Learn About Chinese Herbs -Jue Ming Zi (Semen Cassiae)-
This product is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine, and it was first published in "Shennong's Materia Medica", which is listed as the top grade. Formerly known as Jue Ming.
Alias: Ma Ti Jue Ming, Cao Jue Ming
Source: This product is the dried mature seeds of Cassia tora L., an annual herbaceous plant in the legume family. Mostly cultivated.
Place of Origin: All over the country.
Trait identification: the seeds are cylindrical, like horseshoe, obliquely truncated at both ends, with a small tip (seed umbilicus) at one end, 5~7mm long, 2.5~3mm in diameter, brown or blue-green on the surface, smooth and shiny, with a lighter stripe on both sides, hard, not easy to break, the endosperm can be seen in the cross-section gray-white to pale yellow, cotyledons yellow or dark brown, strongly folded and shrunken. The smell is light and slightly bitter, and there is a beany smell when chewing. It is considered to be of better quality to have uniform, plump, and tan grains.
Main ingredients: Contains anthraquinone derivatives such as chrysophanol, emodin, aloe vera emodin, etc.
Pharmacological effects: due to the anti-inflammatory and laxative effects, it can dispel wind and heat, brighten the eyes, and remove constipation, and its eye improving effect may also be related to the carotene (A vitamin substance) contained in it. Modern experiments have also found that cassia has a hypotensive effect.
Preparation: Stir-fry.
Taste: sweet, bitter and salty, slightly cold.
Meridians: into the liver, gallbladder meridians.
Function: Cleanse the liver and kidneys, brighten the eyes, and laxative.
Indications: headache, red eyes, dimness, constipation.
Clinical application: This product is widely used in ophthalmology. Regardless of internal or external eye inflammation, as long as there are no contraindications (e.g. diarrhea, hypotension, etc.), it is beneficial to add Jue Ming Zi to the formula. However, it is mainly used in modern clinical practice for acute external eye inflammation.
（1） It is used for the treatment of eye redness, pain, shyness, and tearfulness caused by wind and heat (acute conjunctivitis, epidemic keratoconjunctivitis). Generally with Ju Hua, Mu Zei, Huang Qin, etc., such as acute inflammation prescription; Those with more severe symptoms must add Chai Hu, Huang Lian, Fang Feng, etc., such as in the formula Jue Ming Zi Tang.
（2） It is used for the treatment of hypertensive headache caused by hyperactivity of the liver. Use 15g of Jue Ming Zi alone or with 15g of Xia Ku Cao or 9g Gou Teng and Bai Ji Li, decoction in water.
（3） It is used for the treatment of constipation (it is more suitable for those with heat signs such as red eyes, bad breath, and less urine). It can be used with 9g of Dan Zhu Ye and Gua Lou Ren, decoction in water.
In addition, traditional experience believes that Jue Ming Zi are slightly tonic in clearing away heat (may be related to the presence of vitamin A substances), which can nourish kidney water, so it is also used for headache and dark eyes caused by kidney deficiency (belonging to some internal eye diseases), but it must be accompanied by other kidney strengthening herbs such as Gou Ji Zi, Gan Ju Hua, etc.
Caution for use: Contraindicated in patients with diarrhea and hypotension.
Dosage: 4.5~24g, common dosage 9~15g.
Prescription examples
· Jue Ming Zi Tang: Jue Ming Zi (stir-fry until yellow) 9g, Chai Hu 9g, Huang Lian 6g, Dan Zhu Ye 9g, Fang Feng 6g, Sheng Ma 3g, Xi Xin 1.5g, Ju Hua 9g, Gan Cao 3g, decoction in water.
Disclaimer: All above articles are for reference only. If patients are interested, please consult a professional practitioner Traditional Chinese Medicine for a consultation.