English: Windmill palm bark
Chinese: 棕榈
Parts used: Dried petiole
TCM category: Herbs that stop bleeding
TCM nature: Neutral
Organ affinity: Large intestine Liver Lung
Scientific name: Trachycar fortunei
Other names: Chusan palm
Use of Zong Lu (windmill palm bark) in TCM
Please note that you should never self-prescribe TCM ingredients. A TCM ingredient is almost never eaten on its own but as part of a formula containing several ingredients that act together. Please consult a professional TCM practitioner, they will be best able to guide you.
Preparation: Remove impurities, wash and dry.
Dosage: 3-15g
Main actions according to TCM*: Stops bleeding
Primary conditions or symptoms for which Zong Lu may be prescribed by TCM doctors*: Hematemesis Epistaxis Hematuria Hematochezia Abnormal uterine bleeding Vomiting blood
Contraindications*: Do not use if you suffer from intestinal bleeding and dysentery due to Damp-Heat.
Common TCM formulas in which Zong Lu is used*
Shi Hui San
Source date: 1348g
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Formula key actions: Cools the Blood and . Stops bleeding. Clears Heat and drains Fire.
Conditions targeted*: Pulmonary tuberculosisBronchiectasis and others
Zong Lu is a deputy ingredient in Shi Hui San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
In Shi Hui San, Zong Lu is added for its astringent properties, which are very effective at stopping bleeding.
Together with the key herbs, it clear the Heat that is the source of the bleeding problem while also stopping the bleeding.
Qing Re Gu Jing Tang
Source date: 1988
Number of ingredients: 11 herbs
Formula key actions: Clears Empty Heat. Tonifies the Kidney Yin. Stops bleeding. Supplies Body Fluids.
Conditions targeted*: MetrorrhagiaThreatened miscarriage and others
Zong Lu is an assistant ingredient in Qing Re Gu Jing Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Qing Re Gu Jing Tang, Zong Lu stops bleeding by astringing Blood leakage.
Gu Chong Tang
Source date: 1918-1934
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Formula key actions: Augments Qi . Strengthens the Spleen. Stabilizes the Penetrating Vessel. Stops bleeding.
Conditions targeted*: Dysfunctional uterine bleedingPostpartum bleeding and others
Zong Lu is an assistant ingredient in Gu Chong Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Gu Chong Tang, Zong Lu restrain Body Fluids leakage and stop bleeding.
Because of the importance of quickly stopping the bleeding, the dosage of this ingredients is rather large. However, there is an potential risk that it may cause Blood Stagnation.
Key TCM concepts behind Zong Lu's properties
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Zong Lu belongs to the 'Herbs that stop bleeding' category. Like the name indicates these herbs tend to have hemostatic properties, meaning that they help stop various types of hemorrhages and echymosis. Unlike other herbs they often tend to be used externally.
Furthermore Zong Lu is Neutral in nature. This means that Zong Lu typically doesn't affect the balance in your body. Balance between Yin and Yang is a key health concept in TCM. Eating too many "Hot" (Yang) ingredients can lead to an imbalance whereby one has a Yang Excess. The inverse is true as well: too many "Cold" (Yin) ingredients can lead to a Yin Excess. The Neutral nature of Zong Lu means that you don't have to worry about that!
Zong Lu also tastes Bitter and Sour. The so-called 'Five Phases' theory in Chinese Medicine states that the taste of TCM ingredients is a key determinant of their action in the body. Bitter ingredients like Zong Lu tends to have a cleansing action on the body by clearing Heat, drying Dampness and promoting elimination via urination or bowel movements. On the other hand Sour ingredients help with digestion and restrain abnormal discharges of Fluids from the body, such as diarrhea or heavy sweating.
The tastes of ingredients in TCM also determine what Organs and Meridians they target. As such Zong Lu is thought to target the Large intestine, the Liver and the Lung. In TCM the Large Intestine receives the "impure" parts of the digested food from the Small Intestine, absorbs the remaining fluids and excrete the remainder as feces. The Liver on the other hand is often referred as the body's "general" because it is in charge of regulating the movements of Qi and the Body Fluids. It also takes a leading role in balancing our emotions. In addition to performing respiration, the Lungs are thought in TCM to be a key part of the production chain for Qi and the Body Fluids that nourish the body.