What are the functions, benefits, and contraindications of Cyperus rotundus? What are its medicinal values? Below is a detailed introduction."Cyperus rotundus possesses a neutral, non-cold nature. Its fragrance enables penetration, while its pungent taste promotes dispersion, slight bitterness facilitates descent, and subtle sweetness harmonizes. When raw, it ascends to the chest and diaphragm, reaching the skin externally. When cooked, it descends to the liver and kidneys, penetrating the waist and legs externally. Stir-fried until blackened, it stops bleeding. When stir-fried with child's urine, it enters the blood system to replenish deficiency. When stir-fried with salt water, it enters the blood system to moisten dryness.When stir-fried with rock salt, it tonifies kidney qi; when soaked in wine and stir-fried, it activates meridians; when soaked in vinegar and stir-fried, it dissipates accumulations; when stir-fried with ginger juice, it transforms phlegm and fluid retention. Combined with ginseng or atractylodes, it tonifies qi; with angelica or rehmannia, it nourishes blood; with aquilaria, it harmonizes stagnation and mediates the middle jiao; with sandalwood, it regulates qi and invigorates the spleen; with agarwood, it regulates the ascending and descending of qi; with ligusticum orAtractylodes macrocephala comprehensively resolves all stagnation; with Gardenia and Coptis, it reduces fire and heat; with Poria, it harmonizes heart and kidney; with Anise and Cnidium, it guides qi back to its source; with Magnolia and Pinellia, it resolves obstruction and eliminates distension; with Perilla and Scallion, it disperses stagnant qi; with Acorus and Curcuma, it dissolves masses; with Artemisia, it treats blood disorders and warms the uterus.It is the sovereign for qi disorders and the commander in gynecology."
What are the functions, efficacy, and contraindications of Cyperus rotundus?
【Efficacy of Chinese Herb Cyperus rotundus】
Regulates qi and relieves depression; alleviates pain and regulates menstruation. Treats liver-stomach disharmony, qi stagnation, distension and pain in chest, abdomen, and flanks; phlegm retention with fullness; irregular menstruation; metrorrhagia and leukorrhea.
(1) Xiangfu regulates qi and relieves depression: Used for chest, flank, and abdominal distension/pain due to liver qi stagnation. Combined with Chaihu and Qingpi to treat chest/flank pain. Combined with Gaoliangjiang (in Liangfu Pill) to treat cold stomach pain.Combined with Artemisia argyi to treat menstrual abdominal pain due to cold stagnation and qi stagnation.
① Materia Medica Supplement: "Relieves chest heat, nourishes skin and hair. Long-term use benefits health, boosts qi, and promotes beard and eyebrow growth."
② Tang Materia Medica: "Powerfully expels qi, eliminates heat from chest and abdomen."
③ Medical Origins: "Promotes qi flow."
④ Li Gao: "Cyperus rhizome treats all qi disorders, including vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain from cholera, kidney deficiency, cold bladder, aids digestion, and expels qi."
⑤ Tangye Bencao: "Cyperus rhizome treats uterine bleeding."
⑥ Diannan Bencao: "Regulates qi within the blood, dispels stagnation, soothes the middle burner, aids digestion, and stops vomiting."
⑦ Bencao Gangmu:Dispels seasonal cold epidemics, benefits the triple burner, resolves six types of stagnation, eliminates food accumulation, phlegm retention, fullness, swelling, abdominal distension, beriberi, and alleviates pain in the heart, abdomen, limbs, head, eyes, teeth, ears, boils, ulcers, hemoptysis, hematochezia, hematuria, uterine bleeding, leukorrhea, irregular menstruation, and all ailments before and after childbirth.
【Effects of Chinese Herbal Xiangfu】
① Effects of Xiangfu on the Uterus
A 5% fluid extract of Xiangfu (purchased in Nanjing, reportedly sourced from Guangdong) inhibits contractions in isolated uteruses (both pregnant and non-pregnant) from guinea pigs, rabbits, cats, and dogs. Its relaxing effect on uterine muscle tone is similar to that of Angelica sinensis fluid extract, though less potent.The oils contained in Cyperus rotundus exhibit weak estrogenic activity.
② Analgesic Effects of Cyperus rotundus
Using the mouse electric plate stimulation method, subcutaneous injection of 0.5 mL/20 g body weight of a 20% ethanol extract of Cyperus rotundus (sourced from Guiyang) significantly increased the pain threshold in mice.
③ Antibacterial Effects of Cyperus rotundus
The rhizome exhibits antibacterial activity, and its extracts inhibit certain fungi.
【Side Effects and Contraindications of Cyperus rotundus】
Contraindicated for individuals with qi deficiency without stagnation or yin deficiency with blood heat.
① Compendium of Materia Medica: "Best when combined with boy's urine, vinegar, Ligusticum wallichii, and Atractylodes lancea."
② Ben Cao Jing Shu: "For premature menstruation caused by blood heat, the principle is to cool the blood; this herb is contraindicated."
③ Ben Cao Hui Yan: "Solitary use, excessive use, or prolonged use depletes qi and damages blood."