Tōng Cǎo (通草), known in English as Rice paper plant pith (Tetrapanax papyrifer (pith)), is a cool, sweet and bland Chinese herb from the Drain damp category. It enters the Lung and Stomach channels. Its main action: clears Heat, promotes urination.
| Pinyin | Tōng Cǎo (Tong Cao) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 通草 |
| English | Rice paper plant pith |
| Botanical name | Tetrapanax papyrifer (pith) |
| Category | Drain damp |
| Nature | Cool |
| Flavour | Sweet, Bland |
| Channels | Lung, Stomach |
| Dosage | 3–5g |
| Cautions | Pregnancy (use with caution); no Damp-Heat |
Actions
- Clears Heat, promotes urination
- Unblocks qi, promotes lactation
Indications
- Damp-Heat painful urinary dysfunction
- Oedema with scanty urine
- Insufficient lactation
How to remember Tōng Cǎo
Drain damp herbs are mostly cool or cold and sweet, and most enter the Bladder channel.
- You can work these out
- Cool, Sweet: like most Drain damp herbs
- Learn by heart
- Bland: unusual for Drain damp herbs (most are sweet)
- Lung and Stomach channels: nothing in its group or its actions points to them
Other Drain damp herbs
- Fú Líng
- Yì Yǐ Rén
- Zé Xiè
- Mù Tōng
- Huá Shí
- Chē Qián Zǐ
- Qú Mài
- Bì Xiè
- Yīn Chén Hāo
- Jīn Qián Cǎo
- Hǎi Jīn Shā
- Zhū Líng
- Dēng Xīn Cǎo
- Biǎn Xù
- Shí Wéi
- Dōng Kuí Zǐ
- Dì Fū Zǐ
- Dōng Guā Zǐ
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Tōng Cǎo?
Tōng Cǎo is cool and sweet and bland.
Which channels does Tōng Cǎo enter?
Tōng Cǎo enters the Lung and Stomach channels.
What are the actions of Tōng Cǎo?
Clears Heat, promotes urination; Unblocks qi, promotes lactation.
What is Tōng Cǎo used for?
Damp-Heat painful urinary dysfunction; oedema with scanty urine; insufficient lactation.
Practise Tōng Cǎo 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.