% transparency, remove and dry in the sun, then moisten until the internal and external humidity is even, slice, and dry in the sun.
Salted Atractylodes Rhizome: Take Atractylodes Rhizome slices, spray with salt water and mix well, slightly moisten, place in a pot and stir-fry over low heat until the surface is slightly yellow, then remove and dry. (For every 100 catties of Atractylodes Rhizome, use 2 catties and 8 ounces of salt, and add an appropriate amount of boiling water to dissolve and clarify)
Precautions for Using Atractylodes Rhizome
Avoid use in cases of kidney deficiency with slippery essence.
①Bencao Jingji Zhu: "Avoid clam and mussel."
②Bielu: "Bian Que said, 'Multiple doses will affect the eyes of the patient.'"
⑤Yixue Ruomen: "For those with stranguria, thirst, edema, and kidney deficiency, it should not be used."
④Bencao Jing Shu: "In patients without dampness or phlegm, and with yin deficiency and depleted kidney qi, where the essence is slippery and the eyes are painful, and where there are symptoms of cold and diarrhea, this herb should be avoided."
