Herbs that Cool the Blood
Zi Cao 紫草
Radix Arnebiae seu Lithospermi Groomwell Root or Arnebia or Lithospermum
✓ National Exam
Materia Medica Data
- Category
- Herbs that Cool the Blood
- Temperature
- Cold
- Nature & Flavour
- Sweet, Cold
- Channels Entered
- HT, LIV
- Latin (pharmaceutical)
- Radix Arnebiae seu Lithospermi
- Chinese
- 紫草
- Tone Marks
- zĭ căo
- Translation
- Purple Herb
- Photo Note
- Zi Cao Ruan Shown
Chinese Herb Actions
- Clears Heat, Cools Blood, and Relieves Fire Toxins For Fire Toxins in the skin causing very dark purple rashes. This herb encourages the rash to erupt, used when diseases (like mumps or chickenpox) are not progressing.
- Clears Damp-Heat Skin Lesions Used topically for skin lesions, vaginal itching, eczema, dermatitis, or burns.
- Unblocks the Bowels and Invigorates the Blood For mild constipation from heat in the Blood, or used to treat amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea.
Chinese Herb Dosage
- 3-9 grams.
Chinese Herb Contraindications & Cautions
- Do not use in cases of measles. Caution in cases of spleen and stomach deficiency with loose stool.
Chinese Herb Notes
- Can be made into an ointment for use topically.
Sources & References
Compiled and edited by Thomas Dehli, Founder & Editor, Sacred Lotus
The information here is referenced from numerous sources — teachers, practitioners, class notes from Five Branches University, the books below, and the published research literature, with citations given as resolvable PubMed identifiers. Where sources disagree, I have flagged the discrepancies directly. If facts couldn't be verified, I have left them out. How we source our content.
Reference information for students and practitioners — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner. Terms of use.
Chinese Herbs Books & References
https://amzn.to/3WfB3DK
https://amzn.to/3DR1VUh
https://amzn.to/42aMz73
https://amzn.to/3PuD4bt