Cassia Seed (Juemingzi)
| Pharmaceutical Name: | Semen sennae |
| Botanical Name: | Cassia angustifolia Vahl Cassia acutifolia Delile |
| Common Name: | Foetid Cassia seed |
| Source of Earliest Record: | Shennong Bencao Jing |
| art Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: | The seeds are gathered in autumn and dried in the sun. |
| Properties and Taste: | Sweet, bitter and slightly cold |
| Meridian: | Liver and large intestine |
| Functions: | To clear heat in the liver and brighten the eyes To dispel wind and clear heat To moisten the intestines and move feces |
| Indications and Combinations: | 1. Upward disturbance of liver fire or invasion of exogenous wind and heat manifested as red, swollen and painful eyes and photophobia. *Use with Chrysanthemum flower (Juhua). Mulberry leaf (Sangye), Capejasmine (Zhizi) and Prunella spike (Xiakucao). 2. Constipation due to dryness in the intestines. *Use alone. 3. Hyperactivity of liver yang manifested as dizziness, vertigo and blurred vision. *Use with Uncaria stem (Gouteng) and raw Oyster shell (Muli). 4. Deficient yin of the liver and kidneys manifested as blurred vision and cataracts. *Use with Flattened milkvetch seed (Shayuanzi), Tribulus fruit (Baijili), Grossy privet fruit (Nuzhenzi) and Wolfberry fruit (Gouqizi). |
| Dosage: | 10-15 g |