Arisaema Cum Bile
Aliases：Dǎn Xīng (Gallbladder Arisaema); Niú Dǎn Xīng (Ox Gallbladder Arisaema); Yáng Dǎn Xīng (Sheep Gallbladder Arisaema); Zhū Dǎn Xīng (Pig Gallbladder Arisaema).
Dǎn Nán Xīng (Arisaema cum Bile) is a Chinese medicinal substance. It is processed from the fine powder of prepared Arisaema Rhizome with ox, sheep, or pig bile, or from the fine powder of raw Arisaema Rhizome fermented with ox, sheep, or pig bile. After processing with bile, the pungent, warm, and drying nature of Arisaema is greatly reduced, and its medicinal property changes from warm to cool. As recorded in the Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu): “Arisaema, when processed with ox bile by our predecessors, is called Dǎn Xīng. Ox bile is bitter, cold, and moistening, with the effect of benefiting the liver and calming convulsions, moderating the drying nature of Arisaema and reducing its toxicity.”
Efficacy & Actions
Clears heat, resolves phlegm, calms wind, and relieves convulsions.
Indications
Used for phlegm-heat cough with thick yellow sputum, stroke with phlegm confusion, and manic epilepsy. It is also used for infantile acute convulsions, phlegm-heat cough and wheezing, headache, and dizziness. The Yao Pin Hua Yi states that it is indicated for "all types of stroke, wind epilepsy, convulsions, wind-type headache, dizziness, senile dementia, and infantile convulsions."
Modern Pharmacology
Antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects: Exhibits significant antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects. Anticonvulsant effect: Exhibits anticonvulsant effects and can be used as an adjunctive treatment for epilepsy. Analgesic effect: Exhibits certain analgesic effects. Antioxidant effect: Exhibits antioxidant activity. Expectorant effect: Exhibits expectorant effects.
Ingredients
Bile Acids: Hyodeoxycholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, deoxycholic acid, bilirubin, among others. Flavonoids: Schaftoside, isoschaftoside, apigenin-6-C-arabinosyl-8-C-galactoside, apigenin-6-C-galactosyl-8-C-arabinoside, apigenin-6,8-di-C-glucopyranoside, apigenin-6,8-di-C-galactoside, among others. Sterols: β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, cholesterol, among others. Phenolic Acids: Gallic acid, ethyl gallate, among others. Other Components: Polysaccharides, alkaloids, saponins, amino acids, trace elements, among others.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, the standard dosage is 3–6g; may also be prepared in pills or powder.
Contraindications
Contraindicated in patients with qi and blood deficiency. Use with caution during pregnancy. Use with caution in patients with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold: As Dǎn Nán Xīng (Arisaema cum Bile) is cool in nature, it may aggravate deficiency-cold symptoms.
Selected Formulas
For wind-heat toxin congestion in children, cooling the heart and calming fright (Shengji Zonglu, Paolong Wan) Take 50g of Dannanxing (bile-processed Arisaema), 10 pieces each of gold and silver foil, 7.5g of Dansha (cinnabar), and 1 zi each of Longnao (borneol) and Shexiang (musk). Grind together very finely, mix with honey to make pills the size of a Gorgon fruit. Take one pill each time, dissolved in bamboo leaf water. For phlegm confusion with unconsciousness and limb contracture in children (Liyue Pianwen, Dannanxing Wan) Take 75g of aged Dannanxing, 50g each of Xijiao (rhinoceros horn, now substituted), Lingyangjiao (antelope horn), 35g of raw Longchi (dragon tooth), 25g of Baijiezi (mustard seed), and 5g of Chensha (cinnabar). Make into pills with aged rice water, coat with gold foil. When used, rub one pill on the chest and back, and also apply to the navel. For phlegm-saliva wheezing and dyspnea (Shazheng Huiyao, Niuhuang Wan) Take 15g each of Dannanxing and Tianzhuhuang (bamboo sap), 2.5g each of Xionghuang (realgar) and Zhusha (cinnabar), and 2g each of Niuhuang (bovine bezoar) and Shexiang (musk). Grind together into powder, make into pills with licorice water, the size of waxberry seeds. Take 2 pills each time with slightly cold ginger water. For cough with profuse phlegm and wheezing (modern Chinese patent medicine: Qingfei Huatan Wan) Take 30g of Dannanxing (sand-fried), 60g of Kuxingren (bitter apricot seed), 60g of Fabanxia (processed pinellia, sand-fried), 60g of Zhike (bitter orange, stir-fried), 60g of Huangqin (Scutellaria, wine-processed), 30g of Chuanbeimu (Fritillaria), 30g of Mahuang (Ephedra, processed), 60g of Jiegeng (Platycodon), 30g of Baishuzi (perilla seed), 60g of Gualouzi (Trichosanthes seed), 60g of Chenpi (tangerine peel), 30g of Laifuzi (radish seed, stir-fried), 30g of Kuandonghua (Farfara, processed), 60g of Fuling (Poria), and 30g of Gancao (Licorice). Make into pills and take. Action: Descends qi, transforms phlegm, stops cough, and relieves wheezing.
Daily Consumption
Decoction for oral use: Take 3–6g of Dǎn Nán Xīng (Arisaema cum Bile), decoct it in water, and drink the liquid. It may be used as an adjunctive treatment for phlegm-heat cough with thick yellow sputum, and other related conditions.
Medicinal Parts
It is a processed product of Arisaema Rhizome. It is processed from the fine powder of prepared Arisaema Rhizome with ox, sheep, or pig bile, or from the fine powder of raw Arisaema Rhizome fermented with ox, sheep, or pig bile.
Selection & Storage
Store in a well-ventilated, dry place, protected from insects.
