Perspiration during sleep treated with TCM Galla chinensis

What is Galla chinensis(Wu Bei Zi)?
Before the introduction of this herb, Rhus chinensis, also known as the Chinese sumac or nutgall tree, is something that has to be mentioned in the first place since it is the main source of medicinal galls. This is a plant in the Sumac family, anacardiaceae that is cultivated mainly for generating galls in China. As a matter of fact, galls of other plant species in the same genus Rhus are also considered with similar or same healing properties. These species are Rhus potaninii Maxim. and Rhus punjabensis Stew. var. sinica (Diels) Rehd. et Wils. And gall actually is the product of the infestation by Chinese sumac aphids, which is also called Melaphis chinensis (Bell) Baker. So, other common names of it also include Gallnut of Chinese Sumac and Chinese Sumac gall. Rhus chinensis is distributed in most parts of China, in particular Sichuan. The galls are usually picked in fall and dried after the parasite inside is killed by boiling. Medicinally it is normally used raw.

According to the shapes, galla chinensis can be classified into 2 types – Du-ensiform gall and horned gall. Du-ensiform gall is long, rounded or fusiform sac, which is 2.5 to 9cm long and 1.5 to 4cm in diameter. Surface is taupe or gray-brown and slightly pubescent. It is hard, brittle, easily broken, and with horn-like shiny section. Wall is from 0.2 to 0.3cm thick, smooth, and with dark brown dead aphid and gray powdery dead aphid excrement. The odor is quite peculiar and taste is astringent. Horned gall is diamond-shaped, with irregular angular branches, obvious pubescence, and thin walls.

Chinese gall health benefits
This herb is often confused with Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra Seed) because of not only the similar name but also the similar medicinal uses. Since both of them are sour in flavor and astringent in nature, they can astringe the lung to stop cough, arrest sweating and Seminal Emissions, and relieving Diarrhea. As a result, they are widely used in the treatment of diseases like chronic cough caused by lung deficiency, spontaneous sweating, perspiration during sleep, and Nocturnal Emission. However, they are not interchangeable since they have different healing properties.

Besides of astringing the lung, galla chinensis can still clear away the lung-heat and stop bleeding by astringency. So it is ideal for coughing up mucus or blood; schisandra seed can also nourish kidney. Hence, it is often used for dyspnea caused by lung-kidney deficiency and nocturnal emission caused by kidney deficiency and insecurity of the essence gate.