Scrophulariae Radix
Aliases：Yuán Shēn (Primary Scrophularia); Hēi Shēn (Black Scrophularia); Zhè Xuán Shēn (Zhejiang Scrophularia); Chóng Tái (Stacked Platform); Zhèng Mǎ (Standard Horse); Xuán Tái (Dark Platform); Lù Cháng (Deer Intestine); Guǐ Cáng (Ghost Store); Fù Cǎo (Fragrant Herb); Yě Zhī Má (Wild Sesame); Shān Dāng Guī (Mountain Angelica); Shuǐ Luó Bo (Water Radish).
Xuán Shēn (Scrophularia Root) is a Chinese medicinal herb. It is the dried root of Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl., a plant of the Scrophulariaceae family. The root is excavated in winter when the stems and leaves wither, with rhizomes, buds, fibrous roots, and sediment removed. It is then sun-dried or baked until semi-dry, stacked for “sweating” (a fermentation process) until the interior turns black, and then sun-dried again. It is named “Xuán Shēn” because the root is blackish with a slight luster, as “xuán” means “black” in Chinese.
Efficacy & Actions
Clears heat and cools blood, nourishes yin and reduces fire, detoxifies and disperses nodules.
Indications
Used for invasion of the ying and blood aspects by heat, warm-toxin skin eruptions, yin damage due to febrile disease, crimson tongue with restlessness and thirst, constipation due to fluid depletion, bone-steaming with consumptive cough, red eyes, sore throat, diphtheria, scrofula, and carbuncles with sores and toxic swellings.
Modern Pharmacology
Cardiovascular System Protection: Exhibits vasodilation, anti-myocardial fibrosis, and anti-platelet aggregation effects. Anti-inflammatory Effect: Its phenylpropanoid glycoside components possess significant anti-inflammatory activity. Antioxidant Effect: Exhibits antioxidant activity. Hepatoprotective Effect: Has liver-protective effects. Antitumor Effect: Possesses certain antitumor activity. Other Effects: Also exhibits hypoglycemic, uric acid-lowering, antidepressant, antibacterial, and anti-fatigue effects, among others.
Ingredients
Iridoids: Harpagide, harpagoside, scrophularioside, aucubin, methoxyscrophularioside, etc. Phenylpropanoids: Phenylpropanoid glycosides, etc. Other Components: In addition, the herb also contains flavonoids, triterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, organic acids, polysaccharides, volatile oils, etc.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, the standard dosage is 9–15g; or prepared in pills or powder. Topical Application: Appropriate amount, mashed for application, or ground into powder and mixed for external application.
Contraindications
Contraindicated in patients with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold: As the herb is cold and sticky in nature, it may easily damage spleen-stomach yang qi. Therefore, it is not suitable for patients with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold, poor appetite, or loose stools. Contraindicated in patients with loose stools or excessive phlegm-dampness. Should not be used together with Veratrum nigrum (Lí Lú): This is one of the “Eighteen Incompatibilities” in Chinese herbal medicine. Use with caution during pregnancy.
Selected Formulas
For warm disease with heat entering the nutrient aspect, manifesting as fever worse at night, restlessness, and thirst (Wenbing Tiaobian, Qingying Tang) Take Xuanshen (Scrophularia), Shengdihuang (Rehmannia), Danshen (Salvia), and Lianqiao (Forsythia). Decoct in water and drink. For fluid damage and constipation due to febrile disease (Wenbing Tiaobian, Zengye Tang) Take equal parts of Xuanshen, Shengdihuang, and Maidong (Ophiopogon). Decoct in water and drink. For lung-kidney yin deficiency with bone-steaming and consumptive cough (Shenzhai Yishu, Baihe Gujin Tang) Take Xuanshen, Baihe (Lily bulb), Shengdihuang, and Beimu (Fritillaria). Decoct in water and drink. For severe epidemic toxin with swollen and painful throat (Dongyuan Shixiao Fang, Puji Xiaodu Yin) Take Xuanshen, Huangqin (Scutellaria), Lianqiao, and Banlangen (Isatis root). Decoct in water and drink. For thromboangiitis obliterans (Hebei Medical Institute Empirical Formula, Simiao Yong'an Tang) Take equal parts of Xuanshen, Danggui (Angelica), Jinyinhua (Honeysuckle flower), and Gancao (Licorice). Decoct in water and drink. For swollen and painful throat (Empirical Formula, Xuanmai Ganjie Tang) Take equal parts of Xuanshen, Maidong, Gancao, and Jiegeng (Platycodon). Decoct in water and drink. For warm-febrile disease with heat in both qi and blood aspects, manifesting as skin rashes (Wenbing Tiaobian, Huaban Tang) Take Xuanshen, Shigao (Gypsum), and Zhimu (Anemarrhena). Decoct in water and drink.
Daily Consumption
Xuanshen Tea: Take 5–10g of Xuanshen (Scrophularia Root), steep in boiling water, and drink frequently as a tea. It helps relieve sore throat, dry mouth, and parched tongue. Xuanshen and Maidong Drink: Take 10g each of Xuanshen and Maidong (Ophiopogon Root), steep in boiling water, and drink as a tea. It is suitable for fluid depletion with thirst due to yin damage from febrile disease.
Medicinal Parts
Dried root.
Selection & Storage
Store in a cool, dry place, protected from mold and insects.