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Che Qian Cao车前草

Plantaginis Herba · Plantain Herb

Herbs that Drain Dampness 利水渗湿药

Overview

The whole plantain plant, seed spikes and all — the same species that yields Che Qian Zi, but taken as the entire herb. Sweet and cold, entering the Liver, Kidney, Lung and Small Intestine channels, it promotes urination and drains damp-heat from the urinary tract; being the whole plant, it carries more heat-clearing, toxin-resolving and blood-cooling force than the seed alone, which is why it is also used for blood in the urine and pounded fresh onto sores.

Nature & Flavor

Sweet · Cold

Channels

Liver · Kidney · Lung · Small Intestine

Typical Dosage

10–20 g
车前草Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

4 core actions

  • Promotes urination, frees stranguryDamp-heat in the bladder with burning, urgent, scanty urination.
  • Clears heat, resolves toxinDamp-heat diarrhea, and hot sores and swellings — the fresh herb pounded and applied locally.
  • Cools the blood, stops bleedingBlood in the urine from damp-heat, an action the whole herb has more of than the seed.
  • Clears the Lung, transforms phlegmCough with thick yellow sputum from Lung heat.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Che Qian Cao

No published formula lists this herb yet — the library is growing.

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Burning, urgent, scanty urination; damp-heat strangury
    - Blood in the urine from damp-heat
    - Damp-heat diarrhea
    - Sores, boils and swellings (fresh herb, topical)
    - Lung-heat cough with yellow sputum

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

Urinary tract infectionCystitisHematuriaDiarrheaBronchitis

Contraindications

Cautions

Cold and draining: it is wrong for frequent clear urination from Kidney-yang deficiency, and for loose stools from Spleen deficiency without heat. Because it increases urine output, fluid and electrolyte balance deserves attention on longer courses and particularly alongside prescription diuretics.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Use with caution in pregnancy — practitioner supervision required.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. 《中华人民共和国药典》(Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China).
    2. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    3. Chen & Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.