Sundance Acupuncture

Herb & Acupuncture Database

(This is my own personal database of teachers, teachings and notes that I use in my practice. I’ve decided to share it freely with anyone who would like to reference it.)

Ma Bian Cao - 馬鞭草 - Herba Verbenae

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Herba Verbenae
Common English:	European Verbena Iron Herb Verbena Vervain

Category

Herbs that Regulate the Blood: Herbs that Invigorate the Blood

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Bitter (Acrid)	Slightly Cold (Cool) (Cold)	Liver Spleen (Bladder)	4.5-30g

Actions And Indications

Actions	Indications/Syndromes
Cools the Blood, Invigorates the Blood, Reduces abdominal masses, Unblocks the menses	Dysmenorrhea or amenorrhea due to Blood Stasis Abdominal masses (can be used as a stand-alone herb in decoction chased by warm wine)
Clears Heat and resolves toxicity	Severe sore throat, throat Bi, and other accumulations of Heat toxin including breast abscess (use the macerated fresh herb), swollen, painful gums
Facilitates urination and checks malarial disorders	Internal blockage of Dampness with edema or ascites Malarial disorders (use the fresh juice)
Promotes urination and reduces edema	Edema, ascites and water accumulation during the later stages of parasitic infections

Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Use caution during pregnancy.
Contraindicated for those with Spleen Yin Deficiency.
Contraindicated for those with Stomach Qi Deficiency.

INCOMPATIBILITIES

HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

Major Combinations

Rx. Salviae Miltiorrhizae Dan Shen Hb. Lycopi Ze Lan Hb. Leonuri Yi Mu Cao Or Rz. Cyperi Xiang Fu Hb. Leonuri Yi Mu Cao	Rz. Sparganii San Leng Rz. Curcumae E Zhu	Olibanum Ru Xiang Myrrh Mo Yao Flos Carthami Hong Hua Rz. Corydalis Yan Hu Suo
Dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea due to Blood Stasis.	Abdominal masses.	Joint pain and traumatic injuries.
Hb. Taraxaci Pu Gong Ying Hb. Violae Zi Hua Di Ding Flos Chrysanthemi Indici Ye Ju Hua	Gypsum Fibrosum Shi Gao Rz. Anemarrhenae Zhi Mu	Rz. Belamcandae She Gan Rx. Sophorae Tonkinensis Shan Dou Gen Lasiosphere/Calvatia Ma Bo
Carbuncles and sores.	Swollen, painful gums.	Sore throat.
Rx. Pulsatillae Bai Tou Weng Cx. Fraxini Qin Pi	Fr. Chaenomelis Mu Gua Rx. Cyathulae Chuan Niu Xi	Hb. Artemisiae Anomalae Liu Ji Nu Hb. Lobeliae Chinensis Ban Bian Lian
Diarrhea or dysentery.	Edema and leg Qi.	Ascites.

Notes

In addition, this herb kills parasites.
It works particularly well when Blood Heat dries and congeals the Blood, causing Blood Stasis.
Topically, it can be applied to swollen sores and to wounds caused by metal.
According to one source, it relieves Damp-Heat diarrhea.

For educational reference only; not a substitute for care from a qualified practitioner.