Description

alismatis rhizome (zexie)
pharmaceutical name: rhizoma alismatis

botanical name: alisma orientalis (sam.) Juzep.

common name: alismatis rhizome, water plantain tuber

source of earliest record: shennong bencao jing

part used & method for pharmaceutical preparations: the rhizomes are dug in winter. After the fibrous roots and bark have been removed, the rhizomes are soaked in water, cut into slices and dried in the sun.

properties & taste: sweet or no taste and cold

meridians: kidney and urinary bladder

functions: to transform dampness and promote water metabolism

indications & combinations: dysuria, turbid urine, edema, diarrhea and profuse leukorrhea, or retention of phlegm and fluids, leading to dizziness, vertigo, palpitation and cough. Alismatis rhizome (zexie) is used with poria (fuling), umbellate pore-fungus (zhuling) and white atractylodes (baizhu) in the formula wuling san.

dosage: 5-10 g