State/School

Pacific College Comps

Pharm Name

Aucklandiae Radix

Common Name

Costus Root

Category

Regulate the Qi

Ingredients

Taste

Acrid, Bitter

Pao Zhi

Temperature

Warm

Action / Indication

1. Promotes the movement of qi and stops pain: for Spleen or Stomach stagnant qi with such symptoms as lack of appetite, a feeling of food sitting in the stomach, along with epigastric or abdominal pain or distention, nausea, and vomiting. Also used for stagnant Liver or Gallbladder qi with such symptoms as flank pain, distention, or soreness.
2. Adjusts and regulates stagnant qi in the Intestines: for diarrhea and dysenteric disorders, or for abdominal pain and tenesmus. Because of its slightly astringent property, this herb is commonly used for treatin 
   
3. Strengthens the Spleen and prevents stagnation: used with tonifying herbs to ameliorate their side effects. Especially useful when the transformative and transportive functions of the Spleen are weak.

Treatment Principles

Moves Qi Stagnation in the Middle
Moves Qi Stagnation in the Intestines
Tonifies the Spleen
Prevents Stagnation
Clears Damp-Heat

Contraindication

Yin deficiency fire, or depleted fluids.

Dosages

1.5-9g, decocted, or in pills or powders. Use raw for qi stagnation. Use roasted for diarrhea and tenesmus.

Meridians

GB, LI, ST, SP, SJ

Tom's Comment

1. Mu Xiang can regulate Intestinal Qi. It also has a slightly astringing property that is useful for dysenteric disorders.
2. Mu Xiang is often times in used in formulas that address Middle Jiao Qi Stagnation.
3. Mu Xiang DOES NOT Tonify the Spleen. It strengthens the Spleen to optimize its transformative and transporting functions. It has no long term Tonifying effects.

Source

Formula Type