Curcuma Zedoary (Ezhu)

Naming
E Zhu (Curcuma Zedoary)-Yao Xing Lun (Treatise on Herb Property)

Origin
The dry rhizome of perennial herbaceous plant Curcuma phaeocaulis Val. or C. kwangsiensis S. G. Lee et C. F. Liang or C. wenyujin Y. H. Chen et C. Ling of family Zingiberaceae.

Location
Peng E Zhu produced in Sichuan, Guangdong and Guangxi provinces in China. Wen E Zhu (also known as Wen Yu Jin) produced in Wenzhou city, Zhejiang province of China. Gui E Zhu (also known as Guang Xi E Zhu) produced in Guangxi province of China.

Harvest
Collected in winter when leaves withered.

The actual smell and taste
Fragrant or lightly fragrant, lightly bitter and pungent.

Best quality
Firm, large, fragrant.

Processing
Sliced and unprocessed or processed with vinegar.

Property
Pungent, bitter, warm; liver and spleen meridians entered.

Actions
Break blood and move qi, resolve food stagnation and alleviate pain.

Indications
A. Mass, amenorrhea and stagnant pain of heart and abdomen due to qi stagnation and blood stasis

This herb enters not only blood system but also qi system and can attack and break mass, dissolve blood stasis, move stagnant qi and alleviate pain. It is usually indicated for mass, amenorrhea and stagnant pain of heart and abdomen due to qi stagnation and blood stasis served as a key herb in treating mass. It is reinforced by the combination with Rhizoma Sparganii (Sanleng), and the action of stasis-breaking and mass-eliminating is enhanced. For amenorrhea and abdominal pain and mass, it is combined with Radix Angelicae Sinensis (Danggui), and Xiang Fu in E Zhu San from Shou Shi Bao Yuan. For mass under hypochondria, it is combined with Danshen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae), San Leng, Bie Jia, Radix Bupleuri (Chaihu). For angina pectoris, it is combined with Dan Shen, Chuanxiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong), etc. For lingering stasis with weak body, it is combined with San Leng, Radix Astragali (Huangqi), Dang Shen for both reinforing reduction.

B. Distension and pain of epigastrium and abdomen caused by food stagnation

This herb can move stagnant qi, remove food stagnation and alleviate pain indicated for severe distension and pain of epigastrium and abdomen caused by undigested food stagnation. It is usually combined with qi-moving analgesics and digestion-promoting and food stagnation-removing herbs. For instance it is combined with Qing Pi and Bing Lang in E Zhu Wan from Zheng Zhi Zhun Sheng. For food retention due to spleen deficiency and stuffiness, fullness, distension and pain of epigastrium and abdomen, it is combined with qi tonics and spleen-strengthening herbs such as Radix Codonopsis (Dangshen), Poria (Fuling), Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (Baizhu). In addition, it not only breaks blood and dispels stasis but also resolves swelling and alleviates pain. So it is indicated for traumatic injuries, congestion, swelling and pain usually combined with other blood-activating and trauma-curing herbs such as Zi Ran Tong and Su Mu.

Dosage and Administrations
Decoct 3~15 g. Processed with vinegar for breaking blood and dispelling stasis and unprocessed for moving qi and alleviating pain. Proper dose for external application.

Cautions
This herb is drastic in property with the disadvantage of consuming qi and impairing blood. Do not overtake long. Prohibited for pregnant women and during menstrual periods.