dampness-resolving
Euryale Seed (Qian Shi)
芡实 · Qiànshí
Euryale ferox
Nature
Neutral
Saveur
Sweet, astringent
Meridian
Spleen, Kidney
Qian Shi — the 'chicken-head rice' of the water-fields — astringes where coix drains: binding chronic diarrhea, leukorrhea, and leakage while gently strengthening the spleen and kidney. Su Dongpo, the Song poet, reportedly chewed the seeds daily for vitality. It is the astringent anchor of Si Shen Tang.
🌿 Fonctions
- •Strengthens the spleen and stops chronic diarrhea
- •Secures kidney essence and astringes urine
- •Stops leukorrhea and dampness
📖 Usage
9–15 g in decoction or 20–30 g simmered in congee and soups until tender.
🔬 Recherche moderne
Euryale polysaccharides and cyclic peptides are studied for antioxidant and renal-supportive activity.
⚠️ Contre-indications
Avoid with constipation, food stagnation, and difficult urination.
