Xuan Shen – Scrophularia – Radix Scrophulariae

Xuan Shen

English Name: scrophularia, figwort root

Pharmaceutical Name: Radix Scrophulariae

Medica Category: Heat-Clearing and Blood-Cooling Herbs

Properties: Xuan Shen enters the Lung, Stomach, and Kidney channels; it is bitter, sweet, and salty in nature and cold in temperature.

What is Xuan Shen?:

The Chinese Herb Xuan Shen is the root of the Chinese or Ningpo figwort plant (Scrophularia ningpoensis) which grows in the Zhejiang and Sichuan provinces of China. When winter arrives and the plant withers, the roots are harvested and sun-dried until the insides turn black. The blackened roots are then sliced and Xuan Shen is ready for use as medicine.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapeutic Actions of Xuan Shen:

Xuan Shen clears heat from the ying and xue levels as well as generating body fluids and is commonly combined with other herbs in formula to treat sore throat (esp. in tandem with dry cough).

Xuan Shen eliminates toxins and disperses nodules, abscesses, and skin lesions that have phlegm stagnation at their root.