Glehnia Root … Classic Formulas
Bei Sha Shen · Radix Glehniae
Primary Actions
- Nourishes Lung Yin and moistens dryness - Bei Sha Shen is classically used for dry cough, throat irritation, scant sputum, hoarseness, and lingering dryness after warm disease.
- Nourishes Stomach Yin and generates fluids - it is chosen for dry mouth, thirst, hunger without appetite, and fluid depletion after febrile illness or chronic heat damage.
- Clears residual heat from the Lung and Stomach without being harsh - it is especially useful when deficiency and dryness coexist rather than full excess heat.
Classic Formulas
- Sha Shen Mai Dong Tang - classic Lung-Stomach dryness formula in which Sha Shen restores fluids and moistens the upper burner.
- Yi Wei Tang - Stomach-Yin formula that commonly uses Sha Shen with Mai Men Dong, Sheng Di Huang, and Yu Zhu for thirst and dry mouth after heat damage.
- Yi Guan Jian - a Liver-Stomach Yin deficiency formula in which Sha Shen is often paired with Sheng Di Huang and Mai Men Dong to enrich fluids and soften dryness.
Classical Text References
- Me & Qi and TCM Wiki both describe Bei Sha Shen as sweet and slightly cold, entering the Lung and Stomach to nourish yin, moisten dryness, and generate fluids.
- Traditional differentiation between Bei Sha Shen and Nan Sha Shen is clinically important; older materia medica commentary treats them as related but not interchangeable in all dryness patterns.
- This record follows the accepted Glehnia littoralis identity rather than leaving the broader Sha Shen name ambiguous.