Semen Torreyae (Feizi)

Naming
Fei Zi (Semen Torreyae)-Ming Yi Bie Lu (Miscellaneous Records of Famous physicians)

Origin
The dry ripe seed of evergreen tree Torreya grandis Fort. of family Taxaceae.

Location
Anhui, Fujian and Jiangsu provinces in China.

Harvest
Collected in autumn when ripened.

The actual smell and taste
Slightly fragrant and sweet.

Best quality
Dry, large, thin crust, complete and yellowish white without oily looking.

Processing
Removed carneous aril, washed and dried in the sun; unprocessed or stir-baked.

Property
Sweet, neutral; lung, stomach and large intestine meridians entered.

Actions
Expel parasites, moisten intestine and moisten lung and relieve cough.

Indications
A. Various intestinal parasitic diseases
This herb can kill parasites and remove food retention, moisten intestine and relax bowel. So it is not necessary combined with purgatives. It does not damage stomach because of its neutral nature and sweet flavor. It’s effective to helminthic accumulation and abdominal pain caused by various intestinal parasites, such as roundworm, hookworm, tapeworm fasciolopsis. For ascariasis, it is usually combined with Shi Jun Zi and Ku Lian Pi. For ancylostomiasis, it’s used singly or combined with Semen Arecae (Binglang), Rhizoma Dryopteris Crassirhizomae (Guanzhong). For taeniasis, it is combined with Bing Lang and Nan Gua Zi.

B. Intestine dryness and constipation
This herb is sweet, moist and neutral, enters large intestine meridian, so it can moisten intestine and relax bowel. For hemorrhoid and constipation it is stir-baked and chewed and swallowed recorded in Ben Cao Yan Yi (Augmented Materia Medica). It is also combined with intestine-moistening and bowel-relaxing herbs such as Da Ma Ren, Yu Li Ren as well as Gua Lou Ren.

C. Lung dryness and cough

This herb is sweet and moist, enters lung meridian, so it can moisten lung and relieve cough. But the effect is not strong, suitable for mild case, and combined with yin-nourishing, lung-moistening and cough-relieving herbs such as Chuan Bei Mu, Gua Lou Ren, Zhi Sang Ye, Fructus Amomi (Sharen).

In addition, for filariasis, it is combined with Xue Yu Tan and made honey pills, 4 days as a treatment course. Usually after 1~2 courses, the disease will be cured.

Dosage and Administrations
Decoct 10~15 g. Stir-baked fragrant, and chewed and swallowed 15 g once.

Cautions
It is prohibited in cases of loose stool and cough due to lung heat.