Semen brassicae

Naming

Bai Jie Zi (Semen brassicae) ——Ming Yi Bie Lu (Miscellaneous Records of Famous physicians)

The Processing of Semen brassicae

Origin

The dry ripe seed of annual or over annual herbaceous plant Sinapis alba L. or Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. et Coss. of family Cruciferae.

Location

Anhui, Henan and Sichuan provinces in China.

Harvest

Collected in the end of summer and beginning of autumn when the fruit ripened.

The actual smell and taste

Light smell, pungent taste.

Best quality

Regular and full.

Processing

Unprocessed or stir-baked.

The Effect of Semen brassicae

Property

Pungent, warm; lung and stomach meridians entered.

Actions

Warm lung and dispel phlegm, promote qi flow and dissipate nodulation, resolve swelling and alleviate pain.

Indications

A. Cough and dyspnea due to cold-phlegm, chest fullness and hypochondriac pain

This herb can dispel cold of lung, promote qi flow and resolve cold-phlegm. For cough, dyspnea and profuse and clear expectoration caused by cold-phlegm accumulation of lung and unsmooth qi flow, it is usually combined with qi-descending and phlegm-resolving herbs and antasthmatics. For instance it is combined with Su Zi and Lai Fu Zi in San Zi Yang Qin Tang from Han Shi Yi Tong (Han's Experience Collection). For cough, dyspnea, chest fullness and hvpochondriac pain as well as strong body structure and abundant qi, it is combined with phlegm-eliminating and accumulated water-driven herbs such as Gan Sui and Da Ji. For clod-wheezing, it is combined with Xi Xin, Gan Sui and She Xiang and made powder applied on the acupoint of Feishu (B13)and Gaohuang (B43) and so on.

B. Deep rooted carbuncle of yin type and multiple abscess, numbness of body, swollen and painful joint

This herb is capable of warming and dredging meridians and collaterals, resolving swelling, dissipating nodulation and alleviating pain. It is also ground into powder singly and mixed with vinegar for external application it can warm and dredges meridians and vessels, eliminate phlegm and dispel cold indicated for deep rooted carbuncle of yin type and multiple abscess caused by damp-phlegm obstruction of meridians and collaterals. It is usually combined with blood-activating and meridian-dredging herbs and flow of qi-promoting analgesics to enhance the action when treating body numbness and swelling and pain of joint caused by phlegm and damp accumulation and obstruction of meridians and collaterals. For instance it is combined with Mu Bie Zi, Mo Yao, Rou Gui and Mu Xiang and made powder taken with wine in Bai Jie Zi San from Fu Ren Da Quan Liang Fang. It is commonly combined with yang-warming, cold-dispelling and blood-nourishing herbs. For instance in order to warm yang, remove stagnation, resolve phlegm and dissipate nodulation, it is combined with Lu Jiao Jiao, Rou Gui, Pao Jiang and Shu Di in Yang He Tang from Wai Ke Quan Sheng Ji (Life-Saving Manual of Diagnosis and Treatment of External Diseases).

Dosage and Administrations

Decoct 3~6 g. Make powder; proper dose for external application.

Cautions

This herb has strong stimulation to the skin mucosa and will easily cause red and swollen and blister, so it is prohibited for those with digestive tract ulcer and bleeding, skin allergy as well. Do not use overdose.