Guest guest Posted June 30, 2000 Report Share Posted June 30, 2000 Has anyone found references to Semen plantago asiatica used as a laxative? I'm struck by the use of the plantain seeds to consolidate the stool in diarrhea when European and American species are used as a laxative. Aside from the smaller size and a little bit less mucilage in the Chinese species, the taste and texture seems pretty similar. Conversely has anyone tried using the western species to drain damp heat and consolidate the stool in diarrhea? Karen Vaughan CreationsGarden *************************************** Email advice is not a substitute for medical treatment. " Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of men of old; seek what they sought. " --Matsuo Basho ______________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2000 Report Share Posted June 30, 2000 When psyllium is ground, it retains fiber that is not present in decoction or granules. Constipation is helped by fiber when bulk is missing from diet (uncommon in agrarian China, no doubt). Bulk water soluble fiber can also ameliorate diarrhea by absorbing excess fluid in the colon. Also, the diuretic effect of che qian zi leads excess water out of the body in general, thus reducing loose stool in that way. In TCM, the functional emphasis seems to be mainly on draining dampness to cause its antidiarrhea action. Some physicians consider che qian zi to have kidney tonic properties, on the yin side. While laxative is not noted as part of the traditional actions, many seeds are moistening to the yin (cannabis, sesame). Biochemically, che qian zi is not only high in fiber, but also is mainly composed of a wide range of essential fatty acids. , Karen S Vaughan <creationsgarden@j...> wrote: > Has anyone found references to Semen plantago asiatica used as a > laxative? I'm struck by the use of the plantain seeds to consolidate the > stool in diarrhea when European and American species are used as a > laxative. Aside from the smaller size and a little bit less mucilage in > the Chinese species, the taste and texture seems pretty similar. > > Conversely has anyone tried using the western species to drain damp heat > and consolidate the stool in diarrhea? > > Karen Vaughan > CreationsGarden@j... > *************************************** > Email advice is not a substitute for medical treatment. > " Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of men of old; seek what they > sought. " --Matsuo Basho > > ______________ > YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! > Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! > Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: > http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 1, 2000 Report Share Posted July 1, 2000 Karen I havn't seen any written reference to che qian zi and constipation.But it makes sense that it could be used for it ,if the cause was stagnation of damp . Heiko Lade Registered Acupuncturist / Chinese Herbalist 2 Jenkins St. Green Island, Dunedin New Zealand Tel: (03) 488 4086, Fax: (03) 488 4012 http://www.lade.com/heiko Email: heiko Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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