What Are the Benefits and Functions of Fuzi, a Type of Chinese Herbal Medicine?
Fupian is a processed product derived from the roots of aconite. It is also known as processed aconite, black aconite, cooked aconite, light aconite, yellow aconite, and bright aconite. Its main functions include restoring yang, warming and tonifying the spleen and kidneys, dispelling cold and relieving pain, and warming and dispelling cold. It is used to treat conditions such as excessive yin leading to yang deficiency, excessive sweating causing yang collapse, vomiting with convulsions, and other related symptoms.
Processed aconite, black aconite, cooked aconite, and light aconite are prepared from the roots of aconite. They are soaked in salt brine (known as danba water), rinsed, and then boiled with licorice and black beans until there is no numbness felt when tasted. Afterward, the licorice and black beans are removed, and the aconite is sliced and dried. Depending on the processing method, there may be variations such as cooked aconite, yellow aconite, and bright aconite. In Shanghai, these distinctions are no longer made. Raw aconite and salted aconite are also prepared through similar processes but have stronger toxicity and require strict control in their use, generally limited to external applications.
Fupian is used to treat various conditions such as excessive yin leading to yang deficiency, excessive sweating causing yang collapse, vomiting with convulsions, abdominal cold pain, cold diarrhea, edema in feet due to poor circulation, chronic convulsions in children, wind-cold-damp bi syndrome, contracture and stiffness of limbs, impotence, cold uterus, chronic ulceration, and other chronic and cold-related diseases.
