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Cura x Cura

Sang Ye桑叶

Mori Folium · Mulberry Leaf

Herbs that Release the Exterior 解表药《神农本草经》

Overview

Mulberry leaves picked after the first frost — the frosted leaf is the grade practitioners prefer. Sweet, bitter and cold, entering Lung and Liver, it is light enough to disperse wind-heat from the surface yet cooling and moistening enough to settle a dry autumn cough, which is a rare combination. It also works upward on the Liver: it cools the eyes when they are red, gritty and light-sensitive, and it calms yang that is rising into the head with dizziness and headache. Honey-preparing shifts it decisively toward the moistening cough use and softens its coldness.

Nature & Flavor

Sweet, bitter · Cold

Channels

Lung · Liver

Typical Dosage

5–9 g in decoction
桑叶Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

4 core actions

  • Disperses wind-heatThe early stage of a warm-type cold: fever with mild chills, sore throat, headache and a dry cough. It is gentle, so it is normally combined rather than used alone.
  • Clears and moistens the LungThe dry, unproductive cough of autumn dryness or of Lung heat — a hacking cough with little phlegm, a dry throat and a hoarse voice. The honey-prepared leaf is chosen here.
  • Cools the Liver and brightens the eyesRed, sore, dry or light-sensitive eyes and blurred vision from Liver heat; also used as an eyewash decoction prepared by the practitioner.
  • Settles rising Liver yangHeadache, dizziness and a hot, tense head where Liver yang is ascending — a supporting role alongside the heavier settling herbs.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Sang Ye

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Wind-heat colds with fever, sore throat and headache
    - Dry cough from autumn dryness or Lung heat
    - Red, dry or light-sensitive eyes, blurred vision
    - Dizziness and headache from rising Liver yang

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

Common coldDry coughConjunctivitisHeadache

Contraindications

Cautions

Cool and dispersing: it is the wrong choice for a wind-cold pattern with chills, a clear runny nose and no thirst, and it does not suit a cough from Lung cold with copious thin white phlegm. It is mild enough that relying on it alone in a heavy fever wastes time. Eye pain with vision loss, a fixed red eye or trauma needs an eye examination rather than a herbal wash. Our dispensary data flags no toxicity and no allergy risk for this herb.

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.