Wujia Pi and Xiangjia Pi
Wujia Pi is warm in nature with a pungent and bitter taste. It has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, analgesic, and antipyretic effects. It is commonly used in the treatment of wind-cold dampness, joint pain, limb spasms, lumbar and knee weakness, and physical weakness. Xiangjia Pi is warm in nature with a pungent and bitter taste and is toxic. It has significant cardiotonic, diuretic, and anti-edema effects. It is commonly used in the treatment of heart failure, rheumatoid arthritis, palpitations, shortness of breath, and lower limb edema. These two medicines have completely different effects and should not be used interchangeably.
Jixueteng and Daxueteng
Jixueteng is neutral in nature with a sweet and damp taste. It has the functions of promoting blood circulation and nourishing blood. It is commonly used in the treatment of anemia, aplastic anemia, irregular menstruation, numbness of limbs, and radiation leukopenia. It also has analgesic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects. It is commonly used in the treatment of irregular menstruation and gastric and duodenal ulcers. Daxueteng, on the other hand, is a folk herb from Jiangxi. It is bitter and cold in nature and has the function of clearing heat and detoxifying. It is used in the treatment of sore throat, burns, bruises, and damp sores. It is mainly used externally by pounding and applying the juice for gargling (for sore throat) or applying the mashed herb externally.
Banxia and Shuibanxia
Banxia is warm in nature with a pungent taste and is toxic. It enters the spleen and stomach meridians. It has significant cough-suppressing, phlegm-dispelling, detoxifying, and anti-emetic effects. It is commonly used in the treatment of cough with excessive phlegm, asthma, chest stuffiness, and nausea and vomiting. Shuibanxia is used for cough with excessive phlegm and bronchitis. Shuibanxia does not have cough-suppressing effects. These two medicines have different functions and should not be used interchangeably.
Dahuang and Tudahuang
Dahuang is cold in nature with a bitter taste. It has the functions of purging, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial, astringing, promoting bile secretion, stopping bleeding. It is commonly used in the treatment of heat-induced constipation, abdominal pain due to stagnation, jaundice caused by damp-heat, gum swelling, mouth ulcers, blood stasis amenorrhea, abscesses, and burns. Tudahuang, on the other hand, does not have the function of clearing heat and detoxifying. It has direct use in clinical practice and can cause abdominal pain as a side effect. Tudahuang should not be used as a substitute for Dahuang in prescriptions.
Mubaozi and Fanmubao
Mubaozi and Fanmubao are two different Chinese medicines, but they are similar in name and are also called Muxie. Their main function is to eliminate swelling and dissipate masses, detoxify and promote tissue regeneration. However, due to their high toxicity, they are rarely taken internally for treating diseases. They are mainly used externally to treat carbuncle, abscess, and skin diseases such as lymphadenitis and scabies. For example, if 30 grams of Mubaozi kernels are ground into fine powder and soaked in 250 milliliters of aged vinegar for a week, the filtered liquid can be used externally to treat neurodermatitis, tinea corporis, and alopecia with good results.
Fanmubao with Maqianzi
Fanmubao is a highly toxic drug that mainly contains Fanmubao alkaloids (Tudingning). An adult can be poisoned with 0.5 milligrams, and 30 milligrams can be fatal. Therefore, it is rarely used as an internal medicine. However, Fanmubao is still very effective when used externally to treat certain diseases. For example, dripping Fanmubao juice with well water into the ear or boiling Fanmubao oil and dripping it into the ear can treat otitis media. Wetting Fanmubao and cutting it into thin slices, arranging them on adhesive plaster, and applying them to the affected side (left side for right-sided facial paralysis and vice versa) have a good effect in the treatment of facial nerve paralysis.
