| Arctium lappa L. is a commonly used herb in Chinese medicine. In the Chinese Materia Medica, a textbook for undergraduates, it is shown as one of the herbs that dispersing wind-heat, and is seen in the chapter of herbs that releasing the exterior. In the textbook, its properties, applications, processing, usage and cautions are explained. However, it is also found some inconsistent records between the textbook and ancient literatures. Any application records are missing? How to use it exactly in ancient clinic? What are the adverse reactions? To these problems, a comprehensive and in-depth research is needed on it. In this thesis, the formulas and medical cases about Arctium lappa L. recorded by ancient Chinese doctors are studied in order to conclude the properties and the commonly used combinations, and to discuss the way of thinking in clinical practice. This study is to illustrate the natures of Arctium lappa L. and how it develops in clinical practice, to break up the fixed understanding of Arctium lappa L. in actions and indications, to demonstrate the ways how the ancients had been used in clinic aiming at improve the contemporary clinical effect.The thesis consists of six parts.1. Literature reviewThis part is the summary of the knowledge about Arctium lappa L. in modern clinical practice and laboratory researches from the aspects including chemical components, pharmacological actions, processing methods and clinical applications of formula preparations. Reports on its clinical application and efficacy are found a lot of but literature researches are few.2. Study on the name, botanical features, collection time and habitat of Arctium lappa L.In this part, the name is found related to its botanical features and actions. The knowledge of species and habitat also are helpful for understanding its historical development and clinical application.3. The development of the nature and property, and applications of Arctium lappa L.In this part, the different understanding of the property, channel entered, application and indication of Arctium lappa L. are shown from dynasty to dynasty, yet some common understanding also found.(Ⅰ) Since it firstly appeared in Miscellaneous Records of Famous Physicians (Ming Yi Bie Lu) in North and South Kingdoms (500A.D), people had been considering it as "acrid" and "neutral" in property until the Ming dynasty. After that, more and more practitioners held that it was "acid","bitter" and "cold" in property. The textbook of Chinese Materia Medica and Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China (2010version) hold the same opinion. Then, why there is a different view between past and present? Which is correct? Its application in formulas may give the answer, so the thesis demonstrates the details by studying the original records and prescriptions.(2) Channels entered:According to the classics, most practitioners considered that Arciium lappa L. entered the channels of lung. Though some thought it entered the channels of stomach and liver or the lung and stomach, we believe that it enters to twelve channels by the analysis of clinical application.(3) According to the classics of materia medica, Arciium lappa L. could improve eyesight, strengthen the middle burner, moisten the lung, raise the qi and descend the lung qi. Besides, it also clears toxic-heat, softens lumps, relieves sores, dispels wind, relieves coughing and reduces sputum, easies the throat, regulate defecation and dredge the meridian. More, it can be used for rashes, facial edema, toothache, pain of waist and knee, paralysis of limbs, and so on. Compared with modern records, Arciium lappa L. was used flexibly in a large range of application. Modern research has proved that the Arciium lappa L. can be used for cervical spondyiosis, arthritis, mastitis and diabetic nephropathy.4. Study on the combination and clinical applicationCase records were classified and analyzed, and the statistics were made to find out the combination laws and the ways of clinical application of Fructus Arciium lappa L This part showed:when combined with other herbs, it can clears and raise the lung qi. facilitate the eruption of rashes, dispel wind and clear heat, relieve the throat, dissolve abscesses, clear the toxicity, unblock the collaterals, soften hardness and dissipate mass, moisten and activate the large intestines to stimulate the bowel movement, relieve edema by dispelling wind as well.5. Processing to the property and actionMany processing methods of Arciium lappa L. were found in the ancient classics. It showed that clinically Arciium lappa L. can be used raw or prepared, and the prepared one is more commonly used. The changes of its property are related to different processing methods. The processing affects the properties, ascending-descending-floating-sinking. and actions. In some sense, the processing method affected the changes of the properties during the development of Arciium lappa L6. SummaryThrough the research, it is found that the properties of Arciium lappa I,, are acrid with dispersing, ascending and floating propertiews. and also slightly bitter and slightly cold with descending and sinking properties as well. The ways of processing and combination affect the property. Pertinent and flexible combination according to syndrome differentiation can expand the range of the applications of Arctium lappa L, increase the efficacy and reduce the adverse reaction as much as possible. So we should pay more attention to the study of the processing methods in clinical application. At the same time, more experimental researches on different prepared Arctium lappa L. should be carried out to provide more scientific proof. More efforts should be made to enlarge the application range, improve the clinical effect and enable Arctium lappa L. to comply better with the requirement of clinical practice. Modern research shows that the extracts of Arctium lappa L. have the functions of anti-fatigue, improving the growth of muscle and strengthening the body. It may have the tonifying function, which is similar to the actions of the root of Arctium lappa L. But no strong evidence has been found through the literature research. |
PDF Full Text Request