Chē Qián Zǐ (车前子), known in English as Plantain seed (Plantago asiatica (seed)), is a cold, sweet Chinese herb from the Drain damp category. It enters the Kidney, Bladder, Liver and Lung channels. Its main action: promotes urination, drains Damp-Heat.
| Pinyin | Chē Qián Zǐ (Che Qian Zi) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 车前子 |
| English | Plantain seed |
| Botanical name | Plantago asiatica (seed) |
| Category | Drain damp |
| Nature | Cold |
| Flavour | Sweet |
| Channels | Kidney, Bladder, Liver, Lung |
| Dosage | 9–15g (wrap when decocting) |
| Cautions | Pregnancy; Kidney Yang deficiency without Damp |
Actions
- Promotes urination, drains Damp-Heat
- Stops diarrhoea by directing fluid to Bladder
- Clears Liver Heat, brightens eyes
- Clears Lung Heat, dissolves phlegm
Indications
- Hot painful urinary dysfunction
- Summer Damp diarrhoea
- Red eyes from Liver Heat
- Lung Heat cough
How to remember Chē Qián Zǐ
Drain damp herbs are mostly cool or cold and sweet, and most enter the Bladder channel.
- You can work these out
- Cold, Sweet: like most Drain damp herbs
- Bladder channel: from its action “Stops diarrhoea by directing fluid to Bladder”
- Liver channel: from its action “Clears Liver Heat”
- Lung channel: from its action “Clears Lung Heat”
- Learn by heart
- Kidney channel: nothing in its group or its actions points to it
Formulas containing Chē Qián Zǐ
Other Drain damp herbs
- Fú Líng
- Yì Yǐ Rén
- Zé Xiè
- Mù Tōng
- Huá Shí
- Qú Mài
- Bì Xiè
- Yīn Chén Hāo
- Jīn Qián Cǎo
- Hǎi Jīn Shā
- Zhū Líng
- Dēng Xīn Cǎo
- Tōng Cǎo
- Biǎn Xù
- Shí Wéi
- Dōng Kuí Zǐ
- Dì Fū Zǐ
- Dōng Guā Zǐ
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Chē Qián Zǐ?
Chē Qián Zǐ is cold and sweet.
Which channels does Chē Qián Zǐ enter?
Chē Qián Zǐ enters the Kidney, Bladder, Liver and Lung channels.
What are the actions of Chē Qián Zǐ?
Promotes urination, drains Damp-Heat; Stops diarrhoea by directing fluid to Bladder; Clears Liver Heat, brightens eyes; Clears Lung Heat, dissolves phlegm.
What is Chē Qián Zǐ used for?
Hot painful urinary dysfunction; summer Damp diarrhoea; red eyes from Liver Heat; Lung Heat cough.
Which formulas contain Chē Qián Zǐ?
Lóng Dǎn Xiè Gān Tāng and Bā Zhèng Sǎn.
Practise Chē Qián Zǐ and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.