- Region
- Asia
- Origin
- China
- Traditions
- Chinese medical traditions
Asia · Herb · № 676
Stellaria dichotoma var. lanceolata
Herb · Asia
Stellaria root (yin chai hu)
Stellaria dichotoma var. lanceolata
Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat from yin deficiency, fever after an illness and heat in malnourished children.
Safety notes
Not for colds from wind-cold, blood deficiency or without real heat. 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 cool the blood'. Yin chai hu cools persistent low-grade fever due to yin deficiency and fever in children with food stagnation. It grows in the dry steppes of Ningxia and Inner Mongolia.
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, bitter, slightly cold
- Meridians
- liver, kidney, stomach
Attributed effects
Cools chronic fever, 'fever from the bones' and night sweats from yin deficiency, fever that lingers after an illness, heat in malnourished children (also from worms) and bleeding from heat.
Preparation and amount
Traditional dosage: 3–9 g a day, usually in a decoction.
Combinations
- With di gu pi, turtle shell and qing hao for afternoon fever and night sweats
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Decoction