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Cura x Cura

Pu Gong Ying蒲公英

Taraxaci Herba · Dandelion

Herbs that Clear Heat 清热药《新修本草》

Overview

The whole dandelion plant, root and all. Bitter and sweet with a cold nature, entering the Liver and Stomach, it is one of the most reliable heat-clearing, toxin-resolving herbs in the materia medica, and the first thought for a hot, swollen breast abscess — where it is taken internally and mashed onto the skin at the same time. It also drains damp-heat out through the urine and cools a Liver that is pushing heat up into the eyes.

Nature & Flavor

Bitter, sweet · Cold

Channels

Liver · Stomach

Typical Dosage

9–15 g in decoction
蒲公英Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

4 core actions

  • Clears heat, resolves toxicity, reduces abscessBoils, sores, breast abscess and intestinal abscess; hot painful swellings generally, taken internally and applied fresh.
  • Dissipates nodules, frees the flow of milkHard, hot lumps in the breast with blocked milk flow during nursing.
  • Drains damp-heat through urinationDamp-heat in the lower burner with hot, urgent, scanty urination; also damp-heat jaundice.
  • Clears Liver heatRed, swollen, painful eyes with headache from Liver heat rising.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Pu Gong Ying

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Breast abscess and mastitis with heat and swelling
    - Boils, carbuncles and hot skin sores
    - Hot, urgent, painful urination from damp-heat
    - Red, swollen, painful eyes from Liver heat

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

MastitisAbscessUrinary tract infectionConjunctivitis

Contraindications

Cautions

Cold and draining: not for cold-deficiency patterns, and large doses can loosen the stool. Being a member of the daisy family, it can occasionally provoke a skin reaction in people who react to that family — stop applying it if a rash appears. Not toxic.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: No specific restriction — practitioner judgment applies

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Xin Xiu Ben Cao《新修本草》(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.