Great burnet (di yu)

Sanguisorba officinalis

Traditionally attributed effects: cools the blood and stops bleeding in the lower abdomen; externally for burns.

Safety notes

Not with cold or uterine bleeding from qi deficiency. 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

Root. Usually as a decoction, together with other herbs.

Use in traditions

Described in the classical Chinese materia medica, in the group 'herbs that stop bleeding'. The root (di yu) is used for bleeding haemorrhoids and bloody diarrhoea, and charred and powdered on burns. In Europe great burnet was a fodder and wound herb.

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: bitter, sour, slightly cold
Meridians: liver, large intestine, stomach

Attributed effects

Cools the blood and stops bleeding from heat (blood in stool or urine, uterine bleeding, bleeding haemorrhoids), curbs diarrhoea and dysentery and externally promotes the healing of burns and ulcers.

Preparation and amount

Traditional dosage: 6–12 g a day, usually in a decoction. Charred most strongly haemostatic; dried and powdered on burns.

Combinations

With cattail pollen, huang qin and rehmannia for uterine bleeding from heat

Ways to prepare herbs: Decoction Powder and kitchen

Sources

All herbs from Asia →