There is nothing quite so humbling as studying your okole off for herbal board and then going to see your acupuncturist who is a master herbalist from China and saying something completely ridiculous regarding various types of seeds that are commonly used for fertility.
No, Chuan Lian Zi is NOT one of the 5 seeds used. I KNOW that. But could I stop it from coming out of my mouth during our discussion? You guessed it. Nope. Out it fell. She kind of looked at me, then politely tried to pass over my ignorance.
So, as my penance, and to prevent anyone else from making the same mistake here are the stats for Chuan Lian Zi.
Chuan Lian Zi is a fruit. It is from the Sichuan pagoda tree and is bitter, cold, and slightly toxic. It enters the Bladder channel, Liver channel, Small Intestines channel and the Stomach channel. This herb dredges (isn't that the best descriptive word ever?) the Liver, releasing constraint, stops pain and conducts heat from down below. This is a good herb to help with Liver and Stomach disharmony and pain and distention due to this. When it conducts heat from down below, it clears damp heat from the lower jiao by guiding it out through the urine. It is also helpful when killing parasites and to stop pain due to them. It works best on accumulation of roundworms and tapeworms that are causing pain. This herb is not so good at expelling the parasites, but will kill them and will help with the pain. It can also be used as a topical application for dermatosis of the scalp.
As the Grand Materia Medica states, Chuan Lian Zi is slightly sour, slightly bitter in flavor and cooling in nature. Sour things enter the Liver and bitter things direct downward, thus it can guide heat in Liver and Gallbladder down and out through the urine. This herb can clear pain caused by wood dredging earth.
Several references (Grand Materia Medica and Essays on Medicine Esteeming the Chinese and Respecting the Western) also say that this herb can treat bulging disorders. This makes sense given the channels that this herb enters.
Chuan Lian Zi is contraindicated due to cold from deficiency of Stomach and Spleen. If someone were to overdose on this herb (normal dose is 4.5-9 grams) they would see nervous system effects like headaches, blurred vision, double vision, slurred speech or tremors. Also, the digestive system and circulatory system could be affected. Remember, it is slightly toxic.
Good quality of this herb consists of large, full, golden yellow fruit with a yellowish white cross section.
Thanks Dan Bensky and Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, once again for setting my okole straight.
