Costus Root (Mu Xiang)

木香
Costus root (Muxiang)

Pharmaceutical Name: Radix Aucklandiae seu Vladimiriae

Botanical Name: 1. Aucklandia lappa Decne.. 2. Vladimiria souliei (Franch.) Ling

Common Name: Aucklandia root, Costus root

Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing

Part Used: The roots are dug in October and can be used raw or baked.

Natural Properties & Taste: Pungent, bitter and warm

Meridians: Spleen, stomach, large intestine and gall bladder

Therapeutic Effects:
1. To regulate qi in the spleen and stomach.
2. To stop pain.

Indications:
1. Qi stagnation in the spleen and stomach manifested as poor appetite, epigastric and abdominal distension and pain, borborygmus and diarrhea. Costus root (Muxiang) is used with Poria (Fuling), Bitter orange (Zhiqiao) and Tangerine peel (Chenpi).

2. Damp-heat dysentery manifested as tenesmus and abdominal pain. Costus root (Muxiang) is used with Rhubarb (Dahuang) and Areca seed (Binglang) in the formula Muxiang Binglang Wan.

Dosage: 3-10 g

Cautions & Contraindications: The raw herb is used for qi stagnation, and the baked herb is used for diarrhea.