Kochiae Fructus is a type of traditional Chinese medicine used to treat pruritic skin diseases, with specific effects varying from person to person.
It is the dried and mature fruit of Kochia scoparia, a plant belonging to the Chenopodiaceae family. The best quality fruits are full and grayish-green in color, with a pungent and bitter taste, and a cold nature. It is associated with the Kidney and Bladder meridians.
Kochiae Fructus possesses the functions of clearing heat and promoting diuresis, removing wind, and relieving itchiness. It has a certain therapeutic effect on pruritic skin diseases by eliminating damp-heat and wind evil from the skin, thereby achieving the effect of relieving itchiness.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, pruritic skin diseases are often caused by the invasion of wind evil, constitutional blood heat, endogenous damp-heat, and other factors, which can cause damp-heat and wind evil to stagnate in the skin, leading to itchiness, such as in cases of eczema and urticaria.
Kochiae Fructus can remove wind and relieve itchiness. Its pungent taste can disperse wind in the skin and has a good effect on relieving itchiness. When treating urticaria, eczema, and skin itchiness, it is often used in combination with Cortex Dictamni, Periostracum Cicadae, and Cortex Phellodendri. For damp-heat in the lower jiao with damp and itchy genitals, it can be decocted with Sophora Flavescens Root, Gentiana Scabra Root, and Alum for external washing of the affected area.
In addition, Kochiae Fructus also has the effect of clearing heat and promoting diuresis, and can be used for symptoms such as difficult or painful urination. However, some patients may experience adverse reactions such as nausea and vomiting after taking the medicine. It is contraindicated for those without damp-heat or with excessive urination.
If medication is needed, it is recommended to use it under the guidance of professional physicians based on syndrome differentiation. Avoid self-medication blindly to prevent serious adverse reactions.
