Sha Yuan Zi, Lotus Seed Heart, and Raspberry – August 6, 2002

Sha Yuan Zi, Lotus Seed Heart, and Raspberry – August 6, 2002

These three herbs are all key medicines for consolidating the kidneys and astringing essence. Sha Yuan Zi is also known as Sha Yuan Ci Li, the mature fruit of the leguminous plant Hedysarum, non-toxic, with a dosage of 10–25 g. Besides consolidating the kidneys and astringing essence, it can also consolidate the bladder and stop involuntary urination. Lotus Seed Heart is the embryonic bud of the lotus flower, a member of the Nelumbonaceae family. Besides consolidating the kidneys and astringing essence, it can also clear the heart and calm the spirit, with a dosage of 6–10 g. Raspberry is the fruit of the rose family Rubus, red in color, sweet and sour in taste, harvested in summer and autumn, delicious to eat. Besides consolidating the kidneys and astringing essence, it can also consolidate the bladder and reduce urination. All three herbs are non-toxic. However, during the midsummer of the Renwu year, two consecutive cases of nocturnal emission due to kidney deficiency took Sha Yuan Zi and the other two herbs, resulting in vomiting, headache, and dizziness; one case even developed a severe reaction requiring hospitalization and intravenous fluid administration. Why? The manager of Huicui Hall, Fan Junling, was ordered to personally conduct self-experiments, and indeed similar reactions were observed. Could Sha Yuan Zi be a counterfeit drug? And since Lotus Seed Heart and Raspberry are edible, could they be infested with insects?