Chinese medicine Sheng Ma, also known as Dragon Eye Root, Zhou Ma, etc., is distributed in Tibet, Yunnan, Sichuan, western Qinghai, and Shanxi. It is best to harvest in autumn, remove the mud and sand, and dry it for later use.
Sheng Ma
The Functions of Sheng Ma
1. Sheng Ma is used for conditions such as heat-toxin rashes, rotten and foul-smelling gums, mouth ulcers, sore throat, and ulcers.
This herb clears heat and detoxifies to treat gum rot, mouth ulcers, and sore throat caused by excessive stomach fire. It is often used in combination with gypsum, coptis, and other herbs;
For high fever, rashes, and painful ulcers, Sheng Ma can be combined with honeysuckle, forsythia, red peony, and tangkuei.
2. Sheng Ma is used for inadequate eruption of measles.
This herb has weak eruption force and is generally not commonly used for superficial symptoms. However, due to its eruption-promoting effects, it is often used for inadequate eruption of measles, usually in combination with kudzu root.
3. Sheng Ma has the functions of promoting upward movement and eruption and clearing heat and detoxification.
Its upward movement and eruption function is similar to that of chai hu and kudzu root, but stronger. It is used for promoting upward movement with chai hu and for eruption with kudzu root.
As for its excellent heat-clearing and detoxifying effects, it is often used in combination with coptis and gypsum to treat gastric fire tooth pain, and with scutellaria, forsythia, arctium, and isatis root to treat facial erysipelas.
4. Sheng Ma is used for conditions of qi deficiency sinking, chronic diarrhea with prolapse of the anus, and uterine prolapse.
Sheng Ma's function of promoting upward movement of yang qi is similar to that of chai hu, so the two herbs are often used together, often with qi-tonifying herbs like codonopsis and astragalus to promote upward movement and lift sinking.
Sheng Ma can also be used to treat postpartum urinary retention, poisoning from datura and other similar drugs, sinusitis, dermatomyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus, infantile autumn diarrhea, hemorrhoids, and Parkinson's disease.
5. Sheng Ma Bie Jia Tang (from "Synopsis of the Golden Chamber") is used to treat diseases caused by yang toxins, with symptoms such as red and spotted face, sore throat, and purulent bloody vomit.
6. Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (from "Discussion of the Spleen and Stomach") tonifies the middle and benefits qi, promotes upward movement of yang, and treats conditions such as qi deficiency sinking, fatigue, fever, spontaneous sweating, thirst for warm drinks, chronic diarrhea, chronic dysentery, uterine prolapse, and anal prolapse.
7. Sheng Ma Ge Gen Tang (from "Discussion of Pediatric Formulas by the Yan Family") relieves muscle tension and promotes eruption, treats typhoid fever, warm epidemic diseases, wind-heat strong fever, headache, limb pain, and eruptive and non-eruptive rashes.
8. Sheng Ma Wan (from "Sheng Hui Fang") is used to treat obstruction of the throat and difficulty in swallowing due to lack of body fluids.
9. Sheng Ma Tang (from "Medical Revelations from the East and West") tonifies qi and lifts sinking, treats sinking of vital energy in the chest, shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing, and weak and slow pulse.
10. Sheng Ma Guan Zhong Tang (Sheng Ma 10g, Guan Zhong 12g, Bai Zhi 10g, Jin Yin Hua 10g, Ku Shen 6g, Pu Gong Ying 10g, Zi Cao 6g, Mu Dan Pi 6g, Qian Li Guang 12g, Gan Cao 10g; Xiu Qiu Fang Feng 10g, Chan Tui 6g) has been used to treat neurodermatitis with good results (Yunnan Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2000, 23(1):38).
