Phyllostachys glauca McClure / Pleioblastus amarus (Keng) keng
Aliases：Tuì Yāng Zhú (Withered Bamboo); Biě Zhú (Shrunken Bamboo).
Xiān Rén Zhàng (Immortal’s Staff) is the dried, withered stem of young bamboo, primarily from Phyllostachys glauca McClure and Pleioblastus amarus (Keng) keng, plants of the Poaceae family. It is described as “a bamboo shoot that died upright while maturing into bamboo, black as lacquer,” and is harvested in May and June. It is named for its appearance as a withered staff-like stem.
Efficacy & Actions
Harmonizes the stomach, promotes diuresis, and interrupts malarial disorders. Because it is neutral in nature, salty in taste, and enters the Stomach and Kidney meridians, it can regulate stomach qi and promote diuresis.
Indications
Used for nausea and vomiting, infantile milk regurgitation, edema, beriberi, malaria, and hemorrhoids. The “Compendium of Materia Medica” (Bencao Gangmu) records that “decocting it in water and drinking helps remove fish bones stuck in the throat”.
Modern Pharmacology
Specific modern pharmacological research on Xiān Rén Zhàng is currently limited. Its clinical application is primarily based on traditional Chinese medical theory and clinical experience. For example, veteran practitioner Zhang Wengeng used it alone as a tea for cirrhotic ascites and chronic nephritis edema. Its constituents may be similar to those of other Poaceae plants such as Phyllostachys and Pleioblastus, but specific pharmacological activities require further investigation.
Ingredients
The main chemical components are plant skeletal materials such as lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose from the withered young stems of Poaceae plants (Phyllostachys and Pleioblastus), along with possible secondary metabolites like flavonoids and phenolic acids. Specific active ingredients require further research.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, the standard dosage is 15–30g. Topical Application: Appropriate amount, decocted in water for fumigation and washing.
Contraindications
Contraindications are not yet clearly established.
Selected Formulas
Xiān Rén Zhàng Tea (Clinical Experience, cited from Zhejiang Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Issue 4, 2000) Ingredients: 30–60g of dried Xiān Rén Zhàng. Preparation: Wash and cut into sections, decoct in water, strain. Efficacy: Harmonizes the stomach, promotes diuresis, and reduces swelling. Indications: Cirrhotic ascites, chronic nephritis edema. Dosage: Consume frequently as tea.
Daily Consumption
Compatibility: Xiān Rén Zhàng is often combined with other diuretic herbs such as Poria (Fú Líng), Polyporus (Zhū Líng), and Alisma (Zé Xiè) to enhance its diuretic and anti-edema effects.
Medicinal Parts
Withered young bamboo stems.
Selection & Storage
Store in a well-ventilated, dry place, protected from moisture, mold, and insects.