Dipsacus Root (Xu Duan, Radix Dipsaci)

This herb is the dried root of Dipsacus japonicus Miq., perennial herb of  the family Dipsacaceae. It is dug in autumn, and dried slightly in slow fire after removal of the remained stem and rootlets. Then the roots are piled up for sweating till the inner parts of them become green, dried by gentle fire, sliced, stir-baked without or with salt or wine for use.
Properties: Bitter, sweet and pungent in flavor, mildly warm in nature, it acts on the liver and kidney meridians. Being sweet and warm, it can strengthen yang and tonify the liver and kidney; owing to the pungent and warm nature, it can also promote blood circulation.
As a tonic, it functions mildly and without sticky property in tonifying the kidney, preventing abortion, promoting blood circulation and curing trauma. Thus, it serves to treat syndromes of deficiency of Chong and Ren Meridians, threatened abortion, traumatic ecchymoma and injury of muscles and bones.

Effects: Tonifying the liver and kidney, promoting reunion of fractured bones and preventing abortion.
Indication:
1. For the syndrome due to insufficiency of the liver and kidney, and manifested as pain in the loins and knees, and weakness of muscles and bones, it is often used with Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae, Cortex Eucommiae, Ramulus Loranthi, Radix Gentianae Macrophyllae and Radix Angelicae Pubescentis, etc.
2. For threatened abortion, due to kidney deficiency hyperactivity of the fetus with vaginal bleeding, metrorrhagia and metrostasis, it can be used with herbs for preventing abortion and hemostasis, such as Ramulus Loranthi, Colla Corii Asini, Semen Cuscutae, Herba Agrimoniae, etc.
3. For traumatic ecchymoma and pain, injury of muscles and bone fracture, it is often used with herbs for relieving blood stasis and pain, promoting reunion of fractured bones, such as Flos Carthami, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Lignum Sap pan, Resina Olibani, etc.
Dosage and Administration: 10-15g.

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