Euphorbiae Helioscopiae Herba
Aliases：Qī Jīng (Lacquer Stem); Māo Er Yǎn Jīng Cǎo (Cat's Eye Grass); Wǔ Fèng Líng Zhī (Five Phoenix Spirit Branch); Wǔ Fèng Cǎo (Five Phoenix Grass); Lǜ Yè Lǜ Huā Cǎo (Green Leaf, Green Flower Grass); Liáng Sǎn Cǎo (Umbrella Grass); Wǔ Zhǎn Dēng (Five-Lamp Grass); Wǔ Duǒ Yún (Five Cloud Clusters); Bái Zhǒng Rǔ Cǎo (White Swelling Milk Grass); Wǔ Diǎn Cǎo (Five-Spot Grass); Wǔ Dēng Tóu Cǎo (Five-Lamp Head Grass); Rǔ Jiāng Cǎo (Milk Sap Grass); Zhǒng Shǒu Kē (Swollen Hand Plant); Mǎ Hǔ Yǎn (Horse Tiger Eye); Dào Dú Sǎn (Poison-Reversing Umbrella); Yī Bǎ Sǎn (One Umbrella); Rǔ Cǎo (Milk Grass); Lóng Hǔ Cǎo (Dragon Tiger Grass); Tiě Gǔ Sǎn (Iron Bone Umbrella); Jiǔ Tóu Shī Zi Cǎo (Nine-Headed Lion Grass); Dēng Tái Cǎo (Lampstand Grass); Xuǎn Cǎo (Ringworm Grass).
Zé Qī (泽漆) is a Chinese medicinal herb. It is the dried whole plant of Euphorbia helioscopia L., a plant of the Euphorbiaceae family. The whole plant contains a white, milky latex. Due to its significant therapeutic effects but also certain toxicity, clinical use requires caution.
Efficacy & Actions
Expels water to reduce swelling, resolves phlegm and disperses nodules, kills parasites and treats tinea.
Indications
Internal Medicine: Used for ascites, generalized edema, and swelling of the face and limbs due to water-retention and distension patterns. It may also be used for phlegm-retention with cough, dyspnea, and qi counterflow, as well as lung-heat cough. Surgery: Used internally or externally for scrofula (tuberculous lymphadenitis), tuberculous fistulas, and tinea (ringworm). Others: May be used for bacillary dysentery, as well as for the elimination of fly larvae and mosquito larvae (wrigglers).
Modern Pharmacology
Antitumor: Aqueous extract inhibits HeLa cervical cancer cells; suppresses proliferation, invasion, migration, and promotes apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer cells (PC-9, A549); inhibits lung tumorigenesis by alleviating chronic inflammation. Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory: Exhibits potential anti-oral ulcer effects; compound Zeqi granules show therapeutic effects on psoriasis. Antibacterial and insecticidal: Possesses antibacterial, insecticidal, and molluscicidal activities. Others: Decoction shows mild antipyretic effects in febrile rabbits and reduces capillary permeability.
Ingredients
Diterpene Esters: Such as phytol palmitate, hexadecyl palmitate, lupeol palmitate, etc. Flavonoids: Such as quercetin, isoquercetin, hyperoside, rutin, etc. Other Components: Also contains triterpenes, sterols, phenolic acids, amino acids, euphorbia saponin, euphol, etc.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, the standard dosage is 3–9g. It may also be prepared as an extract (paste), or made into pills or powder. Topical Application: An appropriate amount may be decocted in water for washing, made into an ointment for application, or ground into powder and mixed for external application.
Contraindications
Use with caution in debilitated patients: Not suitable for those with qi and blood deficiency. Use with caution in patients with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold: Its bitter and cold nature may damage the stomach. Contraindicated during pregnancy. Use with caution in children. This herb is toxic. It should not be taken for a prolonged period or in large doses. Incompatibility: Incompatible with Chinese Yam (Shān Yào), as concurrent use may increase toxicity.
Selected Formulas
For fluid retention with cough and deep pulse (Jin Gui Yao Lue, Zeqi Tang) Take Zeqi (Euphorbia helioscopia), Banxia (Pinellia), Zishen (Salvia), Shengjiang (Ginger), Baiqian (Cynanchum), Gancao (Licorice), Huangqin (Scutellaria), Renshen (Ginseng), and Guizhi (Cinnamon twig). Decoct in water and drink. For generalized edema with wheezing and restlessness (Qianjin Fang) Take Zeqi root with Liyu (Carp), Chixiaodou (Adzuki bean), Fuling (Poria), and Renshen (Ginseng). Decoct in water and drink. For scrofula (Bianmin Tuzuan) Take Zeqi alone and boil down to a paste. Clean the affected area with a decoction of pepper, scallion, and Huai (Sophora) twigs, then apply the paste. For tinea (Weisheng Yijian Fang) Dry Zeqi in the sun, grind into powder, mix with sesame oil, and apply to the affected area.
Daily Consumption
Decoction for Oral Use: Take 3–9g of dried Zé Qī (泽漆), decoct it in water, and drink the liquid. Note: This should only be taken under the guidance of a physician.
Medicinal Parts
Dried whole plant.
Selection & Storage
Store in a dry container in a cool, dry place.
