- Region
- Asia
- Origin
- China
- Traditions
- Chinese medical traditions
Asia · Herb · № 671
Lophatherum gracile
Herb · Asia
Lophatherum (dan zhu ye)
Lophatherum gracile
Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat in heart and stomach in restlessness, thirst and mouth ulcers, and in painful urination.
Safety notes
Not during pregnancy. Traditional use is no proof of effectiveness; if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Preparation
Herb. Usually as a decoction, together with other herbs.
Use in traditions
Described in the classical Chinese materia medica, in the group 'herbs that cool internal heat'. Dan zhu ye cools heat in the heart and bladder, for restlessness, mouth ulcers and burning urination. In southern China it is an ingredient of cooling herbal tea (liang cha).
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Chinese materia medica
- Nature and taste
- sweet, bland, cold
- Meridians
- heart, stomach, small intestine
Attributed effects
Cools heat in restlessness, thirst and swollen, painful gums or mouth ulcers, and damp heat in the small intestine in painful, difficult urination with a dark red tongue tip. For mania and delirium from heart fire.
Preparation and amount
Traditional dosage: 6–12 g a day, usually in a decoction.
Combinations
- With gypsum and zhi mu for fever with thirst and restlessness
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Decoction