Cortex Acanthopanacis. slenderstyle acanthopanax root bark. dried root bark. Cortex Acanthopanacis is also called South Slenderstyle Acanthopanax (Nan Wu Jia Pi). It is produced chiefly in Hubei, Henan, and Anhui provinces, and
collected in summer and autumn. The bark of the root is removed, dried in sunlight, and used unprepared. Pungent and bitter in flavor, warm in property, acts on the Liver and Kidney channels. Expels Pathogenic Wind Dampness, strengthens muscles and bones. For rheumatic or rheumatoid arthritis due to Deficiency of the Liver and Kidney with aching and weakness of the loins and knees, as well as muscular contracture, it is used alone or with other herbs that replenish the Liver and Kidney.
For retarded walking and lack of strength in children, Cortex Acanthopanacis is used with Fructus Chaenomelis (Mu Gua) and Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae (Niu Xi) in “The Acanthopanacis Powder” (Wu Jia Pi San). For edema, it is used with Sclerotium Poriae Cocos (Fu Ling) and Pericarpium Arecae (Da Fu Pi).