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    Yemama Apothecary

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    Phlegm-Nodule Dissipating, Venom-Neutralizing & Oncology Sovereign (清热解毒 / 化痰散结消肿止痛截蛇毒治瘰疬恶疮癌肿 — 岭南与南洋外伤拔毒与淋巴结节第一犁头尖 / 剧毒以毒攻毒要药)

    犁头尖 / 芋头草 / 慈姑同属 / 犁头七 / 狗舌草 / 半夏同科 — Typhonium blumei Nicolson & Sivad. (syn. Typhonium divaricatum)

    Pinyin: Lítóujiān / Yùtoucǎo / Lítóuqī · Malay: Keladi Tikus Kecil / Keladi Tikus Padang / Blume's Typhonium · Family: Araceae (天南星科)

    Botanical Illustration

    Energetics

    Warm, Highly Toxic (温 / 大辛大温有毒 - Contains Acrid Stinging Calcium Oxalate Raphides)

    Flavor

    Overwhelmingly acrid, tongue-numbing, burning, toxic (大辛、麻舌、极辣、大温、有大毒)

    Meridians

    Liver (肝), Lung (肺), Spleen (脾)

    Traditional Edict

    Plowshare Tip (Keladi Tikus Kecil / Li Tou Jian). Arrowhead leaves and purple-black spathes. High-Potency Toxic Sovereign for Drawing Venom and Dissolving Hard Lymph Tumors: neutralizes pit viper snakebites, melts scrofulous lymph nodes (瘰疬), draws deep carbuncles.

    Cautions & Contraindications

    • HIGH ARACEAE TOXICITY WARNING: Ingestion of raw tuber causes severe tongue burning, vocal cord edema, and asphyxia. Antidote: dilute vinegar and ginger juice. ABSOLUTELY CONTRAINDICATED IN PREGNANCY.

    Clinical Applications

    • Venomous snakebites and centipede envenomations (topical venom drawing poultice), scrofulous cervical lymphadenitis, malignant cutaneous carbuncles, and oncology adjuvant therapy.

    Quality Markers

    Calcium Oxalate Needle Raphides (草酸钙针晶), Lectins, b-Sitosterol & Total Sterols >= 1.20% (HPLC ChP standard)

    Mechanism & Phytochemistry

    1. Acrid lectins and sterols stimulate local macrophage phagocytosis, breaking down fibrous capsular walls around scrofulous lymph nodes. 2. Raw calcium oxalate raphides cause severe mucosal stinging; ginger-paozhi hydrolyzes irritants.

    Preparation & Dosage

    CRITICAL PAOZHI & EXTERNAL MANDATE: RAW TUBERS STRICTLY FOR EXTERNAL USE. Fresh pounded tuber poultice: 10 to 20 g applied around snakebites or over boils (do not apply to open cuts). Internal use requires strict Ginger-Processing (Jiang Zhi Li Tou Jian): 1.5-3.0 g boiled.

    Appended Prescriptions

    • 1. The Sovereign Emergency Pit Viper Snakebite Poultice with fresh Curcuma aromatica (Yu Jin). 2. Scrofulous Lymph Node Dissolving Plaster with Prunella vulgaris (Xia Ku Cao).

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