Bu Gu Zhi #

Psoraleae Fructus #

acrid, bitter, very warm

PRIMARY FUNCTION: #

Tonify Yang

CLASSICAL MANIFESTATIONS:

• Male sexual dysfunction
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Premature ejaculation
• Urinary tract disorders
  • Enuresis
  • Excess urinary frequency
• Pain
  • Low back pain
  • Cold extremities
• Wheezing
• Vitiligo
• Gastrointestinal tract disorders
  • Diarrhea
  • Borborygmus
  • Abdominal pain

The acrid aspect combined with the warming function of Bu Gu Zhi scatters and moves the cold in the abdomen, low back, and extremities. This is useful when the pain is caused from a cold pattern especially when the cold is from deficiency of yang (not enough heat).

It enters the spleen system for improvements in digestive function. This herb likely helps with pancreatic secretion of enzymes and with hydrochloric acid production in the stomach. For this reason, it can treat diarrhea when the diarrhea is caused from spleen deficiency.

The bitter quality of Bu Gu Zhi may help to eliminate transient bacteria in intestines and may explain the positive effect on vitiligo which is an autoimmune disease (although references to this benefit mostly refer to topical application). Many autoimmune diseases have their origins in gastrointestinal dysfunction. Once the microbiome of the gut is dysbiotic, then GALT (gut associated lymphoid tissue) will be compromised thereby impairing immune function systemically.

Bu Gu Zhi enters the kidney system to support hormone production from the adrenal glands. Low aldosterone will result in excess clear urination and this herb can help. The adrenal glands produce sex hormones which strengthen the tendons and ligaments resulting in a stronger low back. There may be a gonadal support aspect that combines with the adrenal gland support for treating erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation when the pathomechanism is deficiency of yang hormones.

Channels: kidney, spleen

COMMON APPLICATIONS AND CLINICAL POSSIBILITIES:

• Pancreatic exocrine function
  • Enzymes
• Hypochlorhydria
• Gastritis
• Chronic diarrhea
• Cold/painful extremities
• Alopecia
• Asthma
  • Bronchodilating hormones
• Adrenal gland system
  • Dyspnea
  • Spermatorrhea
  • Sex hormone dysregulation
• Leukorrhea
• Chronic cough
• Menorrhagia
• Frequent urination
• Fungal infections of the skin

Formulas:

• Qi Bao Mei Ran Dan
• Qing E Wan
• Si Shen Wan

Contraindications: do not use when there are signs of yin deficiency, this herb sometimes causes discomfort with patients that have a weak stomach, do not give with Gan Cao

Zoo Image: a grizzly bear is on a scooter having diarrhea from his cold abdomen, his kidney is grasping a qi can that he is wheezing into, he has vitiligo and a bed pan attached to the front of his scooter

Cassone Wellness