Cāng Zhú (苍术), known in English as Black atractylodes rhizome (Atractylodes lancea), is a warm, acrid and bitter Chinese herb from the Aromatic, transform damp category. It enters the Spleen, Stomach and Liver channels. Its main action: dries Damp, strengthens Spleen.
| Pinyin | Cāng Zhú (Cang Zhu) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 苍术 |
| English | Black atractylodes rhizome |
| Botanical name | Atractylodes lancea |
| Category | Aromatic, transform damp |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Acrid, Bitter |
| Channels | Spleen, Stomach, Liver |
| Dosage | 3–9g |
| Cautions | Yin deficiency with Heat; qi deficiency with sweating |
Actions
- Dries Damp, strengthens Spleen
- Expels Wind-Damp, disperses Cold, releases exterior
- Brightens eyes
Indications
- Damp obstructing Middle Jiao with fullness, poor appetite and diarrhoea
- Oedema
- Wind-Damp Bi
- Wind-Cold exterior with Damp
- Night blindness and dry eyes
How to remember Cāng Zhú
Aromatic, transform damp herbs are mostly warm or hot and acrid, and most enter the Stomach and Spleen channels.
- You can work these out
- Warm, Acrid, Stomach channel: like most Aromatic, transform damp herbs
- Spleen channel: from its action “strengthens Spleen”
- Liver channel: from its action “Brightens eyes”
- Learn by heart
- Bitter: unusual for Aromatic, transform damp herbs (most are acrid)
Formulas containing Cāng Zhú
Other Aromatic, transform damp herbs
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Cāng Zhú?
Cāng Zhú is warm and acrid and bitter.
Which channels does Cāng Zhú enter?
Cāng Zhú enters the Spleen, Stomach and Liver channels.
What are the actions of Cāng Zhú?
Dries Damp, strengthens Spleen; Expels Wind-Damp, disperses Cold, releases exterior; Brightens eyes.
What is Cāng Zhú used for?
Damp obstructing Middle Jiao with fullness, poor appetite and diarrhoea; oedema; Wind-Damp Bi; Wind-Cold exterior with Damp; night blindness and dry eyes.
Which formulas contain Cāng Zhú?
Píng Wèi Sǎn, Xiāo Fēng Sǎn, Jiǔ Wèi Qiāng Huó Tāng and Yuè Jū Wán.
Practise Cāng Zhú and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.