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Tu Niu Xi土牛膝

Achyranthis Radix terrena · Native Achyranthes Root · Rough Chaff-Flower Root

Herbs that Invigorate the Blood 活血化瘀药

Overview

The root of native wild achyranthes species — chiefly Achyranthes aspera and its relatives — dug from field margins rather than cultivated, and used as the colder, cheaper relative of Huai Niu Xi 怀牛膝. Bitter, sour and cool, it drives blood downward and drains fire. Southern Chinese practice knows it above all as a throat herb, decocted fresh or dried for a hot, swollen, painful throat; alongside that it opens blocked menses, breaks stasis, and washes damp-heat out through the urine. The one thing it does not do, unlike its cultivated cousin, is tonify.

Nature & Flavor

Bitter, sour · Cool

Channels

Liver · Kidney

Typical Dosage

9–15 g in decoction
土牛膝Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Drains fire, resolves toxicityHot, swollen, painful throat and mouth ulcers — the use it is best known for in southern clinics, where the fresh root is sometimes juiced instead of decocted.
  • Invigorates blood, unblocks the mensesAmenorrhea and painful periods from stasis, retained lochia after childbirth, and bruising from injury.
  • Drains damp-heat, frees painful urinationScanty, hot, painful urination and damp-heat swelling of the lower limbs.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Tu Niu Xi

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

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Hot, swollen, painful throat; mouth ulcers
    - Amenorrhea and stasis-type period pain, retained lochia
    - Bruising and swelling after injury
    - Hot painful urination, damp-heat swelling of the legs

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

PharyngitisTonsillitisAmenorrheaUrinary tract infection

Contraindications

Cautions

Cool and downward-driving: wrong for a pale, cold, deficient presentation, and unsuitable where the Spleen is weak with loose stools. It is not interchangeable with Huai Niu Xi 怀牛膝 — that herb supplements the Liver and Kidney and this one does not, so the two must not be substituted for each other in a prescription. Because it moves blood, it is used cautiously alongside anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication and is usually stopped before surgery on the practitioner's advice. A throat that is severely swollen, that makes swallowing or breathing difficult, or that comes with high fever, needs urgent conventional assessment rather than herbs alone.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Avoided in pregnancy — it moves blood strongly and drives it downward.

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》.
    3. 《中药大辞典》.

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.