Mǎ Bó (马勃), known in English as Puffball (Lasiosphaera fenzlii), is a neutral, acrid Chinese herb from the Clear heat category. It enters the Lung channel. Its main action: clears Lung Heat, benefits throat.
| Pinyin | Mǎ Bó (Ma Bo) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 马勃 |
| English | Puffball |
| Botanical name | Lasiosphaera fenzlii |
| Category | Clear heat |
| Nature | Neutral |
| Flavour | Acrid |
| Channels | Lung |
| Dosage | 2–6g (wrap when decocting) |
| Cautions | Cough or loss of voice from Wind-Cold |
Actions
- Clears Lung Heat, benefits throat
- Stops bleeding
Indications
- Sore throat, loss of voice and cough from Wind-Heat in the Lung
- Nosebleed and bleeding from wounds (topical)
How to remember Mǎ Bó
Clear heat herbs are mostly cool or cold and bitter, and most enter the Stomach and Liver channels.
- You can work these out
- Lung channel: from its action “Clears Lung Heat”
- Learn by heart
- Neutral: unusual for Clear heat herbs (most are cool or cold)
- Acrid: 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
- Jué Míng Zǐ
- 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
- Yě Jú Huā
- Lǜ Dòu
- Hé Yè
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Mǎ Bó?
Mǎ Bó is neutral and acrid.
Which channels does Mǎ Bó enter?
Mǎ Bó enters the Lung channel.
What are the actions of Mǎ Bó?
Clears Lung Heat, benefits throat; Stops bleeding.
What is Mǎ Bó used for?
Sore throat, loss of voice and cough from Wind-Heat in the Lung; nosebleed and bleeding from wounds (topical).
Practise Mǎ Bó 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.