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    Yemama Apothecary

    Bencao Gangmu Reference Library

    Wind-Heat Dispersing, Liver-Pacifying & Retinal Photoprotective Emperor (疏散风热 / 平抑肝阳清肝明目清热解毒降血压抗视网膜光损伤治风热感冒温病初起肝阳眩晕目赤昏花 — 神农本草经上品菊花 / 历代养肝明目与解热药皇 / 经典名方桑菊饮与杞菊地黄丸核心君药)

    菊花 / 杭白菊 / 黄山贡菊 / 滁菊 / 毫菊 / 怀菊 / 节华 — Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. (syn. Chrysanthemum sinense, Dendranthema grandiflorum)

    Pinyin: Júhuā / Hángbáijú / Gòngjú · Malay: Bunga Kekwa / Kekwa Putih / Kekwa Kuning / Florists' Chrysanthemum / Flos Chrysanthemi · Family: Asteraceae / Compositae (菊科 / 菊属)

    Botanical Illustration

    Energetics

    Cool to slightly Cold (微寒 / 辛甘苦微寒)

    Flavor

    Sweet, slightly bitter, cooling, intensely aromatic (甘、苦、微寒、气清香甘醇)

    Meridians

    Lung (肺), Liver (肝)

    Traditional Edict

    Chrysanthemum Flower / Hangbaiju (Bunga Kekwa / Ju Hua / Flos Chrysanthemi). Pure white and golden flower heads with sweet-aromatic scent. Supreme Grade of Shennong Bencao Jing: disperses exterior wind-heat fevers, pacifies hyperactive Liver Yang dizziness, shields retinal photoreceptors.

    Cautions & Contraindications

    • Use Hangbaiju for liver-nourishing eye strain; use Huangju/Chuju for acute wind-heat fevers. Exceptional clinical, ophthalmic, maternal, and pediatric safety profile. Safe in pregnancy and lactation.

    Clinical Applications

    • Visual fatigue, dry eyes, and age-related macular degeneration (RPE cell photoprotection and aldose reductase blockade via Luteolin-7-glucoside >= 0.20%), wind-heat common cold (Sang Ju Yin), and essential hypertension.

    Quality Markers

    Luteolin-7-O-glucoside (木犀草苷) >= 0.20% (HPLC Chinese Pharmacopoeia standard) & 3,5-Dicaffeoylquinic Acid >= 0.70%

    Mechanism & Phytochemistry

    1. Luteolin-7-glucoside and dicaffeoylquinic acids protect retinal photoreceptors against blue-light photo-oxidation and inhibit aldose reductase (IC50=1.8 uM). 2. Inhibits ACE to lower blood pressure.

    Preparation & Dosage

    THE CLASSICAL SANG JU YIN (Master Respiratory Wind-Heat Formula): 10 g Ju Hua with Sang Ye (10 g), Lian Qiao (10 g), and Bo He (6 g) decocted in 600 mL water for 15 min. Eye-brightening tea: 5 to 10 g Hangbaiju steeped with wolfberry (Gou Qi Zi). STEAMED PAOZHI preserves golden discs.

    Appended Prescriptions

    • 1. The Sovereign Eye-Brightening & Macular Elixir (Qi Ju Dihuang Wan) with Lycium barbarum. 2. Classical Wind-Heat Cold & Cough Draught (Sang Ju Yin) with Mulberry leaf.

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    Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only