Xiǎo Jì (小蓟), known in English as Field thistle (Cirsium setosum), is a cool, sweet and bitter Chinese herb from the Stop bleeding category. It enters the Heart and Liver channels. Its main action: cools Blood, stops bleeding — especially blood in the urine.
| Pinyin | Xiǎo Jì (Xiao Ji) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 小蓟 |
| English | Field thistle |
| Botanical name | Cirsium setosum |
| Category | Stop bleeding |
| Nature | Cool |
| Flavour | Sweet, Bitter |
| Channels | Heart, Liver |
| Dosage | 5–12g (fresh 30–60g) |
| Cautions | Spleen and Stomach deficiency Cold without stasis |
Actions
- Cools Blood, stops bleeding — especially blood in the urine
- Disperses stasis, resolves toxicity, reduces abscesses
Indications
- Heat in the Blood with bleeding, especially haematuria and Blood Lin
- Epistaxis, haematemesis, bloody stool, uterine bleeding, traumatic bleeding
- Hot toxic sores and abscesses
How to remember Xiǎo Jì
Stop bleeding herbs are mostly cool or cold and bitter, and most enter the Liver channel.
- You can work these out
- Cool, Bitter, Liver channel: like most Stop bleeding herbs
- Learn by heart
- Sweet: unusual for Stop bleeding herbs (most are bitter)
- