The Chinese medicine "Gansui" is also known as Ganzhe, Shouhuagen, and Maoeryan. It has a sweet taste, cold nature, and is highly toxic. Can applying Gansui externally cause poisoning? What does the picture look like?
The efficacy and function of Gansui
It promotes diuresis and eliminates swelling. It is used for edema, ascites, phlegm and fluid retention, cough and asthma due to qi counterflow, constipation, wind-phlegm seizures, and abscesses.
Usage and dosage: 0.5-1.5 grams, usually used in pill or powder form. For external use, use an appropriate amount without processing.
Can Gansui be applied externally?
1. Promotes diuresis and eliminates swelling (edema, distension, retention of fluids): It is used to treat suspended fluids, edema, distension, and pain in the ribs. It is often used in combination with Dajie (Euphorbiae) and Yuanhua (Genkwa), such as the Shizao Decoction. It can also be used alone by grinding it into powder and taking it orally.
Gansui has a strong diuretic effect and can cause severe diarrhea, allowing the retained fluids in the body to be quickly eliminated.
2. Eliminates swelling and disperses masses (abscesses and swellings): Gansui can be used externally to treat abscesses and swellings. Gansui powder can be mixed with water and applied externally. It can also be used in combination with heat-clearing, detoxifying, and dispersing abscesses medications.
Precautions for using Gansui
1. Pregnant women should avoid using it. Generally, it should be stopped once the condition improves;
2. It is recommended to use processed Gansui or Gansui processed with vinegar to reduce its side effects such as vomiting.
After being processed with vinegar, the toxic and irritating effects of Gansui are reduced. Raw Gansui has strong toxicity and laxative effects, so it is not suitable for use.
3. According to traditional experience, Gansui should not be used in combination with Gancao (Licorice), but the preliminary experimental results in modern times are inconsistent.
Some reports indicate that, based on experiments on rabbits, when Gansui (or Yuanhua, Dajie) is used in combination with Gancao, there are no significant changes in breathing, heart rate, body temperature, pupil response, or gastrointestinal function;
However, other experiments have shown that Gansui and Gancao have different reactions depending on the dosage ratio.
Reminder: Due to the strong irritation of the laxative component of Gansui on the intestinal mucosa, it can cause inflammatory congestion and peristalsis, resulting in severe diarrhea/side effects, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, palpitations, and low blood pressure. Sometimes it can be intolerable for patients, so caution should be exercised when using it.
