Kǔ Shēn (苦参), known in English as Sophora root (Sophora flavescens), is a cold, bitter Chinese herb from the Clear heat category. It enters the Heart, Liver, Stomach, Large Intestine and Bladder channels. Its main action: clears Heat, dries Damp.
| Pinyin | Kǔ Shēn (Ku Shen) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 苦参 |
| English | Sophora root |
| Botanical name | Sophora flavescens |
| Category | Clear heat |
| Nature | Cold |
| Flavour | Bitter |
| Channels | Heart, Liver, Stomach, Large Intestine, Bladder |
| Dosage | 3–9g (topical wash also used) |
| Cautions | Spleen/Stomach Cold deficiency; incompatible with Li Lu |
Actions
- Clears Heat, dries Damp
- Kills parasites, stops itching
- Promotes urination
Indications
- Damp-Heat diarrhoea/dysentery
- Jaundice
- Hot vaginal discharge
- Skin itching from Damp-Heat
- Hot dysuria
How to remember Kǔ Shēn
Clear heat herbs are mostly cool or cold and bitter, and most enter the Stomach and Liver channels.
- You can work these out
- Cold, Bitter, Liver and Stomach channels: like most Clear heat herbs
- Bladder channel: from its action “Promotes urination”
- Learn by heart
- Heart and Large Intestine channels: nothing in its group or its actions points to them
Formulas containing Kǔ Shēn
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
- Jué Míng Zǐ
- 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 Kǔ Shēn?
Kǔ Shēn is cold and bitter.
Which channels does Kǔ Shēn enter?
Kǔ Shēn enters the Heart, Liver, Stomach, Large Intestine and Bladder channels.
What are the actions of Kǔ Shēn?
Clears Heat, dries Damp; Kills parasites, stops itching; Promotes urination.
What is Kǔ Shēn used for?
Damp-Heat diarrhoea/dysentery; jaundice; hot vaginal discharge; skin itching from Damp-Heat; hot dysuria.
Which formulas contain Kǔ Shēn?
Xiāo Fēng Sǎn.
Practise Kǔ Shēn 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.