Wáng Bù Liú Xíng (王不留行), known in English as Cowherb seed (Vaccaria hispanica (seed)), is a neutral, bitter Chinese herb from the Invigorate blood category. It enters the Liver and Stomach channels. Its main action: invigorates Blood, promotes menstruation.
| Pinyin | Wáng Bù Liú Xíng (Wang Bu Liu Xing) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 王不留行 |
| English | Cowherb seed |
| Botanical name | Vaccaria hispanica (seed) |
| Category | Invigorate blood |
| Nature | Neutral |
| Flavour | Bitter |
| Channels | Liver, Stomach |
| Dosage | 4.5–9g |
| Cautions | Pregnancy |
Actions
- Invigorates Blood, promotes menstruation
- Promotes lactation and unblocks milk flow
- Reduces swelling, drains abscesses
Indications
- Amenorrhoea from Blood stasis
- Insufficient lactation
- Mastitis
How to remember Wáng Bù Liú Xíng
Invigorate blood herbs are mostly bitter, and most enter the Liver channel.
- You can work these out
- Bitter, Liver channel: like most Invigorate blood herbs
- Learn by heart
- Neutral: Invigorate blood herbs vary in nature
- Stomach channel: nothing in its group or its actions points to it
Other Invigorate blood herbs
- Dān Shēn
- Chuān Xiōng
- Hóng Huā
- Táo Rén
- É Zhú
- Sān Léng
- Rǔ Xiāng
- Mò Yào
- Yán Hú Suǒ
- Chuān Niú Xī
- Huái Niú Xī
- Jiāng Huáng
- Yù Jīn
- Zé Lán
- Yì Mǔ Cǎo
- Jī Xuè Téng
- Gǔ Suì Bǔ
- Wǔ Líng Zhī
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Wáng Bù Liú Xíng?
Wáng Bù Liú Xíng is neutral and bitter.
Which channels does Wáng Bù Liú Xíng enter?
Wáng Bù Liú Xíng enters the Liver and Stomach channels.
What are the actions of Wáng Bù Liú Xíng?
Invigorates Blood, promotes menstruation; Promotes lactation and unblocks milk flow; Reduces swelling, drains abscesses.
What is Wáng Bù Liú Xíng used for?
Amenorrhoea from Blood stasis; insufficient lactation; mastitis.
Practise Wáng Bù Liú Xíng 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.