Chinese Herbalism
Sheng ma
Actaea cimicifuga
Also known as Chinese cimicifuga, Chinese black cohosh, Dahurian bugbane, large-leaf bugbane, foetid bugbane, shēng má.
Sheng ma is the dried rhizome of several Chinese bugbanes, chiefly Actaea cimicifuga (still traded as Cimicifuga foetida) with Actaea dahurica and Actaea heracleifolia, tall woodland perennials of northern and central China, Siberia and Korea. It is a cool, acrid herb with two distinct jobs: in small amounts it lifts sinking qi and anchors the famous qi-raising formulas, while in larger amounts it vents rashes, clears fire toxin from the mouth and throat, and reduces fever. It is a close relative of American black cohosh but is used quite differently.
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Indications what the tradition reached for it in
- Early measles or other eruptive fevers where the rash is slow to surface
- Wind-heat headache with sore throat
- Mouth ulcers and swollen, bleeding gums
- Toothache from stomach fire
- Sore, swollen throat with fever
- Prolapse of the rectum or uterus from sinking spleen qi
- Chronic diarrhea with fatigue from spleen qi sinking
- Uterine bleeding or heavy periods from qi failing to hold blood
- Fatigue with a sense of downward dragging in the abdomen
- Menopausal hot flashes (research on the extract, not a classical use)
Specific indications
A child with fever and a measles-type rash that is slow and patchy to erupt, with sore throat and irritability
Chronic fatigue with a bearing-down feeling, hemorrhoids or mild uterine prolapse, where a small dose is added to a qi tonic formula to lift the qi
Safety
Low dose botanical. Used in drop doses in the classical practice; not a plant to dose freely.
The record lists 8 contraindications; open the plate in the library to read them in full.
In practice
Dose determines the role. At 1.5 to 3 g in a formula, sheng ma acts as an envoy that carries qi tonics upward; this is how it is used with huang qi (Astragalus), dang shen and chai hu for rectal or uterine prolapse, chronic diarrhea, tiredness with a dragging sensation, and bleeding from qi failing to hold blood.
In Chinese medicine
Temperature: slightly cold. Taste: acrid, slightly sweet, slightly bitter. Channels: Lung, Spleen, Stomach, Large Intestine. Actions: Releases the exterior and vents rashes such as measles; Clears heat and resolves toxicity, especially in the mouth, throat and gums; Raises the yang qi of the spleen and stomach to lift prolapse and sinking.
Dosing as the sources wrote it
| Preparation | As written | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Decoction (lifting qi) | 1.5-3 g dried rhizome daily in decoction | 1500-3000 mg |
| Decoction (venting rashes, clearing toxin) | 3-10 g dried rhizome daily in decoction | 3000-10000 mg |
| Tincture (1:5, 45%) | 1-2 mL three times daily | 1-2 mL |
Doses are reproduced from the sources for practitioners and are not a recommendation for any person.
From the sources
Overview. Sheng ma is the dried rhizome of several Chinese bugbanes, chiefly Actaea cimicifuga (still traded as Cimicifuga foetida) with Actaea dahurica and Actaea heracleifolia, tall woodland perennials of northern and central China, Siberia and Korea. It is a cool, acrid herb with two distinct jobs: in small amounts it lifts sinking qi and anchors the famous qi-raising formulas, while in larger amounts it vents rashes, clears fire toxin from the mouth and throat, and reduces fever. It is a close relative of American black cohosh but is used quite differently.
Clinical Notes. Dose determines the role. At 1.5 to 3 g in a formula, sheng ma acts as an envoy that carries qi tonics upward; this is how it is used with huang qi (Astragalus), dang shen and chai hu for rectal or uterine prolapse, chronic diarrhea, tiredness with a dragging sensation, and bleeding from qi failing to hold blood.
Chinese Medicine Profile. Temperature: slightly cold. Taste: acrid, slightly sweet, slightly bitter. Channels: Lung, Spleen, Stomach, Large Intestine. Actions: Releases the exterior and vents rashes such as measles; Clears heat and resolves toxicity, especially in the mouth, throat and gums; Raises the yang qi of the spleen and stomach to lift prolapse and sinking.
In formulas
Sheng ma stands in 91 documented formulas in the library, among them shẽng má gé gẽn tāng, xuǎn dú fà bião tāng, lì chuan jiàn, tông yõu táng, ging wèi sắn, qing wèi táng.
Often paired with
Licorice rootGlycyrrhiza glabra
Dong QuaiAngelica sinensis
GinsengPanax ginseng
Chai HuBupleurum falcatum
Bai ZhuAtractylodes macrocephala
Milk Vetch RootAstragalus membranaceusNearby on the shelf
ShankhpushpiConvolvulus pluricaulis
Sharp-leaf galangalAlpinia oxyphylla
ShatavariAsparagus racemosus
Sheep SorrelRumex acetosella
Shepherd's purseCapsella bursa-pastoris
ShiitakeLentinula edodes
ShilajitAsphaltum punjabianum
Shiny bugleweedLycopus lucidusThe 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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