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    Yemama Apothecary

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    Cranial Headache-Dispersing, Ophthalmic & Trigeminal Analgesic Sovereign (疏散风热 / 清利头目止痛 — 治风热头痛偏头痛眉棱骨痛第一蔓荆子 / 历代头痛与明目退翳药王)

    蔓荆子 / 三叶蔓荆 / 白背蔓荆 / 海蔓荆 / 白布荆 — Vitex trifolia L. (and Vitex trifolia var. simplicifolia)

    Pinyin: Mànjīngzǐ / Sānyè Mànjīng / Báibèi Mànjīng · Malay: Lemuni Pantai / Legundi Pantai / Mempari / Lenggundi · Family: Lamiaceae (唇形科 / 马鞭草科同属)

    Botanical Illustration

    Energetics

    Cool (微寒 / 苦辛凉)

    Flavor

    Bitter, acrid, aromatic (苦、辛、微寒、芳香辛散)

    Meridians

    Urinary Bladder (膀胱), Liver (肝), Stomach (胃)

    Traditional Edict

    Three-Leaved Chaste Tree / Fructus Viticis (Lemuni Pantai / Man Jing Zi). Aromatic 3-foliolate leaves with chalky-white undersides and greyish-black drupes. Supreme Sovereign for Cephalic Headaches: clears wind-heat migraines, orbital pain, pterygium (Tui Yi), and toothaches.

    Cautions & Contraindications

    • Always lightly crush fruits before boiling (unbroken fruits fail to release medicinal oils). CONTRAINDICATED in deficiency headaches due to severe Blood/Yin deficiency without wind-heat.

    Clinical Applications

    • Vascular migraines, tension headaches, and trigeminal neuralgia (suppressing CGRP and neurogenic vasodilation via Vitexicarpin), acute catarrhal conjunctivitis, and superficial corneal pterygium.

    Quality Markers

    Vitexicarpin / Casticin (蔓荆子黄素) >= 0.030%-0.100% & Artemetin (HPLC Chinese Pharmacopoeia standard)

    Mechanism & Phytochemistry

    1. Vitexicarpin suppresses CGRP and substance P release from trigeminal nerve endings, halting intracranial arterial vasodilation to abort migraines. 2. Downregulates corneal COX-2/VEGF.

    Preparation & Dosage

    CRITICAL PAOZHI MANDATE: STIR-FRIED CRUSHED MAN JING ZI (Chao Man Jing Zi): Fruits stir-fried until fragrant, lightly crushed before decoction. Take 6 to 12 g boiled with Chuan Xiong (10 g) and Chrysanthemum in 500 mL water for 20 min for migraines. Pillow: 500 g.

    Appended Prescriptions

    • 1. The Sovereign Migraine & Trigeminal Headache Quadriad with Ligusticum chuanxiong and Bai Zhi. 2. Ophthalmic Conjunctivitis Draught with Chrysanthemum indicum (Ye Ju Hua).

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