Dà Jì (大蓟), known in English as Japanese thistle (Cirsium japonicum), is a cool, sweet and bitter Chinese herb from the Stop bleeding category. It enters the Heart and Liver channels. Its main action: cools Blood, stops bleeding.
| Pinyin | Dà Jì (Da Ji) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 大蓟 |
| English | Japanese thistle |
| Botanical name | Cirsium japonicum |
| Category | Stop bleeding |
| Nature | Cool |
| Flavour | Sweet, Bitter |
| Channels | Heart, Liver |
| Dosage | 9–15g (fresh 30–60g) |
| Cautions | Spleen and Stomach deficiency Cold without stasis |
Actions
- Cools Blood, stops bleeding
- Disperses stasis, resolves toxicity, reduces abscesses — stronger than Xiao Ji
Indications
- Heat in the Blood with bleeding: epistaxis, haematemesis, haematuria, bloody stool, uterine bleeding, traumatic bleeding
- Hot toxic sores and abscesses
How to remember Dà Jì
Stop bleeding herbs are mostly cool or cold and bitter, and most enter the Liver channel.
- You can work these out
- Cool, Bitter, Liver channel: like most Stop bleeding herbs
- Learn by heart
- Sweet: unusual for Stop bleeding herbs (most are bitter)
- Heart channel: nothing in its group or its actions points to it
Formulas containing Dà Jì
Other Stop bleeding herbs
- Sān Qī
- Ài Yè
- Dì Yú
- Huái Huā
- Bái Máo Gēn
- Pú Huáng
- Xiān Hè Cǎo
- Bái Jí
- Qiàn Cǎo Gēn
- Xiǎo Jì
- Cè Bǎi Yè
- Ǒu Jié
- Fú Lóng Gān
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Dà Jì?
Dà Jì is cool and sweet and bitter.
Which channels does Dà Jì enter?
Dà Jì enters the Heart and Liver channels.
What are the actions of Dà Jì?
Cools Blood, stops bleeding; Disperses stasis, resolves toxicity, reduces abscesses — stronger than Xiao Ji.
What is Dà Jì used for?
Heat in the Blood with bleeding: epistaxis, haematemesis, haematuria, bloody stool, uterine bleeding, traumatic bleeding; hot toxic sores and abscesses.
Which formulas contain Dà Jì?
Shí Huī Sǎn.
Practise Dà Jì 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.