The star of improving drainage. 'Alisma' (Takusha) that flushes out excess water from the body

Hello everyone. This is Yuyu Kampo.

Yesterdaywe talked about 'Suitai' (water stagnation), a state where moisture in the body is stagnant, causing headaches and lethargy on rainy days. To move this stagnant water and flush it out of the body smoothly, the power of 'crude drugs' (shoyaku) contained in Kampo medicines is essential. This time, among the many crude drugs, I will introduce 'Alisma (Takusha),' which is the pillar that supports water metabolism and can be called the star of improving drainage.

What kind of crude drug is Alisma (Takusha)? The pillar that improves drainage

Many of you may be hearing the name Alisma for the first time. It is made by drying the rhizome (the enlarged part of the underground stem) of the 'Alisma orientale' plant, which belongs to the Alismataceae family and grows naturally in watersides and wetlands. As the name suggests, with 'Tak' (marsh) and 'Sha' (to pour out/release), it has an excellent ability to smoothly flush out excess moisture that has accumulated in the body.

Old Kampo books also record its history as a long-valued crude drug for removing excess dampness and making the body feel lighter. A wonderful feature of Alisma is that it doesn't just remove moisture, but regulates the circulation of water without placing unnecessary burden on the body.

Flushing out excess water accumulated in the body from 'below'

When low pressure approaches and the body's drainage worsens, the moisture that has lost its place stagnates around the head and ears, causing throbbing weather-related pain and dizziness. Alisma collects this unnecessary moisture that has pooled in the upper body or the whole body and encourages it to be gently excreted from below as urine.

To use an analogy, it is like a ventilation fan that opens a window to let the wind blow through and drive out the humidity when a room is damp and stuffy. By working like a ventilation fan in the body, Alisma helps to clearly soothe the heaviness in the head and the tightening pain, helping the body feel lighter.

A reliable presence supporting Goreisan

This reliable crude drug, Alisma, is also used as the main ingredient in 'Goreisan,' a representative Kampo medicine for water regulation that I introduced yesterday. Goreisan is composed of five crude drugs, and among them, Alisma has the highest content and supports the foundation of the overall 'drainage effect.'

It is also incorporated into many important prescriptions, such as 'Hangebyakujutsutenmato,' which is used for dizziness and lightheadedness, and 'Polyporus (Chorei),' which regulates water metabolism while cooling the body's heat. Without us knowing, Alisma is always supporting the body's drainage from behind the scenes.

※Kampo medicines vary in suitability depending on your constitution (sho) and symptoms. To choose the right Kampo for your body, please do not judge for yourself and be sure to consult a pharmacist or doctor who is knowledgeable about Kampo.

Today's small health tip: Drink water 'little by little' and warm

To improve the body's drainage like Alisma, you need to be a little creative in how you drink beverages daily. If you gulp down cold water just because you are thirsty, your stomach and intestines will cool down, weakening their ability to process water, and the 'body's dehumidifier' will stop working.

When replenishing moisture, try to drink room-temperature white water or warm tea, one sip at a time. By warming your stomach and intestines while providing moisture little by little, you can prevent water stagnation and help Alisma's work on a daily basis.

Let's continue to learn together this week as well.
May your every day be a little more energetic and comfortable.

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Yuyu Kampo