Ǒu Jié (藕节), known in English as Lotus rhizome node (Nelumbo nucifera (rhizome node)), is a neutral, sweet and astringent Chinese herb from the Stop bleeding category. It enters the Liver, Lung and Stomach channels. Its main action: astringes, stops bleeding.
| Pinyin | Ǒu Jié (Ou Jie) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 藕节 |
| English | Lotus rhizome node |
| Botanical name | Nelumbo nucifera (rhizome node) |
| Category | Stop bleeding |
| Nature | Neutral |
| Flavour | Sweet, Astringent |
| Channels | Liver, Lung, Stomach |
| Dosage | 9–15g |
| Cautions | No significant cautions at standard doses |
Actions
- Astringes, stops bleeding
- Dispels Blood stasis — stops bleeding without leaving stasis
Indications
- Vomiting blood, coughing blood, nosebleed, blood in the urine and uterine bleeding
How to remember Ǒu Jié
Stop bleeding herbs are mostly cool or cold and bitter, and most enter the Liver channel.
- You can work these out
- Liver channel: like most Stop bleeding herbs
- Learn by heart
- Neutral: unusual for Stop bleeding herbs (most are cool or cold)
- Sweet: unusual for Stop bleeding herbs (most are bitter)
- Astringent: unusual for Stop bleeding herbs (most are bitter)
- Lung and Stomach channels: nothing in its group or its actions points to them
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
- Dà Jì
- Xiǎo Jì
- Cè Bǎi Yè
- Fú Lóng Gān
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Ǒu Jié?
Ǒu Jié is neutral and sweet and astringent.
Which channels does Ǒu Jié enter?
Ǒu Jié enters the Liver, Lung and Stomach channels.
What are the actions of Ǒu Jié?
Astringes, stops bleeding; Dispels Blood stasis — stops bleeding without leaving stasis.
What is Ǒu Jié used for?
Vomiting blood, coughing blood, nosebleed, blood in the urine and uterine bleeding.
Practise Ǒu Jié 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.