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Kushen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix)

Bitter, cold, non-toxic. It primarily treats Qi stagnation in the heart and abdomen (Qi stagnation), Zhengjia and Jizhi (abdominal masses), jaundice, dribbling urination, expels water, eliminates carbuncles and swellings, tonifies the Middle Jiao, brightens the eyes and stops tearing, nourishes the Qi of the Liver and Gallbladder, calms the Five Zang organs, stabilizes the mind and benefits essence, unblocks the nine orifices, clears latent heat from the intestines, stops thirst, resolves alcohol intoxication, treats yellow-red urine, cures malignant sores and lower body lesions, harmonizes Stomach Qi, promotes appetite, and makes the body feel light. Also known as Shuihuai (Water Locust), Kushi (sound like "shi"), Dihuai (Earth Locust), Tuhuai (Rabbit Locust), Jiaohuai (Proud Locust), Baijing (White Stem), Huma (Tiger Hemp), Cenjing (Cen Stem), Lubai (Lu White), and Linglang. Grows in the valleys and fields of Mount Ru. The roots are harvested in March, August, and October, and dried in the sun. (Xuanshen is its guiding herb; it is incompatible with Beimu, Loulu, and Tusiren, and opposes Lilu.)

Tao Hongjing stated: It is now found everywhere in nearby regions. The leaves closely resemble those of the locust tree, hence the name Huai (Locust); the flowers are yellow, the fruits are pods, and the root tastes extremely bitter and unpleasant. Patients who soak it in wine and drink it often recover. Those suffering from scabies can also be cured by taking one or two doses, likely because it kills parasites. The Annotation of Tang Bencao states: Collect the fruit in October and consume it as one would locust seeds. Long-term use makes the body light and prevents aging, and brightens the eyes, with verified efficacy. Ministers Yuxi and others, according to Yaoxing Lun, state: Kushen can treat wind-heat toxins, skin and muscle irritability with sores, erysipeloid alopecia (red leprosy with eyebrow loss), primarily clearing severe heat and lethargy, treating cold pain in the abdomen, abdominal pain due to evil qi invasion, relieving bodily stuffiness, and treating heart and abdominal accumulations. It is not used in decoctions.

Rihua Zi stated: It kills gut worms. When stir-fried until smoking and ground into powder, taken with rice water, it treats intestinal wind bleeding and dysentery with heat.

Tu Jing stated: Kushen grows in the valleys and fields of Mount Ru, and is now found everywhere in nearby regions. Its root is yellow, about five to seven cun long, and thick as two fingers. Three to five stems grow together, with seedlings reaching three to two chi high. The leaves are fragmented green, resembling locust leaves very much, hence the name Shuihuai (Water Locust); they sprout in spring and wither in winter. The flowers are yellow-white, and fruits form in July like small beans. Those grown in Hebei have no flowers or fruits. Roots are harvested in May, June, August, and October, and dried for use. Ancient and modern formulas use it most frequently to treat chickenpox and smallpox, and can also treat leprosy. The method involves cutting five jin of Kushen, soaking it in three dou of good wine for thirty days. Drink one he each time, three times a day, continuously. If numbness is felt, it heals. Taking the root bark powder is also effective.

