Learn About Chinese Herbs -Qian Niu Zi (Semen Pharbitidis / Morning Glory Seeds)-
This product was first published in the book "Famous Doctors Side Record" 《名医别录》. Tao Hongjing said: This medicine started in the mountains and fields, and people bring the cow in thanks for the medicine, so it was named. Li Shizhen called it black and white Chou respectively, because Chou (in ancient China time is counted in two hour increments which are known as “Tian Gan”, Chou represented the cow).
Aliases: Hei Chou, Bai Chou, Er Chou, Chou Niu, Black Qian Niu Zi, White Qian Niu Zi.
Source: Dried mature seeds of Pharbitis nil(L.) Choisy and Pharbitis Pur Purea (L.) voingt Choisy. Wild or cultivated.
Plant morphology
Morning glory: an annual winding herb. The whole plant is hairy, multi-branched, and the leaves are alternate heart-ovate, usually trifid to middle, with a whole margin. The flower axils have 1~3 flowers, the corolla is funnel-shaped, blue, lilac or white, five stamens, the ovary is round, three-chambered, each chamber has two ovules, the seeds are ovate and ridged, black-brown, white or light yellow.
Petunia rotundifolia (Petunia koryos): slightly different from the original, the whole plant is densely covered with white prickly hairs. The leaves are broad, heart-shaped. The flower axils have 1~5 flowers. The corolla is small, purple, pale red or white, and the seeds are ovate, black or yellowish-white.
Origin: Produced in all parts of the country.
Trait identification: the seeds are ovate with three edges, 3~5mm long, slightly flat or uneven on both sides, and arch-like bulges on the back. The ventral surface is a ridge line, and there is a round seed umbilicus at the upper end of the ridge line. The surface is black (for Hei Chou), light yellowish white (Bai Chou). Hard. In the cross-section, two cotyledons are extremely shrunken and overlapping, pale yellow, and the kernels are oily. There is no air, the taste is slightly spicy, there is a tongue numbing feeling, and there is a beany smell. It is considered to be of better quality to have seeds which are ripe, full and free of impurities.
Main ingredients: Contains morning glory glycosides (about 2%), which are resin glycosides, also known as morning glory fat; In addition, it also contains about 11% fatty oil.
Pharmachologic effect
（1） Laxative: The resin of Morning Glory is decomposed into Pharbitidisin in the intestine when it encounters bile and intestinal fluid, which has a strong irritation to the intestinal tract, increases intestinal peristalsis, causes intestinal mucosal congestion, increases secretion, and has a laxative effect. Generally, it will be diarrhea 3 hours after taking it, and it can even cause watery stool when the dosage is large. The experience of our predecessors says: "Whoever uses morning glory in low dose will move stool, take more and your stool will pour out like water." It is a laxative. Diarrhea is accompanied by abdominal pain. The traditional experience is that the medicinal power of black seeds is faster, and the power of white is slower, though modern experiments have preliminarily noted no difference in the laxative effect of black and white seeds (Journal of Nanjing Pharmaceutical University, 4:36, 1959).
（2） Diuresis.
（3） Insecticide: In vitro tests have a certain killing effect on roundworms and tapeworms.
Processing: Stir-fry, then mash it when adding into formula.
Taste: bitter cold, a little poisonous.
Meridians: into the lungs, kidneys, and large intestine meridians.
Function: Diarrhea to remove accumulation, remove water swelling, insecticide.
Indications: heat constipation, edema, roundworms, tapeworms.
Clinical application: It is mainly used to reduce swelling by removing water, but it is only suitable for the evidence of solid edema, with fullness, constipation, and the patient's constitution is acceptable and not weak.
（1） It is used for the treatment of cirrhosis of the liver. With Da Huang, Mang Xiao, Zhi Shi, such as the formula “Xiao Shui Fang”, this formula is decent at removing the water, after three or four times taken, the ascites subsides significantly.
（2） It is used to treat renal edema. For edema in the nephrodegeneration stage of chronic nephritis, 30~60g (adult amount) can be used in combination with other laxative and kidney warming herbs; Or use in the formula Zhou Che Wan (Hei Chou, Gan Sui, Da Ji, Yuan Hua, Da Huang, Qing Pi, Chen Pi, Mu Xiang, Bing Lang, Qing Fen) to chase out the water.
In addition, it can also be used to treat insect accumulation (constipation and other symptoms caused by ascariasis), broken rice-like red spots on the tongue, bitter yellow tongue coating, yellow urine, then use Hei Chou 9g (stir fried), Bing Lang 15g, ground into fine powder, 6g per serving, added with boiling water and drank warm, or Hei Chou can be added in other roundworm formula combinations, but it should be used with caution.
Cautionary Use
（1） If Qian Niu Zi are used to reduce swelling by chasing water to remove edema, it is necessary to pay attention to both attack and supplement, or restore energy after attacking. Those who are weak, elderly or pregnant women should avoid using Qian Niu Zi; If the abdomen is not swollen or does not feel swollen, or if there is no constipation, do not use it easily.
（2） Qian Niu Zi is not poisonous under the usual amount, but if overdosed (such as more than 30g for children), it can become poisonous, and neurological symptoms, hematuria, mucus and blood in the stool, severe abdominal pain, and vomiting may occur.
Dosage: 1.5~4.5g of powder is commonly used, and the dosage is 12~15g as appropriate. The dosage when used in soup formulas (aka deconcocted) can be slightly larger, using up to 24~30g.
Prescription examples
· Xiao Shui Fang formula: Hei Qian Niu 24g (ground, brew) Da Huang 15g (added later) Yuan Ming Fen 12g (brew) Zhi Shi 9g, decoction in water. If the constitution is weak, or the diarrhea is too severe after taking it, you can use jujube soup to adjust (jujube 30g decoction). And note that this formula cannot be taken for a long time, and it should be stopped after it is effective at decreasing symptom severity.
Annotations
1. The seeds of those who bloom white flowers are white; The seeds of those who bloom reddish-purple flowers are black.
2. The seeds of Morning Glory are generally slightly larger than those of Morning Glory rotundifolia, and the three edges are more obvious.
Disclaimer: All above articles are for reference only. If patients are interested, please consult a professional practitioner Traditional Chinese Medicine for a consultation.