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    Yemama Apothecary

    Bencao Gangmu Reference Library

    Liver-Clearing, Eye-Brightening, Lipid-Lowering & Bowel-Lubricating Monarch (清肝明目 / 润肠通便降血压降血脂平肝潜阳 — 护眼明目降脂第一决明子)

    决明子 / 决明 / 小决明 / 草决明 / 马蹄决明 / 假绿豆 — Senna tora (L.) Roxb. (and Senna obtusifolia, Cassia tora)

    Pinyin: Juémíngzǐ / Juémíng / Xiǎojuémíng · Malay: Gelenggang Padang / Kacang Tora / Jue Ming Zi · Family: Fabaceae (豆科 / 云实亚科)

    Botanical Illustration

    Energetics

    Cool to Cold (微寒 / 甘苦咸凉)

    Flavor

    Sweet, bitter, salty, cooling (甘、苦、咸、微寒)

    Meridians

    Liver (肝), Kidney (肾), Large Intestine (大肠)

    Traditional Edict

    Sicklepod (Gelenggang Padang / Jue Ming Zi). Long curved sickle pods with rhomboid hard seeds. Undisputed monarch of eye brightening (Ming Mu): clears Liver fire, extinguishes red painful eyes, lowers cholesterol, gently lubricates dry constipation.

    Cautions & Contraindications

    • Lightly roasting seeds (Chao Jue Ming Zi) tempers coldness and enhances nutty flavor for daily eye tea. CONTRAINDICATED in chronic cold watery diarrhea without heat. Caution in severe hypotension.

    Clinical Applications

    • Computer vision syndrome and dry eye fatigue, acute conjunctivitis with photophobia, hyperlipidemia and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), essential hypertension, and chronic habitual constipation.

    Quality Markers

    Obtusin >= 0.08%, Aurantio-obtusin >= 0.03%, Chrysophanol & Physcion (HPLC Chinese Pharmacopoeia standard)

    Mechanism & Phytochemistry

    1. Aurantio-obtusin and obtusin protect retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells against blue light and oxidative apoptosis. 2. Anthraquinones inhibit intestinal HMG-CoA reductase and lipid absorption. 3. Gentle colonic water secretion.

    Preparation & Dosage

    THE SOVEREIGN JUE MING ZI EYE-BRIGHTENING & LIPID-LOWERING TEA: 10 to 15 g lightly roasted seeds (Chao Jue Ming Zi) steeped in 400 mL boiling water with Chrysanthemum and Goji berries; sipped daily. Raw seeds (Sheng Jue Ming Zi, 15 g) for constipation.

    Appended Prescriptions

    • 1. The Sovereign Computer Vision Eye-Brightening Synergy with Chrysanthemum (Ju Hua) and Lycium (Goji). 2. Lipid-Lowering & Slimming Triad with Nelumbo nucifera (He Ye) and Crataegus.

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