Tamarix, a name in traditional Chinese medicine. It refers to the dried young branches and leaves of Tamarix chinensis Lour., a plant belonging to the genus Tamarix in the family Tamarixaceae. This herb has a sweet and pungent taste and a neutral nature; it enters the Lung, Stomach, and Heart meridians. It has the effects of inducing the eruption of rashes and dispelling wind and dampness, and is primarily used to treat measles that fail to erupt and rheumatic arthralgia.
Chinese Tamarisk
Tamarix, a name in traditional Chinese medicine. It refers to the dried young branches and leaves of Tamarix chinensis Lour., a plant belonging to the genus Tamarix in the family Tamarixaceae. This herb has a sweet and pungent taste and a neutral nature; it enters the Lung, Stomach, and Heart meridians. It has the effects of inducing the eruption of rashes and dispelling wind and dampness, and is primarily used to treat measles that fail to erupt and rheumatic arthralgia.
Chinese Name : 柽柳
Aliases : Cheng, He Liu, Yin Cheng, Yu Shi, Ren Liu, Chi Cheng Mu, Sanchun Liu, Chun Liu, Sanmian Liu, Changshou Xianren Liu, Guanyin Liu, Chui Si Liu, Yu Si, Shu Liu, Xihe Liu, Chi Cheng Liu, Shan Cheng Liu
Authentic Producing Area : Liaoning, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei, Guangdong, Fujian, Yunnan
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Taste: sweet and pungent; nature: neutral; enters the Lung, Stomach, and Heart meridians
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
Promotes the release of pathogens to bring on rashes; dispels wind and removes dampness.
Indications
Salix is primarily used to treat measles that fail to erupt and rheumatic arthralgia.
Usage and Dosage
1. Internal use: Decoct and take 3–6 g. 2. External use: Use an appropriate amount; decoct and use the liquid for washing or rubbing.
Precautions
1. Excessive doses may cause restlessness and vomiting. 2. Not suitable for use once the measles rash has fully erupted.
Chemical Constituents
This herb contains essential oils, rutin, quercetin, organic acids, resins, and carotene, among other compounds.
Pharmacological Actions
This product has antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antimicrobial effects.
Relevant Discussions
1. *Essentials of Materia Medica*: “Treats retained heat rash and shortness of breath, coughing, and restlessness.”
2. *Original Source of the Classic of Materia Medica*: “Dispels wind. Decocted as a bath, it is effective for itching associated with wind rash.”
Applications
Clinical Applications
1. For measles that fail to erupt, accompanied by wheezing, coughing, restlessness, and agitation: Dry Xihe willow leaves in the sun and grind into a fine powder. Mix four qian with water and take in a single dose; symptoms will subside immediately. (*Supplement to the Compendium of Materia Medica*)
2. For measles that remain latent beyond the expected incubation period: Grind Xihe willow into a fine powder. Take three or four qian with a decoction of sedge root; it may also be taken with plain water. (*Complete Book of Measles Treatment: Dusheng Powder*)
3. For all types of wind-related disorders, regardless of severity: Half a jin of Chinese willow leaves (finely chopped; if unavailable, branches and leaves may be used) and half a jin of Chinese mint (finely chopped). Boil in five sheng of water until reduced to two sheng, strain out the residue, and let the liquid settle.Add five he of white honey and five he of bamboo sap. Mix the ingredients thoroughly, place the mixture in a new porcelain jar, cover tightly with an oiled cloth, and secure it inside a cauldron. Simmer in a double boiler, ensuring no water enters the mixture. Simmer from the fifth watch of the night until after sunrise for optimal results. Take one small cup per dose, three times daily. (*Puji Fang*: *Tallow Tree Leaf Decoction*)
4. For treating rheumatic arthralgia: 30g each of Xihe Willow, Polygonum cuspidatum root, and Milettia reticulata. Decoct in water and take orally. (*Flora of Medicinal Plants of Zhejiang*)
5. For treating epigastric fullness: Decoct Guanyin Willow in water, leave it out overnight, and drink several times at the fifth watch. The fullness will dissipate on its own. (*Simple and Easy Formulas for Health*)
6. For alcohol-related disorders: Take Changshou Xianren Willow in any amount, dry it in the sun, and grind it into a fine powder. Take one qian per dose, mixed with wine. (*Luchan Yan Bencao*)
Related Compatibility
1. Tamarix combined with Schizonepeta and Saposhnikovia: All three dispel wind and relieve itching; when used in combination, this formula is commonly prescribed to treat itching associated with urticaria.
