Ku Shen (Sophora Root) – Powerful Herbal Remedy for Skin & Digestive Health
Purify heat, clear dampness, and calm itching with Ku Shen, the powerful Sophora Root long used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Known for its bitter and cooling nature, Ku Shen targets damp-heat conditions, making it ideal for skin issues, urinary discomfort, and intestinal inflammation. This versatile root is often used in topical formulas or internal blends to reduce swelling, stop itching, and support the Liver, Bladder, and Large Intestine meridians.
✔ Clears Damp-Heat | ✔ Calms Itching & Inflammation | ✔ Supports Skin, Intestinal & Urinary Health
Ku Shen (Sophora Root) is a bitter, cooling TCM herb used to clear damp-heat, relieve itching, and support urinary, intestinal, and skin health naturally.
Ku Shen (Sophora Root)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Health Benefits | – Clears Heat and Dries Dampness: Effectively addresses conditions like dysentery, jaundice, and leukorrhea associated with damp-heat. – Relieves Itching and Kills Parasites: Applied externally for skin conditions such as eczema, scabies, and other dermatological disorders. – Promotes Urination: Assists in alleviating dysuria and other urinary discomforts by promoting urine flow. – Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects: Contains compounds that reduce inflammation and combat oxidative stress. – Antitumor Activities: Demonstrates potential in inhibiting tumor growth and enhancing liver function. |
| Why It Works | Ku Shen contains bioactive compounds such as matrine, oxymatrine, and flavonoids, which contribute to its therapeutic effects. Matrine and oxymatrine exhibit anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective properties, while flavonoids provide antioxidant benefits. |
| Chinese Medicine Theory | In TCM, Ku Shen is characterized as bitter and cold, entering the Heart, Liver, Stomach, Large Intestine, and Bladder meridians. It functions to clear heat, dry dampness, dispel wind, relieve itching, and promote urination, making it effective for conditions like damp-heat dysentery, jaundice, eczema, and urinary tract infections. |
| PubMed Research | – Ulcerative Colitis Treatment: Studies have shown that Ku Shen-based formulations provide good efficacy in treating ulcerative colitis with damp-heat accumulation syndrome. – Antitumor Activities: Research indicates that Ku Shen exhibits antitumor properties, making it a potential candidate for cancer treatment. – Hair Growth Promotion: Extracts from Ku Shen have demonstrated hair growth-promoting effects in animal studies. |
| How to Use | – Preparation: Can be used internally as a decoction or externally as a wash or ointment for skin conditions. – Dosage: Dosage varies based on individual conditions and formulations; consulting a qualified TCM practitioner is essential for personalized recommendations. – Cautions: Not recommended for individuals with cold from deficiency of the Spleen and Stomach. Pregnant women should use with caution. Always consult with a healthcare provider before incorporating into your regimen. |
Note: While Ku Shen offers various health benefits, it's crucial to use it under the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional, especially considering its potent effects and potential contraindications.
Common Name: Sophora Root, Radix Sophorae
Botanical Name: Sophora flavescens root
Channels/Meridians: Heart, Liver, large intestine, Small intestine, Bladder
Pin Yin Name: Ku Shen
Other Ingredients: None, nothing has been added to this product.
Package Size: 500 Grams (1.1 pounds)
Form: Cut, Unsulfured
Dosage: Follow doctors instructions on how to use this herb.
Origin: China
Brand: Plum Flower, species - authenticated herbs
Cautions: Do not use if pregnant or nursing. Do not use with liver and kidney deficiency. Large doses or extended use may damage kidneys. Consult your doctor.
Additional Information About Sophora Root
- Eliminates Heat
- Dries Dampness
- Stops Itching
- Promotes Healthy Urination
- Ku Shen translates to Bitter Ginseng, though Ku Shen does not have any relationship to Ginseng
Sophora root has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine. While the plant contains a wealth of useful chemical constituents; two of its quinolizodine alkaloid constituents, matrine and oxymatrine. Clears Heat and Promotes healthy Urination.
Naturally Occurring Components: Alkaloids, Flavones, Flavonoids
Additional Information: Bitter, Cold
Sophora Root Combines With:
+Burdock and Sophora Root
+Sichuan Pepper and Sophora Root
Check out our How to Use Bulk Herbs page to see how to use herbs correctly. Our web page is constantly expanding, as of today we have articles on:
- How to make salves, poultice, tinctures, teas, capsules, gargles, and foot bathes.
- How to make a citrus facial splash
- Cayenne pepper: Caterpillar and aphid spray ( Natural insect repellent )
- Citrus potpourri basket.
About Plum Flower Quality Herb Powders
Plum Flower is an established worldwide manufacturer of high-quality Chinese herbs, and innovative Chinese medicinal herbs and products. Plum Flower uses sulfur-free herbs and laboratory tests its products for contamination and heavy metals, such as mercury, lead, and pesticides.
- Made at GMP internationally certified facilities (Good Manufacturing Practices) Quality control tests are done at the manufacturing site and at third party labs to confirm results.
- Manufactured using Unsulfured, Chlorine free, Aluminum Phosphate free herbs when possible.
- Microbials and heavy metals tested. No preservatives.
Chinese Traditional herbs should be regarded as an added feature to modern western healthcare, and not as a replacement. Chinese traditional herbs ( Teas ) emphasize harmony, and balance.
References
https://examine.com/supplements/sophora-flavescens/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19538168/
http://alternativehealing.org/ku_shen.htm
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/sophora-flavescens
