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Jing Jie Sui荆芥穗

Schizonepetae Spica · Schizonepeta Spike

Herbs that Release the Exterior 解表药Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing 《神农本草经》(the parent herb, entered as 假苏)

Overview

The flowering spike of Jing Jie, separated out because it is the most aromatic part of the plant and disperses wind more sharply than the whole stem — practitioners choose it when the wind sign leads: a pounding head, an itchy rash, a cold that will not break. Charred to it loses the dispersing action altogether and becomes a bleeding-stopper for postpartum bleeding, uterine bleeding and blood in the stool.

Nature & Flavor

Acrid · Slightly warm

Channels

Lung · Liver

Typical Dosage

4.5–9 g in decoction, added near the end
荆芥穗Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Disperses wind, releases the exteriorWind-cold or wind-heat colds with pronounced headache and nasal congestion — stronger at this than the whole herb.
  • Vents rashes, stops itchingUrticaria, itchy eruptions and measles that will not surface.
  • Charred, stops bleedingis used for postpartum bleeding, uterine bleeding, blood in the stool and nosebleed; charring removes the exterior-releasing action entirely.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Jing Jie Sui

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Wind-cold or wind-heat cold with marked headache
    - Itchy rashes and urticaria
    - Incompletely surfaced measles
    - Uterine, postpartum or intestinal bleeding (charred form only)

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

Common coldUrticariaPruritusPostpartum hemorrhage

Contraindications

Cautions

As with the whole herb, avoid where the exterior is deficient with sweating, or where dizziness and headache come from yin deficiency rather than wind. Do not substitute the uncharred spike when the intention is to stop bleeding, nor the charred form when the intention is to release the exterior.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: No specific restriction — practitioner judgment applies

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing《神农本草经》(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.