Gan Sui is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It is mainly produced in Gansu and Luoyang. Gan Sui root can be used as medicine and has multiple therapeutic effects. Let's take a look at the usage and contraindications of Gan Sui!
Applications of Gan Sui
Currently, Gan Sui is widely used in clinical practice to treat various diseases. From a clinical perspective, Gan Sui is mainly used for the following conditions:
1. It is primarily used to treat chest and abdominal ascites. It has similar indications and applications as Qian Niu Zi, but is only used for those with strong vital energy and excessive pathogenic factors.
2. It is used to treat cirrhotic ascites. When combined with Ren Shen (Ginseng) or Dang Shen (Codonopsis), Chong Sun Jian (Bamboo Shoot), Hei Qian Niu (Black Qian Niu), Chen Xiang (Agarwood), and Rou Gui (Cinnamon), Gan Sui can effectively reduce swelling.
3. It is used to treat pleural effusion caused by exudative pleurisy. In the acute phase, if there are symptoms of excessive heat, such as hot flashes, joint pain, constipation, dry mouth and thirst, and restlessness, it belongs to "chest congestion" pattern. Gan Sui alone may not be sufficient, and it should be combined with Da Huang (Rhubarb) and Yuan Ming Powder in a prescription called Da Xian Xiong Tang.
4. It is used to treat edema caused by nephritis (both acute and chronic). Take 6g of Gan Sui, grind it into powder, put it into a male pig's kidney, wrap it with bamboo paper moistened with water, and then simmer it until cooked. Cut the pig's kidney into seven pieces and take one piece daily. Significant reduction in swelling can be seen after taking 4 to 5 pieces.
Contraindications for using Gan Sui
Due to the strong medicinal properties of Gan Sui, it is not recommended to use it without professional guidance. It is safer to use under the guidance of a doctor. The side effects and contraindications of Gan Sui mainly include the following aspects:
1. It is not suitable for use by pregnant women. Generally, it should be discontinued once the symptoms improve.
2. It is recommended to use simmered Gan Sui or Gan Sui processed with vinegar to reduce its side effects, such as vomiting. After being treated with vinegar, the toxic and irritating effects of Gan Sui can be reduced. Raw Gan Sui has strong toxic and purgative effects, so it is not suitable for use.
3. Traditional experience suggests that Gan Sui should not be combined with Yuan Hua (Genkwa) and Da Ji (Euphorbia). However, the initial results of modern experiments are inconsistent.
Some reports indicate that according to experiments on rabbits, when Gan Sui (or Yuan Hua and Da Ji) is combined with Gan Cao (Licorice), there are no significant changes in respiration, heart rate, body temperature, pupillary reaction, or gastrointestinal function. However, other experiments have shown different reactions depending on the proportion of Gan Sui and Gan Cao used.
