Caper Spurge Seed

Traditional Use

Primary Actions

• Expels water and reduces swelling - a harsh downward-draining seed used for severe edema, ascites, and fluid accumulation in robust excess patterns.
• Drives out retained fluid and opens the bowels - especially when water retention is complicated by constipation or obstructed elimination.
• Breaks up masses and disperses blood stasis - extended to abdominal masses and amenorrhea from congealed obstruction in classical practice.
• Kills parasites and attacks stubborn lesions externally - applied in paste form for warts, fungal lesions, snakebite traditions, and difficult skin disorders.

Secondary Actions

• Qian Jin Zi is a drastic purgative seed, not a gentle diuretic or tonic; the herb must be matched to strong excess pathology and used only briefly.
• Traditional processing often includes dehulling and deoiling, and the spreadsheet's separate Qian Jin Zi Shuang record should be understood as the less oily processed powder product rather than a different herb identity.

Classic Formulas

• Zi Jin Ding / Yu Shu Dan (紫金锭 / 玉枢丹) - classic formula using Qian Jin Zi to resolve phlegm, attack toxin, and reduce severe swelling.
• Qian Jin Zi with Da Huang or Gan Sui - strong downward-draining combinations for edema, water accumulation, and obstructed bowels in excess patterns.
• Topical Qian Jin Zi paste - traditional external application for warts, difficult skin lesions, or toxic swellings when a corrosive expulsive seed is desired.

Classical References

• TCM Wiki describes Qian Jin Zi as sour, warm, and slightly toxic, entering the channels of water movement and used for edema, masses, difficult elimination, amenorrhea, phlegm-retained fluid, and parasite-related lesions.
• American Dragon places Qian Jin Zi in the harsh cathartic category and stresses its short-term use for edema, constipation with retained fluids, masses, and external parasite or skin applications.
• PROCESSING NOTE: the spreadsheet also contains Qian Jin Zi Shuang as a separate future record. That processed powder is derived from the same seed and should be treated as a preparation-state variant rather than a different species.