Pú Gōng Yīng (蒲公英), known in English as Dandelion (Taraxacum mongolicum), is a cold, sweet and bitter Chinese herb from the Clear heat category. It enters the Liver and Stomach channels. Its main action: clears Heat, resolves toxicity.
| Pinyin | Pú Gōng Yīng (Pu Gong Ying) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 蒲公英 |
| English | Dandelion |
| Botanical name | Taraxacum mongolicum |
| Category | Clear heat |
| Nature | Cold |
| Flavour | Sweet, Bitter |
| Channels | Liver, Stomach |
| Dosage | 9–30g |
| Cautions | Spleen deficiency; Cold patterns |
Actions
- Clears Heat, resolves toxicity
- Reduces abscesses, dissipates nodules
- Clears Damp-Heat, promotes urination
Indications
- Breast abscess (mastitis)
- Intestinal abscess
- Hot painful urinary dysfunction
- Jaundice
How to remember Pú Gōng Yīng
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
- Learn by heart
- Sweet: unusual for Clear heat herbs (most are bitter)
Formulas containing Pú Gōng Yīng
Other Clear heat herbs
- Shí Gāo
- Zhī Mǔ
- Huáng Qín
- Huáng Lián
- Huáng Bǎi
- Lóng Dǎn Cǎo
- Zhī Zǐ
- Jīn Yín Huā
- Lián Qiào
- 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
- Mǎ Bó
- Yě Jú Huā
- Lǜ Dòu
- Hé Yè
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Pú Gōng Yīng?
Pú Gōng Yīng is cold and sweet and bitter.
Which channels does Pú Gōng Yīng enter?
Pú Gōng Yīng enters the Liver and Stomach channels.
What are the actions of Pú Gōng Yīng?
Clears Heat, resolves toxicity; Reduces abscesses, dissipates nodules; Clears Damp-Heat, promotes urination.
What is Pú Gōng Yīng used for?
Breast abscess (mastitis); intestinal abscess; hot painful urinary dysfunction; jaundice.
Which formulas contain Pú Gōng Yīng?
Wǔ Wèi Xiāo Dú Yǐn.
Practise Pú Gōng Yīng 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.