Tang Bencao stated: It treats soreness in the shins and cures harmful insects. Lei Gong stated: Regardless of quantity, first soak in thick rice washing water overnight. The foul odor floating on the surface must be washed away repeatedly. Then steam it from Si hour to Shen hour, dry it, cut finely, and use. Shenghui Fang: Treats four-day Shanghan where vomiting has already occurred, inducing further vomiting is appropriate. Take two qian of Kushen powder with wine; recovery follows vomiting. Waitai Miyao: Treats Tianxing disease (epidemic disease) at four or five days, presenting with chest fullness and pain, high fever, and body heat. Cut one liang of Kushen, boil in two sheng of vinegar to obtain one sheng and two he, drink all; vomiting should occur, leading to cure. Epidemic toxic diseases cannot be resolved without Kushen and vinegar medicine, nor healed by warming covers to induce sweat. Another prescription: Treating infantile fever, bathing the child in Kushen decoction is beneficial. Qianjin Fang: Treats manic delirium with evil manifestations, such as disheveled hair, loud screaming, desire to kill, and disregard for fire and water. Make Kushen honey pills the size of tung seeds. Take ten pills each time, downed with mint tea. Another prescription: Treats food poisoning. Boil three liang of Kushen in two and a half sheng of wine to obtain one sheng, take orally; recovery follows vomiting. Zhouhou Fang: Treats Gu Dan (grain jaundice) from dietary labor, dizziness, mental depression, and yellowing of the skin. Caused by irregular hunger and overeating, leading to Stomach Qi rushing upward. Mix three liang of Kushen and one he of Longdan into powder, make pills the size of wu seeds using ox bile. Take five pills with raw barley juice, three times daily. Another prescription: Treats critical Shi Qi (seasonal pathogen) cases. Cut one liang of Kushen, boil in two and a half sheng of wine to obtain one and a half sheng, strain, and drink while warm. One should smell the toxic material vomited like melted glue, then recover. Another prescription: Treats sudden heart pain. Boil three liang of Kushen in one and a half sheng of Kujiu (vinegar) to obtain eight he, divide into two doses. Meishi Fang: Treats food poisoning from fish, meat, vegetables, etc. Boil three liang of Kushen in one sheng of Kujiu for three to five boils, strain, and take; recovery follows vomiting. Alternatively, one liter of boiled rhinoceros horn juice is also good. Another prescription: Treats Shanghan at four or five days, with headache, high fever, and chest distress/pain. Chop five liang of Kushen and twenty Wumei (smoked plums), boil in two sheng of water to obtain one sheng, divide and take. Sun Taoren's Food Taboos: Treats sudden heart pain from evil qi. Boil one liang of Kushen in one and a half sheng of wine to obtain eight he, drink hot in one dose. Shengjin Fang: Treats epidemic febrile disease with delirium and restlessness. Take unlimited Kushen, stir-fry until yellow and grind. Take two qian each time, boil in one cup of water to reduce to eight tenths, take warm. Decoct and take three times consecutively. Recovery occurs whether sweating or not. Jiyan Fang: Treats toxic heat causing swollen, painful feet threatening to detach. Soak in Kushen boiled in wine. Shanghan Leiyao: Treats plague qi disease nearing death. Boil two liang of Kushen in two sheng of water to obtain one sheng, drink in one dose. Recovery follows vomiting or sweating. Zimu Milu: Treats lower abdominal pain, dark blue/black or red color, inability to breathe. Boil one liang of Kushen in one and a half sheng of vinegar to obtain eight he, divide into two doses. Tai Cang Gong Chunyu Yi treated the Minister of Qi suffering from dental caries by moxibustion on the Left Hand Yangming meridian, rinsing with Kushen decoction three sheng daily. Avoid wind upon entering/exiting; recovery in five to six days. Shen Cunzhong's Bitan records chronic back pain, occasionally using Kushen for toothache. Later, Vice Director of Ceremonies Shu Zhaoliang used Kushen to brush teeth and developed back pain after many years. Upon stopping Kushen, his back pain cured.

Yanyi stated: An official suffered from heavy waist, requiring him to struggle for more than ten steps after sitting for a long time before he could walk. A military officer asked the official if he was using Kushen to brush his teeth daily. The official replied he had used Kushen for his teeth for several years. This illness was caused by Kushen entering the teeth; its aroma damaged the Kidney, causing heaviness in the waist. Later, Vice Director of Ceremonies Shu Zhaoliang used Kushen to brush his teeth and also developed back pain after many years. Upon completely stopping, his back ailment healed. These cases were not recorded in old medical texts. Someone suffered from widespread wind-heat fine rashes, unbearable itching and pain, affecting the chest, neck, navel, abdomen, and near-genital areas, with excessive phlegm-saliva and insomnia. Take one liang of Kushen powder and two liang of Zaojiao (Gleditsia sinensis). Add one sheng of water, rub and filter to extract juice, boil in silver/copper vessel to form a paste, mix with Kushen powder to make pills the size of tung seeds. Take 20-30 pills with warm water after meals; recovery the next day.