State/School

Pacific College Comps

Pharm Name

Succinum

Common Name

Amber

Category

Anchor, Settle, and Calm the Spirit

Ingredients

Taste

Sweet

Pao Zhi

Temperature

Neutral

Action / Indication

1. Arrests tremors and palpitations and calms the spirit: for palpitations with anxiety, excessive dreams, insomnia, forgetfulness, anxiety, and seizures due to disturbance of the spirit. Also used for childhood convulsions and seizures.
2.  Invigorates the blood, dissipates stasis, and unblocks the menses: for amenorrhea or pain associated with palpable fixed masses due to blood stasis. Can be used alone for this purpose. Also recently used in treating coronary artery disease. 
   
3. Promotes urination and unblocks painful urinary dribbling: for urinary retention or painful urinary dribbling, especially with bloody urine.
4. Reduces swelling and promotes healing: topically applied for sores, carbuncles, and ulcerations of the skin. Also for swelling and pain in the area of the scrotum or vulva.

Treatment Principles

Calms the Shen
Reduces Convulsions
Dissipates Blood Stasis
Stimulates Normal Urination
Reduces Swelling
Heals the Skin

Contraindication

Contraindicated with yin deficiency heat, and frequent urination. This herb is sedative and may cause drowsiness, therefore use caution when driving.

Dosages

1.5-3g powdered. Do not decoct or expose to heat.

Meridians

UB, HT, LV

Tom's Comment

1. Hu Po is amber. It is used in the olden days to calm (wind-fright) in children.
2. Hu Po is used in China to address BPH (Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy).
3. Hu Po is crushed and dissolved in tea, it is not to be cooked for long duration.

Source

Formula Type