Witnessed by: TCM
Vietnamese sophora (Sophora tonkinensis), of the Fabaceae family. Small leguminous shrub of rocky limestone slopes; native range: limestone hills of southern China and northern Vietnam. Globally recognized as shan dou gen (山豆根) in Chinese, and Vietnamese sophora, shan dou gen, bushy sophora root in English. The part used is root and rhizome. Hard irregular brown rootlets on a knotty crown, extremely bitter with a rank bean-like odour.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
VIETNAMESE SOPHORA
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Vietnamese sophora
- Scientific name
- Sophora tonkinensis Gagnep.
- Family
- Fabaceae
Form
- Part used
- root and rhizome
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- bitter
Temperature
- TCM
- cold
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Lung · Stomach
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- clears heat, resolves fire toxicity, eases the throat and reduces swelling
Cautions
- Contraindications
- avoid in spleen-stomach deficiency cold; do not exceed the recommended dose
- Toxicity
- toxic; overdose readily causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sweating and, in excess, cardiac and respiratory depression
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