Phlegm retention in chest treated with TCM Dichroa Root

What is Chang Shan(Dichroa Root)? From the standpoint of TCM, Chang Shan refers to the root of Dichroa febrifuga Lour. a saxifragaceae plant. It mainly grows in Sichuan, Guizhou, Hunan, and Hubei provinces in China. Usually it is harvested in fall. Before the use, it needs to have fibrous roots removed, washed, dried, or prepared with wine or vinegar.

What is Changshan used for?
Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that Chang Shan is bitter, acrid, and cold in nature. It covers three meridians, such as heart, liver, and lung. It is mainly used for stopping malaria and prompting to throw up sputum in the chest. Main uses and indications are the syndrome of water and phlegm retention in chest and malaria-induced fever. And typical dosage is from 4.5 to 9 grams, in the form of decoction. And less dosage should be used in the forms of pills and powder. In addition, unprocessed Changshan root is better in stimulating vomiting, while wine-prepared one is better in preventing Malaria. In addition, to maximize its healing property, it’s better to be taken half a day or 2 hours before the onset of malaria.

Modern medicinal effects
Modern research has found that it contains febrifugine A, B, C. These three tautomers are the main antimalarial active ingredient, or better known as halofuginone. As mentioned earlier, the changshan decoction and alcohol extract have a significant effect on malaria treatment. According to some statistics, the therapeutic effect of febrifugine A is equal to that of quinine; febrifugine C is the most powerful one and approximately 100 times of quinine; febrifugine B is in between. Besides, this herb is also capable of lowering blood pressure, exciting uterus, and resisting tumors, influenza virus, and amebic protozoa.