蒲黃
Cattail pollen (Puhuang)
Pharmaceutical Name: Pollen Typhae
Botanical Name: 1. Typha orientalis Presl; 2. Typha angustifolia L.
Common Name: Cattail pollen, Bullrush pollen
Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing
Part Used: The pollen is gathered in May or June.
Natural Properties & Taste: Sweet and neutral
Meridians: Liver and pericardium
Therapeutic Effects:
1. To stop bleeding.
2. To release stagnation and stop pain
Indications:
1. Hemorrhages manifested as cough with blood, vomiting with blood, hematuria, bloody stool and uterine bleeding. Cattail pollen (Puhuang) is used with Agrimony (Xianhecao), Eclipta (Mohanlian) and Biota tops (Cebaiye).
2. Hemorrhages caused by external injuries. Cattail pollen (Puhuang) can be used alone and dry for external use.
3. Blood stagnation manifested as cardiac pain, abdominal pain, dysmenorrhea or postpartum abdominal pain. Cattail pollen (Puhuang) is used with Trogopterus dung (Wulingzhi) in the formula Shixiao San.
Dosage: 3-10 g
Cautions & Contraindications: The carbonized herb is effective in stopping bleeding; the raw herb is used for releasing stagnation and stopping pain.
