Spirodela (Fuping)

Spirodela (Fuping)

Pharmaceutical Name: Herba spirodelae
Botanical Name: Spirodela polyrrhiza (L.) Schield.
Common Name:Spirodela, Duckweed
Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing
Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The whole plant is gathered in summer, cleaned and dried in the sun.
Properties and Taste: Pungent and cold
Meridian: Lung and urinary bladder
Functions: To promote sweating and release the exterior
To bring measles rash to the surface and relieve itching
To remove water and reduce swelling
Indications and Combinations: 1.     Wind-heat type of exterior syndrome.
*Use with Schizonepeta (Jingjie), Mentha (Bohe) and Forsythia fruit (Lianqiao).

2.  Measles without full expression of rash.
*Use with Mentha (Bohe), Arctium fruit (Niubangzi) and Cicada slough (Chantui).

3.   Wind-heat type of incomplete rashes and itching of the skin.
*Use with Mentha (Bohe) and Arctium fruit (Niubangzi).

4.      Edema and difficult urination accompanied by exterior syndrome.
*Mashed and taken alone.
Dosage: 3-10 g
Cautions: This herb is contraindicated in cases with weak constitution and spontaneous sweating.