Western and Chinese herbalism
Ku Shen
Sophora flavescens
Also known as Shrubby Sophora Root, Bitter Root, Sophora.
Ku Shen acts primarily as: Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antiparasitic, Anti-inflammatory, Antipruritic, Antiarrhythmic, Diuretic, Antineoplastic (matrine/oxymatrine). Secondary actions include Clear damp-heat, Dispel wind and kill parasites, Drain heat, Promote urination, Antipruritic.
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Indications what the tradition reached for it in
- Damp-heat diarrhea and dysentery
- Damp-heat jaundice
- Vaginal itching and discharge (topical and internal)
- Eczema, scabies and weeping skin lesions
- Pruritus
- Urinary dysfunction with heat
- Trichomonas and fungal infections
- Cardiac arrhythmia (matrine, adjunct)
Safety
Pregnancy: Not for use in pregnancy
Breastfeeding: Not for use while breastfeeding
The record lists 5 contraindications; open the plate in the library to read them in full.
Dosing as the sources wrote it
| Preparation | As written | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Dried root decoction | Dried root decoction: 4.5-9 g/day | 4500-9000 mg |
| Tincture (1:5) | Tincture (1:5): 1-3 ml three times daily | 1-3 mL |
| Powder/capsule | Powder/capsule: 1-2 g/day | 1000-2000 mg |
| A tincture of the seeds, with 98 per cent alcohol, is suggested, 5 drops of which may be added to 4 fluid ounces of water, the dose of the dilution being a tablespoonful. | 0.25-0.25 mL |
Doses are reproduced from the sources for practitioners and are not a recommendation for any person.
From the sources
primary-actions. Ku Shen acts primarily as: Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antiparasitic, Anti-inflammatory, Antipruritic, Antiarrhythmic, Diuretic, Antineoplastic (matrine/oxymatrine). Secondary actions include Clear damp-heat, Dispel wind and kill parasites, Drain heat, Promote urination, Antipruritic.
indications. Ku Shen is traditionally indicated for: Damp-heat diarrhea and dysentery, Damp-heat jaundice, Vaginal itching and discharge (topical and internal), Eczema, scabies and weeping skin lesions, Pruritus, Urinary dysfunction with heat, Trichomonas and fungal infections, Cardiac arrhythmia (matrine, adjunct).
constituents. Notable constituents of Ku Shen include: Quinolizidine alkaloids (matrine, oxymatrine, sophocarpine), Flavonoids (kurarinone, sophoraflavanone), Triterpenoid saponins.
dose-reference. Reference preparation/dosing for Ku Shen: Dried root decoction: 4.5-9 g/day; Tincture (1:5): 1-3 ml three times daily; Powder/capsule: 1-2 g/day; Decoction used topically as a wash for itch and discharge
Drawn from King's American Dispensatory, 18th edition (Felter and Lloyd), and the Bountiful Herbs editorial.
In formulas
Ku Shen stands in 36 documented formulas in the library, among them xião feng sǎn, dàng guì niãn tòng tàng, dàng gui bèi mù kù shên wán, kù shẽn tàng, dãng gui yin zi.
Often paired with
Licorice rootGlycyrrhiza glabra
Dong QuaiAngelica sinensis
cang zhuAtractylodes lancea
Fang FengSaposhnikovia divaricata
Zhi MuAnemarrhena asphodeloides
Chinese skullcapScutellaria baicalensisNearby on the shelf
Korean pinePinus koraiensis
KoussoBrayera anthelmintica
KoussoCusso
KratomMitragyna speciosa
KudzuPueraria lobata
KurchiHolarrhena antidysenterica
KutkiPicrorhiza kurroa
Labrador TeaRhododendron groenlandicumThe whole plate is in the library. The compass, Compare, the Sky of eleven hundred plants and the formulary open with an email address and a password, free, with the formula builder and its safety engine. Herbert without limit, his formulating, clients, the handouts and the labels are the paid room.
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