Chinese herb Suigu Zi is the rhizome and tuber of Oxytenanthera abyssinica or Bambusa tuldoides. It has the effects of clearing heat and promoting diuresis. It can also be used in combination with other Chinese herbs for better results. Let's learn more about the medicinal uses of Suigu Zi!
1. What is Suigu Zi?
The term Suigu Zi comes from Li Shizhen's book "Compendium of Materia Medica". According to the description in the book, it refers to the rhizome and tuber of Oxytenanthera abyssinica, which is mostly spindle-shaped and has a yellowish-brown or grayish-brown appearance. When broken, the cross-section shows a pale yellowish-white color. It mainly grows in regions like Hunan and Zhejiang.
2. Appearance of Suigu Zi
Dried rhizome and tuber. The rhizome is cylindrical, with connected sections and some stem leaves left at the upper end. The surface is rough, brownish-gray or brownish-black, and numerous tubers cluster around it.
The intact tuber is spindle-shaped, 1-3cm long, and 2-5mm in diameter. The surface is yellowish-white to pale yellow, fleshy, and irregularly wrinkled. The broken surface is pale yellowish-white.
3. Suitable Population for Suigu Zi
(1) People who sweat a lot in summer
During the summer, people tend to sweat a lot. Suigu Zi can be consumed to improve excessive sweating. It has diuretic and lung-clearing effects, which can eliminate excess water from the body through urine.
(2) People with excessive internal heat
Excessive internal heat, although not a disease, can cause discomfort and irritability. Suigu Zi has the effect of clearing heat and reducing internal heat. Therefore, it can be used when experiencing internal heat symptoms.
4. Precautions
Suigu Zi has the effect of inducing abortion, so women, especially pregnant women, should avoid consuming it. When there is a pregnant woman in the family, it is better not to purchase Suigu Zi to avoid accidents and regrets.
