Jué Míng Zǐ (决明子), known in English as Cassia seed (Cassia obtusifolia), is a cool, sweet, bitter and salty Chinese herb from the Clear heat category. It enters the Liver and Large Intestine channels. Its main action: clears Liver Heat, brightens eyes.
| Pinyin | Jué Míng Zǐ (Jue Ming Zi) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 决明子 |
| English | Cassia seed |
| Botanical name | Cassia obtusifolia |
| Category | Clear heat |
| Nature | Cool |
| Flavour | Sweet, Bitter, Salty |
| Channels | Liver, Large Intestine |
| Dosage | 9–15g |
| Cautions | Diarrhoea; hypotension |
Actions
- Clears Liver Heat, brightens eyes
- Moistens intestines, unblocks bowels
Indications
- Red eyes from Liver Fire or Wind-Heat
- Night blindness
- Constipation from intestinal dryness
How to remember Jué Míng Zǐ
Clear heat herbs are mostly cool or cold and bitter, and most enter the Stomach and Liver channels.
- You can work these out
- Cool, Bitter: like most Clear heat herbs
- Liver channel: from its action “Clears Liver Heat”
- Large Intestine channel: from its action “Moistens intestines”
- Learn by heart
- Sweet: unusual for Clear heat herbs (most are bitter)
- Salty: unusual for Clear heat herbs (most are bitter)
Other Clear heat herbs
- Shí Gāo
- Zhī Mǔ
- Huáng Qín
- Huáng Lián
- Huáng Bǎi
- Lóng Dǎn Cǎo
- Zhī Zǐ
- Jīn Yín Huā
- Lián Qiào
- Pú Gōng Yīng
- Tiān Huā Fěn
- Lú Gēn
- Zhú Yè
- Xià Kū Cǎo
- Kǔ Shēn
- Qín Pí
- Bái Xiān Pí
- Zǐ Huā Dì Dīng
- Bái Huā Shé Shé Cǎo
- Bǎn Lán Gēn
- Tǔ Fú Líng
- Shè Gān
- Dì Gǔ Pí
- Qīng Hāo
- Yín Chái Hú
- Hú Huáng Lián
- Mǔ Dān Pí
- Chì Sháo
- Xuán Shēn
- Shuǐ Niú Jiǎo
- Bái Wēi
- Bái Tóu Wēng
- Bài Jiàng Cǎo
- Yú Xīng Cǎo
- Shān Dòu Gēn
- Mǎ Bó
- Yě Jú Huā
- Lǜ Dòu
- Hé Yè
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Jué Míng Zǐ?
Jué Míng Zǐ is cool and sweet, bitter and salty.
Which channels does Jué Míng Zǐ enter?
Jué Míng Zǐ enters the Liver and Large Intestine channels.
What are the actions of Jué Míng Zǐ?
Clears Liver Heat, brightens eyes; Moistens intestines, unblocks bowels.
What is Jué Míng Zǐ used for?
Red eyes from Liver Fire or Wind-Heat; night blindness; constipation from intestinal dryness.
Practise Jué Míng 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.