Poppy Capsule (Yingsuqiao)
| Pharmaceutical Name: | Pericarpium Papaveris |
| Botanical Name: | Papaver somniferum L. |
| Common Name: | Opium poppy capsule Poppy capsule |
| Source of Earliest Record: | Kaibao Bencao |
| Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: | The capsules are gathered in summer. After the seeds are removed, the capsules are dried in the sun, and then they are fried with honey. |
| Properties and Taste: | Sour, astringent, neutral and toxic |
| Meridian: | Lung, large intestine and kidney |
| Functions: | To astringe the lungs To astringe the intestines To stop pain |
| Indications and Combinations: | 1. Chronic cough due to deficiency of the lungs. *Use with with Black plum (Wumei). 2. Chronic diarrhea or chronic dysentery. *Use with Coptis root (Huanglian), Costus root (Muxiang) and Dried ginger (Ganjiang). 3. Pain. *Use alone for the treatment of pain. |
| Dosage: | 3-10 g (Fried with honey, the herb is used for cough; prepared with vinegar, for diarrhea with pain.) |
| Cautions: | This herb is contraindicated in the early stage of cough and dysentery. Care should be taken to avoid overdosing. |