Qian Cao Gen / Qian Cao - 茜草根 - Radix Rubiae
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Radix Rubiae |
| Common English: | Heart-Leaf Madder Root India Madder Root Madder Root Rubia Root |
Category
Herbs that Regulate Blood: Herbs that Stop Bleeding (Hemostatics)Properties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Bitter (Sour) (Salty) | Cold (Warm) | Heart Liver (Lung) | 6-16g Fresh: 5-30g Tincture: 2-3ml 9-15g (Secondary source) |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Cools the Blood and stops bleeding | Bleeding due to Blood Heat with epistaxis, hematemesis, hemoptysis, hemafecia, hematuria and uterine bleeding |
Invigorates the Blood and dispels Blood Stasis | Pain due to Blood Stasis, especially chest and flank pain Retained lochia Pain from traumatic injury and joint pain Early-stage carbuncles |
Disperses Wind-Dampness | Bi pain |
Unblocks the channels and vessels | Wind pain in the bones and joints |
Cools the Liver and transforms Phlegm | Chronic, stubborn cough with pain in the chest due to Liver Fire Attacking the Lungs |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Major Combinations
| Endoconcha Sepiae | Endoconcha Sepiae | Endoconcha Sepiae |
Excessive uterine bleeding. | Qi Deficient uterine bleeding. | Uterine bleeding due to Blood Heat. |
| Rz. Coptidis | Rx. Rehmanniae | Rx. Salviae Miltiorrhizae |
Bloody dysentery. | Heat induced epistaxis and hemoptysis. | Blood Heat causing amenorrhea. |
| Rx. Scutellariae | Rz. Coptidis | Rx. Astragali |
Hematemesis due to Blazing Heat with Deficiency and fatigue. | Red and white dysenteric disorder from clumped Damp-Heat in the Large Intestine which injures the collaterals. | Incessant uterine bleeding where Qi fails to control the Blood. |
Fossilia Ossis Mastodi | Rx. Angelicae Sinensis | Rx. Paeoniae Rubra |
Blood-streaked leukorrhea. | Amenorrhea due to Blood Stasis. | Trauma-induced Blood Stasis. |
Caul. Spatholobi | Cx. Mori | Rx. Lithospermi |
Joint pain due to painful obstruction. | Stubborn cough with pain in the chest due to Liver Fire Attacking the Lungs. | Cools the Blood to treat various dermatological disorders characterized by itching. Itching associated with allergic rhinitis or sinusitis. |
Fol. Artemisiae Argyi | Sm. Glycine Max | Rx. Notoginseng |
Epistaxis due to Heat and Fire Rising. | Persistent hematemesis. | Profuse hematemesis. |
Rz. Coptidis | Flos Carthami | Caul. Spatholobi |
Hematemesis due to Heat in the Lung and Stomach with underlying Deficiency and weakness. | Traumatic or sports injuries. | As a tincture for musculoskeletal or arthritic pain. |
Notes
- Some sources place this herb in the “Blood Invigorating“ category.
- It is particularly useful for hemoptysis and hematemesis.
- According to some sources, this herb resolves Phlegm and stops cough.
- Dry-frying or charring makes this herb more effective at stopping bleeding.
- For hematemesis from Heat, it can be used on its own.
- Research has shown this herb to be effective at inhibiting the growth of cancer cells.
- Combined with wine, it invigorates the Blood; roasted, it stops bleeding.
- It is said to cure hemostasis and arthralgia from Blood Deficiency without side effects.
- Combined with Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui and Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao, it is beneficial for women.
- According to one source, this herb stops epistaxis, leukorrhagia, puerperal faintness, agalactia, irregular menstruation, hematochezia, hemorrhoids and fistula.
- A different source states that it relieves pain caused by Wind, promotes menstruation, induces abortion and cures jaundice and abdominal masses.
- It both prevents and remedies stone formation.
- Qian Cao Gen , Hb. Sive Rx. Cirsii Japonici Da Ji and Hb. Cirsii Xiao Ji all enter the Blood, where they cool Heat, stop bleeding and dispel Blood Stasis. Qian Cao Gen is used more often in gynecology for vaginal bleeding from Heat, and it also enters the Lungs to treat cough from Liver Fire Attacking the Lungs. Xiao Ji eases urination and treats Bloody Lin. Da Ji disperses clumps and reduces sores, particularly when fresh.
- Qian Cao Gen and Fol. Callicarpae Formosanae Zi Zhu both cool the Blood and stop bleeding. Qian Cao Gen additionally invigorates the Blood and unblocks the collaterals, making it better for bleeding associated with Blood Stasis and Heat in the Blood. Zi Zhu is astringent, resolves toxicity and treats sores.
- Charred Rubia Root Qian Cao Tan is less cold and weaker at cooling the Blood and removing Stasis, but stronger at stopping bleeding. It is used for every type of bleeding.