What are the effects and functions of Sparganium (Sanleng) and Curcuma zedoaria (Ezhu)?
Oct 18, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Xiuhong
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, Sparganum and Curcuma have effects and functions such as breaking up blood stasis, promoting qi circulation to relieve pain, eliminating food stagnation, harmonizing the stomach, invigorating the spleen, resolving stasis, and reducing masses. Both Sparganum and Curcuma possess strong blood-activating properties. In cases of severe stagnation of qi and blood—such as amenorrhea due to blood stasis—when obstructed blood blocks the uterus and prevents menstruation, combining Sparganum and Curcuma can effectively break up the blood stasis, allowing menstrual blood to be discharged normally.
Generally, Sparganium (Sanleng) and Curcuma zedoaria (Ezhu) have effects and functions such as breaking up blood stasis, promoting blood circulation, regulating qi to relieve pain, eliminating food stagnation, harmonizing the stomach, invigorating the spleen and stomach, and resolving blood stasis to dissipate masses. If discomfort occurs, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly. A detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Breaking Blood Stasis: Both Sanleng and Ezhu possess strong actions in breaking up blood stasis. In cases of severe stagnation of qi and blood—such as amenorrhea due to blood stasis, where obstructed blood flow in the uterus prevents menstruation—the combination of Sanleng and Ezhu can effectively break up blood stasis, unblock meridians, and restore normal menstrual discharge.
2. Regulating Qi and Relieving Pain: Sanleng and Ezhu can also regulate qi flow. When used together, they help to smooth the movement of qi and alleviate pain. They further regulate stagnation of qi in the spleen and stomach, relieving epigastric fullness and pain, and improving digestive dysfunction caused by impaired qi circulation, thereby achieving pain relief and enhanced gastrointestinal function through promoting qi flow.
3. Eliminating Food Accumulation: Sanleng and Ezhu are also effective in treating indigestion and food retention. When overeating or irregular eating leads to accumulation of undigested food in the gastrointestinal tract, these two herbs can enhance gastrointestinal motility, promote digestion and absorption, improve the transformation and transportation functions of the spleen and stomach, and aid in restoring health.
4. Harmonizing the Middle and Stimulating Appetite: Sanleng and Ezhu can also harmonize the middle burner and stimulate the appetite. When qi stagnation or food retention impairs the stomach's ability to receive and transform food, symptoms such as epigastric fullness, nausea, and vomiting may occur. These two herbs help restore smooth qi flow in the spleen and stomach through promoting qi circulation and eliminating accumulation, thus restoring normal digestive function and enhancing appetite.
5. Resolving Stasis and Dissipating Masses: These two herbs can resolve blood stasis and dissolve pathological masses (zheng-ji). Zheng-ji refers to intra-abdominal lumps often caused by factors such as blood stasis, phlegm-dampness, and qi stagnation. Sanleng and Ezhu can act deeply within the blood level, resolving stasis and softening hardness, gradually dissolving accumulated blood masses.
Patients should use these herbs under the guidance of a physician and should not self-medicate blindly, to avoid adverse effects due to improper use. Additionally, patients allergic to these herbal components should avoid using them to prevent allergic reactions such as rashes and itching.
