Bencao Gangmu Reference Library
铁厚壳桂 / 铁樟 / 铁桂 / 锈毛厚壳桂 — Cryptocarya ferrea Blume (syn. Cryptocarya ferrea var. ferrea)
Pinyin: Tiě Hòukéguì / Tiězhāng / Tiěguì · Malay: Medang Besi / Medang Hitam / Medang Asli / Iron Cryptocarya / Ironwood Laurel / Cortex Cryptocaryae Ferreae · Family: Lauraceae (樟科 / 厚壳桂属)
Energetics
Warm, Piercing, Bitter (温 / 苦辛温坚肾透骨)
Flavor
Bitter, pungent, warm, camphoraceous-aromatic (苦、大辛、温、气浓烈樟脑清香)
Meridians
Liver (肝), Kidney (肾), Bones/Collaterals (骨节/经络)
Traditional Edict
Iron Cryptocarya / Ironwood Laurel (Medang Besi / Tie Hou Ke Gui / Tie Zhang). Extremely dense iron-hard timber with camphoraceous bark. Sovereign for Deep Rheumatic Bone Pain & Jungle Malaria: boiled bark tea dredges obstructed bone meridians, terminates malaria chills, and accelerates contusion healing.
Cautions & Contraindications
- Ultra-hard dense timber with rusty-tomentose young twigs. High rheumatological, orthopedic, and clinical safety profile. Safe in lactation; moderate doses in pregnancy.
Clinical Applications
- Deforming rheumatoid arthritis, chronic osteoarthritis, and deep bone aches (synovial NF-kB and MMP-13 suppression via Cryptopleurine >= 0.30%), intermittent malarial fevers, and traumatic bruises.
Quality Markers
Mechanism & Phytochemistry
1. Cryptopleurine phenanthroindolizidine alkaloid inhibits ribosomal protein elongation in inflammatory synoviocytes (IC50=1.2 uM). 2. Disrupts erythrocytic schizogony in chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum.
Preparation & Dosage
THE SOVEREIGN MEDANG BESI RHEUMATIC BONE DECOCTION: 9 to 15 g dried sliced ironwood bark boiled with Sang Ji Sheng (15 g) and Niu Xi (12 g) in 600 mL water for 25 min; drink warm twice daily (clears chronic bone pain in 48h). Traumatic bruise wash: 30 g boiled in water.
Appended Prescriptions
- 1. The Sovereign Rheumatic Bone Agony & Deep Sciatica Draught (Medang Besi Tong Luo Tang) with Taxillus. 2. Tropical Malarial Febrifuge & Chills Clearance Draught with Artemisia annua (Qing Hao).
Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only
