Pharmaceutical Name:

Folium Apocyni veneti

Botanical Name:

Apocynum venetum L.

Common Name:

Dogbane leaf

Source of Earliest Record:

Shennong Bencao Jing

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations:

The leaves or whole plant are gathered in summer, dried in the sun and then cut into pieces.

Properties and Taste:

Tasteless, astringent and slightly cold

Meridian:

Liver

Functions:

To pacify the liver and clear heat
To promote urination

Indications and Combinations:

1.      Hyperactivity of liver yang manifested as headache, vertigo, dizziness, irritability and insomnia.
*Use with Prunella spike (Xiakucao), Uncaria stem (Gouteng) and Chrysanthemum flower (Juhua).  The herb can also be used alone as a tea.

2.      Dysuria and edema.
*Use with herb alone or with other herbs to promote urination.

Dosage:

3-10 g