Xià Kū Cǎo (夏枯草), known in English as Self-heal spike (Prunella vulgaris), is a cold, bitter and acrid Chinese herb from the Clear heat category. It enters the Liver and Gallbladder channels. Its main action: clears Liver Fire, brightens eyes.
| Pinyin | Xià Kū Cǎo (Xia Ku Cao) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 夏枯草 |
| English | Self-heal spike |
| Botanical name | Prunella vulgaris |
| Category | Clear heat |
| Nature | Cold |
| Flavour | Bitter, Acrid |
| Channels | Liver, Gallbladder |
| Dosage | 9–15g |
| Cautions | Spleen deficiency; no Liver Fire pattern |
Actions
- Clears Liver Fire, brightens eyes
- Dissipates nodules, reduces masses
Indications
- Liver Fire headache, red eyes, dizziness
- Scrofula
- Goitre
- Breast lumps
How to remember Xià Kū Cǎo
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: like most Clear heat herbs
- Liver channel: from its action “Clears Liver Fire”
- Learn by heart
- Acrid: unusual for Clear heat herbs (most are bitter)
- Gallbladder channel: nothing in its group or its actions points to it
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
- 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 Xià Kū Cǎo?
Xià Kū Cǎo is cold and bitter and acrid.
Which channels does Xià Kū Cǎo enter?
Xià Kū Cǎo enters the Liver and Gallbladder channels.
What are the actions of Xià Kū Cǎo?
Clears Liver Fire, brightens eyes; Dissipates nodules, reduces masses.
What is Xià Kū Cǎo used for?
Liver Fire headache, red eyes, dizziness; scrofula; goitre; breast lumps.
Practise Xià Kū 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.