The Chinese medicine Atractylodes macrocephala can be used for the treatment of phlegm (pathological products formed by the impaired metabolism of water), edema, and spontaneous sweating (involuntary sweating during the daytime, aggravated by the slightest movement of sweating) caused by the deficiency of the spleen, and it is recommended that patients follow the doctor’s instructions for the use of the medicine.
Atractylodes macrocephala is the dried rhizome of Atractylodes macrocephala, family Asteraceae, belonging to the qi tonic medicine, warm in nature, bitter and sweet in flavor, entering the spleen. Stomach two meridians, has the spleen and qi, dry dampness and water (drying dampness, reduce the body of water and dampness), stop sweating, the efficacy of the fetus. It is used for spleen deficiency with little food, abdominal distension and diarrhea, phlegm-drinking and palpitation (caused by phlegm-drinking and evil Qi upward), edema, spontaneous sweating, and restlessness of the fetus.
Atractylodes macrocephala is warm in nature, and should not be taken in large quantities for external wind-heat or warm heat, internal heat, yin deficiency, blood deficiency, blood heat, etc.; it is bitter in taste, good at drying dampness and diuresis, and it is forbidden to be taken in large quantities for gastric yin insufficiency (insufficient yin in the stomach), fluid deficiency, constipation, and yin deficiency and internal heat; it is sweet in taste, and it is good at replenishing the qi, and it has the effect of congestion of qi in long term consumption.
Patients are advised to follow the doctor’s instructions.