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Jin Qian Cao金钱草

Lysimachiae Herba · Lysimachia · Christina Loosestrife · Gold Coin Herb

Herbs that Drain Dampness 利水渗湿药《本草纲目拾遗》

Overview

Sweet, bland and slightly cold, this is the stone herb: it drains damp-heat downward through the urine and is the first choice where gravel or a stone obstructs the urinary or biliary tract. The same draining action resolves damp-heat jaundice, and the fresh herb pounded and applied treats sores, burns and insect bites.

Nature & Flavor

Sweet, salty · Slightly cold

Channels

Liver · Gallbladder · Kidney · Bladder

Typical Dosage

15–60 g in decoction
金钱草Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Frees urination, expels stonesGritty, painful urination and the colicky pain of urinary or gallbladder stones.
  • Drains damp, resolves jaundiceDamp-heat jaundice with a bitter taste in the mouth and scanty yellow urine.
  • Clears toxin, reduces swellingSores, abscesses, burns and snake or insect bites — the fresh herb pounded and applied locally.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Jin Qian Cao

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

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Urinary stones and gravel with painful urination
    - Gallstones and damp-heat jaundice
    - Damp-heat painful urinary dribbling
    - Sores, swellings and insect bites (external use)

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

NephrolithiasisCholelithiasisUrinary tract infectionJaundice

Contraindications

Cautions

Cold and draining: sustained use in Spleen deficiency with loose stool weakens digestion further. A stone large enough to obstruct is a medical emergency — imaging and a physician's assessment come first, and herbs do not substitute for them.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: No specific restriction — practitioner judgment applies

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Ben Cao Gang Mu Shi Yi《本草纲目拾遗》(classical source, public domain).
    2. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    3. 《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.