Sappan Wood (Sumu)
| Pharmaceutical Name: | Lignum Sappan |
| Botanical Name: | Caesalpinia sappan L. |
| Common Name: | Sappan wood |
| Source of Earliest Record: | Xinxiu Bencao |
| Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: | The heart wood is sawn into pieces or steamed and cut into slices. |
| Properties and Taste: | Sweet, salty, slightly pungent and neutral |
| Meridian: | Heart, liver and spleen |
| Functions: | To invigorate blood and promote menstruation To stop pain and reduce swelling |
| Indications and Combinations: | 1. Blood stagnation manifested as dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea and postpartum abdominal pain. *Use with Chinese angelica root (Danggui), Red peony (Chishao) and Safflower (Honghua). 2. Swellings and pains caused by external injuries. *Use with Frankincense (Ruxiang) and Myrrh (Moyao). |
| Dosage: | 3-10 g |
| Cautions: | This herb is contraindicated during pregnancy. |