Sophora, Ku Shen 苦参 Ku Shen (TCM) Sophora japonicaDuhamel du Monceau, H.L., Traité des arbres et arbustes, Nouvelle édition, vol. 3 (1806) Sophora flavescens(Photo by Dalgial) (Wikimedia) Sophora Ku Shen from the Chengdu Medicine Market (Adam 2023) Botanical name: Sophora flavescens (syn. S. alopecuroides, S. angustifoliola, S. chinensis, S. korolkowii)Other synonyms include Anagyris chinensis, Macrotropis foetida, Ormosia esquirolii, Pongamia chinensis, Robinia mitis Parts used: Root Temperature & Taste: Cold, dry. Bitter Ku Shen in Bencao yuanshi (Origins of Materia Medica) by Li Zhongli, 1612) (Image from the WellcomeCollection) Classifications: B. Clears Heat and Damp Uses: 1. Clears Damp-Heat:-acute Dysentery with blood in the stool-purulent and blood-streaked Leukorrhea-Vaginal itching and discharge; Genital Sores-Alcoholism (Ming Yi Bie Lu)2. Settles Wind, Clears Heat, Stops Itching:-Eczema, Psoriasis, Leprosy-Sores and Rashes with exudation, itchiness and bleeding-itchy skin, Scabies3. Clears Damp-Heat, Promotes Urine:-painful, dribbling urine-Edema from Damp-Heat-‘treats jaundice and urinary dripping’ (Shen Nong Ben Cao)4. Clears Damp, Resolves Masses:-it has become an important herb for various Cancers-available in injectable form in China5. Clears Lung Heat, Stops Cough:-occasionally used for Lung Heat Cough with yellow, sticky Phlegm6. Kills Worms and Parasites:-previously used for Worms and Parasites (Su Gong, Li Shi Zhen)7. Externally:-as a wash for itchy skin…

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