Aucklandiae Radix
Aliases：Guǎng Mù Xiāng (Guangzhou Costus Root); Yún Mù Xiāng (Yunnan Costus Root); Mì Xiāng (Honey-scented Costus Root); Qīng Mù Xiāng (Green Costus Root); Wǔ Xiāng (Five-spice Costus Root); Wǔ Mù Xiāng (Five-wood Costus Root); Nán Mù Xiāng (Southern Costus Root).
Mù Xiāng (Costus Root) is a Chinese medicinal herb. It is the dried root of Aucklandia lappa Decne., a plant of the Asteraceae family. The root is excavated in autumn and winter, with sediment and fibrous roots removed, cut into sections, and larger roots are split longitudinally, dried, and rough bark is removed.
Efficacy & Actions
Promotes qi circulation to relieve pain, strengthens the spleen, and aids digestion.
Indications
Used for distension and pain in the chest, hypochondrium, and epigastrium; dysentery with tenesmus; food stagnation with poor digestion; and poor appetite. Simmered Muxiang (prepared Costus Root) astringes the intestines to stop diarrhea, and is used for diarrhea with abdominal pain.
Modern Pharmacology
Regulation of gastrointestinal motility: Increases amplitude and tone of intestinal motility, promotes gastric emptying and intestinal propulsion; antagonizes intestinal spasm induced by acetylcholine and histamine. Chinese patent medicines containing Muxiang are widely used for digestive system disorders. Anti-inflammatory: Exhibits anti-inflammatory activity. Antitumor: Costunolide inhibits the growth of breast, gastric, melanoma, prostate, liver, and lung cancers. Antiplatelet aggregation: Volatile oils, dehydrocostus lactone, and costunolide significantly inhibit ADP-induced platelet aggregation. Antibacterial: Possesses strong antibacterial activity. Anti-ulcer: Exhibits anti-ulcer effects. Others: Dilates bronchial smooth muscle, mildly raises blood pressure, and lowers blood glucose.
Ingredients
Sesquiterpene lactones: Main active components, including costunolide and dehydrocostus lactone. The 2020 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia uses their total content as a quality marker, requiring not less than 1.8%. Terpenoids: Over 200 compounds have been reported, with sesquiterpenes being the most studied. Other constituents: Polysaccharides, alkenes, etc. The content of costunolide and dehydrocostus lactone in the volatile oil of the root can reach up to 50%.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, the standard dosage is 3–6g; or prepared in pills or powder.
Contraindications
Use with caution in patients with yin deficiency and fire excess: This herb is pungent, warm, and drying in nature, which may damage yin and help generate fire. Use with caution in patients with yin deficiency and insufficient body fluids. Use with caution in patients with lung deficiency and heat. Use with caution in patients with qi collapse (depletion of original qi) or yin deficiency with internal heat. Excessive dosage may cause nausea, vomiting, chest tightness, and abdominal pain.
Selected Formulas
Mù Xiāng Bīn Láng Wán (Muxiang and Areca Pill, from Wei Sheng Bao Jian) Ingredients: Muxiang (Costus Root), Areca Seed (Bīn Láng), Green Tangerine Peel (Qīng Pí), Tangerine Peel (Chén Pí), Fructus Aurantii (Zhǐ Qiào), Phellodendron Bark (Huáng Bǎi), Coptis Rhizome (Huáng Lián), Evodia Fruit (Wú Zhū Yú), Sparganium Rhizome (Sān Léng), Zedoary Rhizome (É Zhú), Rhubarb (Dà Huáng), Cyperus Rhizome (Xiāng Fù), Pharbitis Seed (Qiān Niú), and Mirabilite (Máng Xiāo). Efficacy: Promotes qi circulation, relieves stagnation, clears heat, and resolves dampness. Indications: Dysentery with abdominal pain and tenesmus (urgent but ineffective defecation). Qīng Mù Xiāng Wán (Green Muxiang Pill, from Compendium of Materia Medica) Ingredients: Muxiang and Chebula Fruit (Hē Zǐ), 20 liang each, ground, sifted, and mixed with sugar to form pills. Efficacy: Promotes qi circulation and relieves distension. Indications: Stomach qi stagnation with distension and poor appetite. Mù Xiāng Huà Zhì Tāng (Muxiang Stagnation-Resolving Decoction, from Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun, Volume 2) Efficacy: Regulates qi and supplements qi. Indications: Stagnation due to worry and consumption of damp-nature wheat food, causing epigastric pain, abdominal fullness, and poor appetite.
Daily Consumption
Muxiang Tea: Take 3–6g of Muxiang (Costus Root), place it in a cup, steep in boiling water, and let it infuse for 10–15 minutes with the lid on before drinking. It helps regulate gastrointestinal function and relieve symptoms of indigestion. The recommended daily dosage should not exceed 10g, and long-term continuous use is not advised. Muxiang Congee: Take an appropriate amount of Muxiang, decoct it in water to obtain the liquid, then add rice and cook into a congee. Season to taste before serving.
Medicinal Parts
Dried root.
Selection & Storage
Store in a dry place, protected from moisture.
