Rubia cordifolia (Qiancao)

Distribution:
Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Shaanxi, Ningxia, Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan provinces of China.  Those produced in Henan, Shanxi, and Qingliu, Dafengshan of Fujiang are well known.
 
Properties (characteristics):
Bitter, cold
 
Channels (meridians) entered:
Heart, liver
 
Actions & Indications:
Roots help menses, promote blood circulation, promote urination, stop coughing blood or vomiting blood, Nasal Bleeding, used in missing menses due to blood stasis, cold damp heat bi, injuries from impacts and in jaundice, Edema.
 
Chemical ingredients:
1. RA series cyclic hexapeptides.

2. purpurin, alizarin, munjistin, pseudopurpurin, [2-methyl-1, 3, 6-trihydroxy-9, 10-anthraquinone], [1-hydroxy-9, 10-anthraquinone], [1, 2, 4-trihydroxy-9, 10-anthraquinone], [2-methyl-1,3, 6-trihydroxy-9, 10-anthraquinone], [1, 2-dihydroxy-9, 10-anthraquinone-2-beta D-xylosyl (1-->6)beta-D-glucoside], [1, 3-dihydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-9, 10-anthraquinone-3-O-beta-D-xylosyl (1-->6) beta-D-glucoside], [2-methyl-1, 3,6-trihydroxy-9, 10-anthraquinone-3-O-beta-D-xylosyl (1-->2) beta-D-(6'-acetyl) glucoside][2], [2-methyl-1-hydroxy-9, 10-anthraquinone], [2-methyl-1, 3, 6-trihydroxy-9, 10-anthraquinone-3-O-(6'-acetyl)-alpha-L-rhamnosyl (1-->2)-beta-D-glucoside], 92-methyl-1, 3, 6-trihydroxy-9, 10-anthraquinone-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnosyl (1 -->2)-beta-D-glucoside], [2-methyl-1, 3,6-trihydroxy-3-O-(6'-acetyl)-beta-D-glucoside].

3. rubilactone, furomollugin, 3'-carbomethoxy-4'-hydroxy-naphtho [1', 2'-2,3] pyran] dihydromollugin, [3-carbomethoxy-2-(3'-hydroxy) isopentyl-1, 4-maphtho-hydroquinone-1-O-beta-D-glucoside, 2-carbomethyoxy-3-isoprenyl-1, 4-naphtho-hydroquinone di-beta-D-glucoside], rubimallin.
 
Dosage:
As diuretics: 9~12 g per day; to promote menses: 15~30 g per day, as decoction.

Cautions:
Do not use in cases of stomach or spleen cold from deficiency (pixu (spleen deficient)