Ku shen(Radix Sophorae Flavescentis)

Origin
It is the root of the Sophora flavescens Ait., family Leguminosae.

Property, taste and attributive meridian.
Bitter in taste, cold in property. Enters the heart, lung, kidney and large intestine meridians.

Function and indication
Clear away heat and deprive dampness, expel wind and kill parasites. Indicated for diarrhea and dysentery of dampness-heat, hematochezia due to intestinal windŁ¬ jaundice, difficulty in micturition, edemaŁ¬ leukorrhagia, pruritus vulvae, scabies and tinea, leprosy, itch of skin, carbuncles and sores of damp toxicity.

Modern research
Chemical components: It contains alkaloids, such as matrine, oxymatrine,and N-oxysophocarpine.

Clinical application:
It is used to treat bacillary dysentery, trichomonal pyelonephritis, eczema and dermatitis, cervicitis, diseases of lung and heart, functional disorder of temporomandibular joint, sleepless, arrhythmia, leukopenia, and senile acute non-lymphocytic leukemia.