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Photo of Anemone Rhizome

Anemone Rhizome

两头尖 · Liǎng Tóu Jiān

Practitioner herb for severe joint and skin pain

Properties

WarmingWarming botanicalPungent

Concerns

Inflammation

What it does

Anemone rhizome eases severe rheumatoid arthritis with muscle contracture and joint pain, plus stubborn open carbuncles. In TCM, it dispels wind-damp and supports tissue healing in non-resolving abscesses. Toxic, so dose is tight. The Chinese name Liǎng Tóu Jiān means 'pointed at both ends,' from the rhizome's shape.

How to take it

Capsule

Used only in practitioner formulas at 1–3g of processed rhizome. Often combined with other joint herbs in classical formulas. Short-term courses only.

See a TCM practitioner. Northeast Chinese regional herb

Safety

  • Toxic. Stay within practitioner-prescribed doses
  • Skip during pregnancy
  • Avoid handling fresh plant. Sap can blister skin
  • Stop if you develop nausea, dizziness, or palpitations
  • Talk to your doctor before starting, especially if you take medication

Where it comes from

Radde anemone (Anemone raddeana) is a small flowering plant in the buttercup family, native to northeast China and Korea. The rhizome is the medicinal part, harvested in summer. The plant contains anemonin and related compounds that are irritant and skin-blistering when fresh. Drying and processing reduce these effects. The herb is used regionally and is less stocked outside northeast Chinese pharmacopoeia.