The effects of Scrophularia (Xuan Shen)

Scrophularia (Xuan Shen) is a commonly used traditional Chinese herb with various therapeutic effects and functions:

1. Clearing heat and cooling blood: Scrophularia is cold in nature and effectively clears heat while cooling the blood. It is primarily used for symptoms caused by febrile diseases, such as fever, restlessness with thirst, dark red tongue, and skin eruptions. It shows significant effects in clearing heat between the nutrient (ying) and qi levels, acting similarly to modern antibiotics by reducing inflammation or infection.

2. Nourishing yin and reducing fire: Scrophularia nourishes yin and reduces deficient fire, making it effective for treating symptoms caused by yin deficiency with hyperactive fire, such as tidal fever, consumptive cough, heat in the palms, soles, and chest, and insomnia due to deficiency-heat. It also helps relieve symptoms like hot palms and soles, night sweats, and evening潮heat associated with yin deficiency.

3. Detoxifying and resolving nodules: Scrophularia has detoxifying and nodule-dispersing properties, making it useful in treating various heat conditions caused by excessive heat-toxin, such as sore throat, red and swollen eyes, boils, carbuncles, and gangrene. It can also treat lumps and nodules caused by phlegm-heat accumulation, including scrofula and phlegm nodules.

Due to its cold nature, Scrophularia may be contraindicated in patients with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold, weakened digestive function, or blood deficiency. Therefore, it should be used under the guidance of a physician, and self-medication should be avoided.