What it is:
This herb is the whole plant or rhi-zome of patrinia heterophylla producedin Shanxi, Hebei andGuangxi provinces. It is dug up in autumn and dried in sunlight for use.

Property:
Bitter, slightly sourand astringent in flavour, slightly cold in property, acting on the heart and liver channels.

Effects:
Detoxi-cating, inducing astringency, drying dampness and arrestingbleeding.

Used for:
1. Carcinomas ofuterine cervix and ovary, chorioepithe-lioma, Erlich asciticcancer, hepatocarci-noma, leukemia, etc.
(1) For carcinomas of uterine cervix and ovary, and chorioepithelioma, it is usually used with Asian puccoon root, flavercent sophora root, toona bark, seven-lobed yam,coix seed, etc.
(2)For accumulation ofnoxious heat and retention of exteriordampness in lung carcinoma, it is oftenused in accompany ofChinese lobelia, sun-plant,rhubarb root, European verbena, etc.
(3) Stagnation of blood-heat and damp-ness and retention of toxin in leukemia,it is often used with catchweed bed-straw, natural indigoand subprostrate sophora root. The herb destroys tumourcell and inhibits its growth, as well as activates cytotoxicreaction and pha-gocytic power of normal cell.

2. Metrorrhagia,metostaxis,leukorrheawith reddish dis-charge, irregular menstruation and traumatic injury.

Dosage and admi-nistration: 6-15g, decocted in water for an oral dose, orfor washing exter-nally.

Precautions:
A large dose is not advisable because itsmells and may damagestomach.