2. Tamarix combined with Notopterygium and Angelica pubescens: Tamarix dispels wind and removes dampness; Notopterygium and Angelica pubescens are effective at dispelling wind, removing dampness, and relieving pain. When combined, these three herbs dispel wind, remove dampness, and relieve pain. This combination is commonly used to treat rheumatic arthralgia and joint pain.
Medicinal Identification
Coriander and Salix: Both coriander and Salix are pungent and warm herbs used to release the exterior; they can induce sweating and promote the eruption of rashes, treating conditions such as rashes that fail to break through the skin.The difference between the two lies in the fact that coriander also has aromatic properties that stimulate the appetite and can be used to treat indigestion and poor appetite; while tamarisk can dispel wind, remove dampness, and relieve itching, and can also be used to treat itching associated with hives and rheumatic arthralgia.
Related Medicines
Pediatric Surface-Relieving Pills, Children’s Huichun Granules, Five-Pill Huichun Formula, and Pediatric Antelope Powder.
Related Prescriptions
Bamboo Leaf, Willow, and Arctium Decoction (*Extensive Notes on Medicine*).
Notes
Patients requiring treatment with Chinese herbal medicine should first consult a licensed Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) hospital, where a TCM practitioner will conduct a professional pattern differentiation and issue a herbal prescription.
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
Harvest from April to August and sun-dry.
Processing Methods
Take the raw herbal material, remove impurities and old branches, wash thoroughly, moisten slightly, cut into sections, dry, and sift out any ash or debris.
Storage Methods
Store in a dry container in a well-ventilated, dry place.
Crude Drug Identification
Identification
Cross-section of a young branch (0.8 mm in diameter): One layer of epidermal cells, covered by a cuticle. The cortex consists of 6–10 layers of parenchyma cells; the outer 3–4 layers contain chloroplasts, with the outermost layer often being radially elongated and resembling palisade tissue.The vascular bundles are arranged in discontinuous rings. The outer part of the phloem contains cap-shaped phloem fiber bundles; the fibers are lignified. The cambium is distinct. Pith cells are bluntly polygonal or subcircular, with thin walls, and are often lignified. Pith ray cells are bluntly polygonal or subcircular, with thin walls, and are also often lignified.
Properties of Crude Drugs
Branches are slender and cylindrical, 0.5–1.5 mm in diameter, with a yellowish-green surface and relatively dense nodes. Leaves are scale-like, awl-shaped or ovate-lanceolate, 1–3 mm long, with a keel-like ridge on the abaxial surface. The material is brittle and breaks easily; the fracture surface is yellowish-white, with a pith in the center. It has a faint odor and a bland taste.
Properties of Processed Slices
This product consists of a mixture of branches and leaves, appearing in segmented pieces. Young branches are slender and cylindrical, with a gray-green surface and numerous small leaves attached; the small leaves are scale-like, often falling off, and brittle. The cross-section is yellowish-white, with pith in the center. It has a faint odor and a bland taste.
Botanical Information
Botanical Classification
Salix, a plant of the genus Salix in the family Salicaceae.
Morphological Characteristics
A shrub or small tree, 3–6 m tall. Young branches are slender, spreading and pendulous, reddish-purple or dark purple. Leaves are scale-like, awl-shaped or ovate-lanceolate, 1–3 mm long, and semi-adnate.The underside bears a keel-like ridge. It flowers 2–3 times annually; in spring, lateral racemes appear on the previous year’s twigs, bearing slightly larger, sparsely arranged flowers; in summer and autumn, racemes form at the tips of the current year’s young branches, comprising large terminal panicles that often curve downward, bearing slightly smaller, densely packed flowers, each with a single linear-awl-shaped green bract; the flowers are pentamerous and pink;sepals are ovate; petals are elliptic-obovate, about 2 mm long; stamens are inserted between the lobes of the disk and are longer than the petals; the ovary is conical-ampullate, with three club-shaped styles. The capsule is about 3.5 mm long and 3-valved. Flowering occurs from April to September, and fruiting from June to October.
Distribution Area
It grows wild in Hebei, Liaoning, Jiangsu, Anhui, Shandong, Henan, and other regions; it is cultivated throughout eastern to southwestern China.
Growth Habits
Highly adaptable, with few requirements for climate or soil; tolerant of alkaline conditions and drought. Grows well in clay loam, sandy loam, and alluvial soils along riverbanks.
Propagation Methods
Propagated by seed or cuttings.
Pest and Disease Control
Pests include leaf beetles and aphids.