Jing Da Ji (Peking Spurge Root)

Chinese Herb Actions

Chinese Herb Contraindications & Cautions

• Do not use during pregnancy. This herb has been shown to cause teratogenic (birth defects) effects.

Chinese Herb Toxicity & Overdose

• This herb is considered toxic.
  (while some Chinese herbs are toxic, it must be noted that many come prepared, or are combined, to mitigate their toxicity)

Chinese Herb Notes

• Which "Da Ji" is this — and how is it different from the others?

  This is the toxic purgative Da Ji (大戟), used to drive out water and phlegm-fluid. Two closely-related toxic roots share the name: Jing Da Ji (京大戟, Radix Euphorbiae Pekinensis — Euphorbia pekinensis) and Hong Da Ji (红大戟, Radix Knoxiae — Knoxia valerianoides); both are harsh downward-draining (expel-water) agents used interchangeably as "Da Ji." This is entirely different from the hemostatic thistle Da Ji (大蓟, Herba Cirsii Japonici) — a non-toxic, blood-cooling herb that only shares the romanized name.

  Sources: standard materia medica (harsh expel-water category); Chinese Pharmacopoeia entries for Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix and Knoxiae Radix.

This herb is incompatible with:

• Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae)

This herb is considered endangered, toxic, or is illegal in the United States