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Cura x Cura

Ji Gu Cao鸡骨草

Abri Herba · Abrus Herb · Canton Love-Pea Vine

Herbs that Drain Dampness 利水渗湿药《岭南采药录》

Overview

A southern Chinese herb, as much a Cantonese household soup ingredient as a clinic medicinal, used for damp-heat in the Liver and gallbladder. Sweet, slightly bitter and cool, it drains damp-heat, eases constrained Liver qi, and settles the flank pain and jaundice that come with them. Only the vine and root are medicinal: the seed pods are stripped off during preparation, and material still carrying seeds has not been correctly processed.

Nature & Flavor

Sweet, slightly bitter · Cool

Channels

Liver · Stomach

Typical Dosage

15–30 g in decoction
鸡骨草Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Clears damp-heat, resolves jaundiceDamp-heat jaundice with dark urine, a bitter taste in the mouth and a greasy yellow tongue coating.
  • Soothes the Liver, relieves painDistending flank and hypochondriac pain where constrained Liver qi meets damp-heat.
  • Resolves toxicity, disperses swellingBreast abscess and hot painful swellings; the fresh herb is also mashed and applied over the site.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Ji Gu Cao

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

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Damp-heat jaundice with dark urine
    - Hypochondriac and flank pain, bitter taste in the mouth
    - Breast abscess and hot painful swellings

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

HepatitisJaundiceCholecystitisMastitis

Contraindications

Cautions

The seeds of this plant are toxic and must be removed before the herb is used — only the aerial parts and the root are medicinal, and any batch still carrying pods should be rejected rather than cleaned by the patient. The herb itself is cool, so it is unsuitable in Spleen-Stomach deficiency cold with loose stools and poor appetite. Jaundice and persistent liver complaints need medical diagnosis alongside any herbal treatment.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Avoid in pregnancy unless a practitioner has assessed the case — it is cooling and damp-draining, and the toxicity of the seed makes the quality of the source material critical.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    2. 《中华人民共和国药典》.

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.