Yuan Zhi - Lab Tested, 1lb

Yuan Zhi , also known as Polygala Root, Chinese Senega, Thin-Leaf Milkwort, or Siberian Milk-Wort Root (Radix Polygalae), is a Chinese medicinal herb in the category of substances that calm the Spirit. It is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for calming the Spirit, expelling Phlegm, opening the Orifices, and clearing the channel joining the Heart and Kidney.

TCM Formula Profile

Temperature: Slightly Warm (Warm)
Taste: Bitter, Acrid
Channels Entered: Heart, Lung (Liver)

Primary Functions

• Calms the Spirit, sedates the Heart and clears the channel joining the Heart and Kidney
• Expels Phlegm, opens the Orifices, clears the Lungs and stops coughing
• Reduces abscesses and dissipates swellings

Indications

Yuan Zhi is traditionally used for:

• Insomnia, palpitations with anxiety, restlessness, and disorientation
• Most effective for excessive brooding or pent-up emotions
• Lack of communication between the Heart and Kidneys
• Phlegm Blocking the Heart Orifices with emotions and mental disorientation, spasms or seizures
• Phlegm Obstructing the Lungs with copious sputum, especially when it is difficult to expectorate
• Angina pectoris
• Boils, abscesses, sores and swollen, painful breasts (powdered and applied topically or taken with wine)

Clinical Notes

Yuan Zhi is used when tonifying Heart Qi, Yin, and Blood to nourish the Heart, dispel Phlegm and sedate the mind. It is commonly used for severe weakness and insomnia when the Kidney and Heart are weak. It is useful for treating a variety of sensory disorders. This herb is good for insomnia or palpitations due to pent-up emotions. It is said to benefit wisdom.

Yuan Zhi can be used alone, honey-fried to treat insomnia and excessive dreaming. It can be taken internally as a powder with liquor or made into a paste to be applied topically for boils, abscesses, sore or swollen and painful breasts due to Phlegm Obstructing the channels and collaterals.

Herb Comparisons

Both Yuan Zhi and Sm. Zizyphi Spinosae (Suan Zao Ren) enter the Heart channel, calm the Spirit, and treat palpitations with anxiety and insomnia. Yuan Zhi is acrid, dispersing, bitter, draining, and warm to enable it to unblock, assisting the Heart Yang and augmenting the Heart Qi to reestablish communication between the Heart and Kidneys thereby strengthening resolve. It is more appropriate for palpitations and insomnia due to loss of communication between the Heart and Kidneys along with confusion, lack of concentration and forgetfulness. Suan Zao Ren is sour, sweet and neutral. It nourishes the Heart and Liver Blood and is more appropriate for Deficiency irritability and insomnia in which the sour-contracting nature generates Fluids and restrains excessive dispersal of Spirit.

Yuan Zhi, Sm. Zizyphi Spinosae (Suan Zao Ren) and Sm. Platycladi (Bai Zi Ren) all enter the Heart channel, calm the Spirit, and treat fright, palpitations and insomnia. Suan Zao Ren and Bai Zi Ren are sweet, neutral and nourish the Heart Yin and Liver Blood and are most appropriate for irritability and insomnia from Deficiency. Bai Zi Ren primarily treats the Heart and moistens and lubricates the Intestines to treat dry constipation while Suan Zao Ren primarily treats the Liver. primarily treats the Liver. It restrains and inhibits, astringing sweat and generating Fluids to treat thirst due to injured Fluids and profuse sweating from Deficiency. Yuan Zhi is acrid-dispersing, bitter-draining and warm to unblock, assisting Heart Yang and augmenting Heart Qi to reestablish harmonious communication between the Heart and Kidneys, calm the Spirit and strengthen resolve. It is more appropriate for palpitations and insomnia due to loss of communication between the Heart and the Kidneys with confusion, loss of concentration and forgetfulness. It disperses Stagnation, expels Phlegm, reduces swellings, and disperses sores and can be used for cough due to Cold-Phlegm and for Cold Obstructing the Qi allowing Phlegm and Dampness to enter the collaterals and cause toxic swollen sores.

Both Yuan Zhi and Rz. Acori Tatarinowii (Shi Chang Pu) enter the Heart, clear Phlegm and open the Orifices. Shi Chang Pu is acrid and war and relies on its aromatic fragrance to open the Orifices, disseminate Qi and Dampness and expel Phlegm. Yuan Zhi expels phlegm, calms the Spirit and augments the mind and uses its bitterness to drain and descend the Phlegm that rebels upward to the Heart. Both herbs are often used together.

Preparation Forms

Processed Polygala (Zhi Yuan Zhi): Less drying and numbing which irritates the throat. Its ability to calm the Spirit is stronger.

Honey-prepared Polygala (Mi Zhi Yuan Zi): Stronger at transforming Phlegm a stopping coughs. It is best for cough with profuse Phlegm that is difficult to expectorate.

Incompatibilities

Counteracts Margarita (Zhen Zhu). Counteracts Rz. Veratri (Li Lu).

Herb/Drug Interactions

Concurrent use with diuretics such as chlorothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, furmoside (Lasix), bumetinide (Bumex) and torsemide (Demadex) may lead to increased elimination of water and/or electrolytes.