Petaurista petaurista（Pallas）
Aliases：Er Shu, Wu Shu, Yi You, Lei, Fei Lei, Fei Shu, Fei Sheng, Fei Sheng Chong (Flying Birth Insect), Fei Sheng Niao (Flying Birth Bird), Fei Hu (Flying Tiger), Song Mao Er (Pine Cat), and Da Wu Shu. (These are all alternative names for Lei Shu, i.e., Petaurista petaurista, also known as the Flying Squirrel. Note: despite names like "insect" or "bird" in some Chinese aliases, these all refer to the same flying squirrel species.)
Dongchuanhao is a traditional Chinese medicinal material. It is the dried whole herb of Artemisia mairei Lévl. (also known as Artemisia mairei H. Lév.), a plant belonging to the genus Artemisia of the family Asteraceae. It was first recorded in the Yunnan Seed Plants Directory (Yunnan Zhongzi Zhiwu Minglu).
Efficacy & Actions
Promotes labor and relieves pain.
Indications
Difficult labor, postpartum low back pain, joint pain, and cephalalgia (head wind pain).
Usage & Dosage
For oral administration: steep in wine for oral use, 15–30 g; or prepared as pills or powders.
Contraindications
Contraindicated in individuals with blood deficiency and no blood stasis. Use with caution during pregnancy.
Selected Formulas
For inducing labor (Bencao Tujing, citing Xiaopin Fang) Take one "Feisheng" (a type of flying rodent or related material), 14 pieces of Huai Zi (Chinese scholartree seeds), and 14 pieces of old crossbow feathers. Grind together into pills the size of waxberry seeds. Take 2 pills with wine.
Medicinal Parts
It is the whole body of Petaurista petaurista (Pallas), an animal belonging to the family Petauristidae.
Selection & Storage
Use fresh, or store in a cool, dry place, protected from moisture and insects.
