ge fen, Complementary and Alternative Healing University

ge fen 葛粉

By: Joe Hing Kwok Chu

The correct name for ge fen should be .

Click here to go back to ge gen page. 按此回到葛根頁。

Here is a commercial package picture of arrowroot starch.

The author has no commercial interest in this company.

The name arrow root can be a confusing because arrowroot can refer to different plants.

Arrow root starch

Pharmaceutical name:

英文藥名﹕

Amulum Puerariae

Botanical name:

學名﹕

Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi；

Pueraria thunbergiana (S. etZ.) Benth.；

Pueraria hirsuta (Thunb.) Schneid.；

Pueraria pseudohirsuta Tang et wang

Pueraria thomsonii Benth.

(Family: Fabaceae)

Pron. in Japanese:

日語發音﹕

kuzuko (katsu fun)

Pron. in Korean:

韓語發音﹕

galbun

Pron. in Cantonese::

粵音﹕

got3 fan2

Other Names:

別名﹕

Common Name:

英文名﹕

kudzu starch

Distribution:

產地﹕

Henan, Anhui, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Yunnan etc.

河南，安徽，廣東，江蘇，江西，湖北，湖南，雲南，等地。

Properties

(characteristics)﹕

性味﹕

sweet, cold.

甘，寒。

Channels (meridians) entered:

歸經﹕

stomach

胃

Medical functions:

藥理﹕

Actions & Indications: [1]

主治﹕[1]

anti-pyretic, it can relieve perplexity, promote saliva, relieve thirst, alcohol intoxication, sore throat, sores.

解熱除煩；生津止渴。主煩熱；口渴；醉酒；喉痺；瘡癤。

Chemical ingredients:[1]

化學成份﹕[1]

Starch 76.144%，protein 0.082%，fiber 0.36%，ash 0.224%, water 19.546%。

澱粉76.144%，蛋白質0.082%，纖維素0.36%，灰分0.224%和水分19.546%。

Dosage:

用量﹕

Oral: 10-30 g. Boil with water or add honey. Take with rice porridge.

External use: appropriate amount. Sprinkle and apply.

內服：開水或蜂蜜、米粥調服，10-30g。外用：適量，撒敷。

Samples of formulae:

處方舉例﹕

Diarrhea: use 2 table to make glue. Add some salt to taste and to replenished the losing of salt in diarrhea (do not use sugar).

腹瀉：用兩湯匙葛粉。加水煮成漿糊。加一點鹽以補充因腹瀉而損失的鹽分。（不可加糖，以免加劇腹瀉）

For treatment of perplexity and heat in the chest, thirst, short temper:

Prescription: ge fen 120 g, corn or millet 250 g.

Soak corn or millet overnight. Strain. Mix with ge fen and make porridge. Take orally.[2]

治胸中煩熱或渴，心躁：葛粉四兩，粟米半斤。

葛根粉粥：《聖惠方》

以水浸粟米經宿，來日漉出，與葛粉同拌令勻，煮粥食之。

Modern Research:

現代研究﹕

Toxicity & Cautions:

毒素與禁忌﹕

do not use too much for it may weaken the digestion. (Source: Zhang Yuansu)

Its cold characteristics can cause vomiting. Those with cold stomach should use with care. 《source: Cao Ben Zheng 》

Those with biao xu (external deficient) and sweating during summer should avoid using it. 《Source: Ben Cao Cong Xin》

1、張元素：不可多服，恐損胃氣。
2、其性涼，易於動嘔，胃寒者所當慎用。《草本正》
3、《本草從新》：夏日表虚汗多尤忌。《本草從新》

[1] Zhong Hua Ben Cao 中華本草 [2] Shen Hui Fang 聖惠方