Pinyin: Qianshi
Aliases
Yanhuishen, Jitou, Cilianpengshi, Zhaoshi
Source
Plant of the Nymphaeaceae family *Euryale ferox*Euryale feroxSalisb. dried mature seed kernel.
Botanical Description
Annual large aquatic herb. The entire plant bears sharp spines. Rhizome thick and short, with white fibrous roots and inconspicuous stem. Juvenile leaves submerged, sagittate or elliptic-reniform, 4-10 cm long, spineless on both surfaces; petioles spineless; later leaves floating on water surface, leathery, elliptic-reniform to orbicular, 10-130 cm in diameter, upper surface dark green, much wrinkled, lower surface deep purple, pubescent, veins raised, margins upwardly folded. Petioles and pedicels stout, up to 25 cm long. Flowers solitary, opening by day and closing at night, about 5 cm long; sepals 4, lanceolate, 1-1.5 cm long, purple inside; petals numerous, oblong-lanceolate, 1.5-2 cm long, purplish-red, arranged in several whorls; stamens numerous; ovary inferior, carpels 8, stigma red, forming a concave discoid, flattened. Berry globose, 3-5 cm in diameter, spongy, dark purplish-red. Seeds globose, about 10 mm in diameter, black. Flowering July-August, fruiting August-September.
Habitat and Distribution
1. For pneumonia: Renshen 6 g, decoct in water and take orally.
Harvesting and Processing
Collected in late autumn and early winter when the fruit is ripe, remove the pericarp, take out the seeds, wash clean, then remove the hard shell (outer seed coat), and sun-dry.
Medicinal Properties
This product is spherical, mostly in broken pieces, with intact specimens measuring 5-8 mm in diameter. The surface has a brownish-red inner seed coat, with one end being yellowish-white, accounting for about 1/3 of the whole, featuring a concave dot-like hilum scar; after removing the inner seed coat, it appears white. The texture is relatively hard, with a white and powdery cross-section. Odor: faint; Taste: bland.
Chemical Constituents
This product mainly contains starch, protein, and fat. Additionally, it also contains calcium, phosphorus, iron, and vitamin B.112, vitamin C, niacin, and carotene components.
Properties and Channel Entry
Sweet and astringent, neutral. Enters the Spleen and Kidney channels.
Functions and Indications
Tonifies the Kidney, consolidates the Essence, tonifies the Spleen, stops diarrhea, eliminates Dampness, and stops vaginal discharge. Used for nocturnal emission and spermatorrhea, enuresis and frequent urination, chronic diarrhea due to Spleen deficiency, turbid urine, and vaginal discharge.
Dosage and Administration
Internal administration: decoction, 15-30 g; or made into pills or powder, or an appropriate amount can be cooked into congee for consumption.
Precautions and Contraindications
Contraindicated in cases of difficult urination and defecation; use with caution in cases of food stagnation and indigestion.
Prescriptions
1. For stranguria with chyluria (Gao Lin): Raw Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma) 30 g, raw Qianshi (Euryales Semen) 18 g, raw Longgu (Mastodi Ossis Fossilia, crushed) 18 g, raw Muli (Ostreae Concha, crushed) 18 g, large Shengdi (Rehmanniae Radix, sliced) 18 g, Ludangshen (Codonopsis Radix) 9 g, raw Hangshao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) 9 g. Decoct in water and take orally. (From "Yizhong Canxi Lu," Gao Lin Tang) 2. For yellow leukorrhea: Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma, stir-fried) 30 g, Qianshi (Euryales Semen, stir-fried) 30 g, Huangbai (Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex, stir-fried with salt water) 6 g, Cheqianzi (Plantaginis Semen, stir-fried with wine) 3 g, Baiguo (Ginkgo Semen, crushed) ten pieces. Decoct in water and take orally. (From "Fu Qingzhu Nüke," Yi Huang Tang) 3. For chronic spleen and kidney deficiency-heat in the elderly and children, as well as chronic dysentery: Qianshi (Euryales Semen), Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma), Fuling (Poria), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Lianrou (Nelumbinis Semen), Yiyiren (Coicis Semen), Baibiandou (Lablab Semen Album) each 120 g, Renshen (Ginseng Radix) 30 g. All are stir-fried until dry, ground into powder, and taken with plain boiled water. (From "Fangmai Zhengzong") 4. For rheumatic pain in the feet and knees preventing walking: Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma), Lianrou (Nelumbinis Semen, core removed), Qianshi (Euryales Semen, clean flesh), Fuling (Poria, skin removed), Yiyiren (Coicis Semen, stir-fried), and sugar frost each 1 jin (500 g), Jingmi (non-glutinous rice) two sheng (approx. 1.2 L, stir-fried). Grind the above into powder, mix evenly, and regularly take by mixing with a decoction of Tufuling (Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma). Recovery occurs within half a month. While taking this medicine, avoid tea; use Tufuling decoction as a substitute for tea. (From "Wanshi Jiachuan Fang")
