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    Yemama Apothecary

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    Wind-Dispelling, Pediatric Convulsion-Calming & Vascular-Protecting Sovereign (祛风退热 / 清热解毒凉血通经平肝熄风止痉开窍治小儿惊风发热第一臭草 — 岭南臭草绿豆沙食疗药王 / 芳香开窍第一芸香 / 孕妇大忌)

    芸香 / 臭草 / 臭艾 / 香草 / 辟邪草 / 诸葛草 — Ruta graveolens L. (syn. Ruta hortensis)

    Pinyin: Yúnxiāng / Chòucǎo / Chòu'ài · Malay: Inggu / Daun Inggu / Pokok Inggu / Aruda · Family: Rutaceae (芸香科)

    Botanical Illustration

    Energetics

    Cool to Cold (微寒 / 凉)

    Flavor

    Pungent, bitter, intensely aromatic, slightly acrid (辛、微苦、气味浓烈芳香、微麻舌)

    Meridians

    Heart (心), Liver (肝), Lung (肺), Spleen (脾)

    Traditional Edict

    Common Rue (Inggu / Chou Cao / Yun Xiang). Glaucous blue-green dissected leaves and yellow flowers. Soul of Lingnan Chou Cao Mung Bean dessert soup: extinguishes pediatric high-fever convulsions (Xiao Er Jing Feng), clears measles, unblocks amenorrhea. ABORTIFACIENT.

    Cautions & Contraindications

    • ABSOLUTELY CONTRAINDICATED IN PREGNANCY (LETHAL ABORTIFACIENT & UTERINE CONTRACTION HAZARD). PHOTOSENSITIVITY WARNING: Handling raw wet leaves in sun causes phytophotodermatitis blisters (furocoumarins).

    Clinical Applications

    • Pediatric febrile convulsions and delirium, seasonal summer-heatstroke, amenorrhea from blood stasis, capillary fragility with purpura (Rutin action), and intestinal helminthiasis.

    Quality Markers

    Rutin (芦丁 / 芸香苷) >= 2.00%-5.00%, Graveoline, Furocoumarins (Bergapten >= 0.80%) & 2-Undecanone (HPLC/GC-MS)

    Mechanism & Phytochemistry

    1. Rutin and furocoumarins reduce capillary hyperpermeability and fragility. 2. Quinolone alkaloids (graveoline) exert central GABAergic anticonvulsant sedation. 3. Strong myometrial oxytocic stimulation.

    Preparation & Dosage

    THE SOVEREIGN LINGNAN CHOU CAO MUNG BEAN COOLING DESSERT (Chou Cao Lu Dou Sha): 10 to 15 g fresh Chou Cao leaves simmered with 100 g green mung beans, dried kelp, and rock sugar for 40 min; consumed warm or chilled for summer-heat. Decoct: 3-9 g.

    Appended Prescriptions

    • 1. Classical Lingnan Chou Cao Mung Bean Fever-Clearing Soup with Chen Pi and Sea Tangle (Kun Bu). 2. Pediatric Convulsion-Calming Draught with Uncaria rhynchophylla (Gou Teng).

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