Huashan Alum Root is the root of the plant Alum Root from the family Saxifragaceae. It is harvested in the summer and autumn, washed, and used fresh or sliced and dried. It has the functions of clearing heat and dampness, resolving phlegm, and treating malaria.
Huashan Alum Root Image
【Identification of Huashan Alum Root】
The root is cylindrical, straight or curved, with a surface that is lumpy and irregularly fissured. Some roots have small root scars. The cork is brownish-yellow and often peels off in flakes.
The texture is hard and difficult to break. The outer side of the section is brownish-yellow, while the inner side is light yellow with distinct formation layers. The wood is grayish-white to light yellow, with fine rays and inconspicuous annual rings. It has a bitter taste, is cold in nature, and is toxic.
① "Nanning Medicinal Monograph": "Bitter taste, cold in nature, slightly toxic."
② "Guangxi Materia Medica": "Slightly bitter taste, neutral in nature, slightly toxic."
【Effects and Functions of Huashan Alum Root】
The main functions are clearing heat and dampness, resolving phlegm, and treating malaria. It is used to treat fever and colds, malaria, rheumatic pain, and boils.
① "Plants Naming and Authenticity": "Treats phlegm-fire and disinfects."
② "Nanning Medicinal Monograph": "Clears heat, resolves phlegm, treats malaria, relieves bone pain."
③ "Jiangxi Herbs": "Clears heat and dampness, stops bleeding."
④ "Color Atlas of Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Medicines": "Clears heat, releases the surface, reduces swelling. Treats fever and colds, thirst, restlessness, and scabies."
⑤ "Jiangxi Pharmacology of Chinese Herbal Medicines": "Treats boils, heat toxins, and snake bites."
【Compound Applications of Huashan Alum Root】
① Treatment of acute nephritis: Take an appropriate amount of Huashan Alum Root (peeled), half a bowl of rice water, grind into a thick juice, and take with white sugar. Take once daily. (Jiangxi Herbs)
② Treatment of rheumatic pain: Take one or two Huashan Alum Roots, decoct in water, and take one dose daily. (Jiangxi Herbs)
③ Treatment of malaria, boils, and scabies: Take two to three qian of Huashan Alum Root, decoct in water and take. (Guangzhou Air Force "Handbook of Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Medicines")
Huashan Alum Root Image
④ Treatment of scabies: Take four liang of Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae (Fangji) and decoct in water for washing affected areas. (Guangxi Materia Medica)
【Clinical Applications of Huashan Alum Root】
① Treatment of malaria
Take dried slices of Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae. Take 1 jin of raw herb, soak in half a jin of wine overnight, stir-fry until thoroughly cooked, grind finely and sift, or press into tablets with appropriate amount of adhesive for oral administration.
For children aged 3-5, take 3 grams daily. For children aged 6-8, take 4 grams. For children aged 9-12, take 6 grams. For children aged 13-15, take 9 grams. For adults aged 16-20, take 11 grams. For adults aged 21-30, take 12 grams. For adults aged 31-45, take 15 grams. For adults aged 46-50, take 12 grams. For adults aged 50 and above, take 11 grams.
Divide the dose into two servings. One course of treatment lasts for 5 days. If the symptoms improve but have not completely recovered, continue with a second course of treatment, with a maximum of three courses.
Treated 27 cases (including 19 cases of malignant malaria, 3 cases of tertian malaria, 3 cases of quartan malaria, and 2 cases of mixed infection). Symptoms were effectively controlled in 23 cases. However, microscopic examination revealed unsatisfactory effects on the parasites.
② Treatment of chronic bronchitis
Take 1 liang of Huashan Alum Root, 1 liang of Maodongqing Root, and 5 qian of pig bones. Decoct in water over low heat until it reduces to about 250 ml. Take once daily (do not take it cold to avoid nausea). One course of treatment consists of 10 doses.
Combine with other appropriate medications based on differentiation and classification. For cold type, add an appropriate amount of fresh ginger and dried tangerine peel. For wheezing type, add 1 liang of Epimedium sagittatum. For asthmatic type, take 0.5-1 qian of powdered Flos Inulae with water.
Treated a total of 190 cases, among which symptoms were controlled in 77 cases (40.5%), showed significant improvement in 60 cases (31.3%), and showed improvement in 33 cases (17.4%).
During the treatment, a small number of patients experienced side effects such as dizziness, nausea, and salivation, but it did not affect the treatment and disappeared on its own after the course of treatment.
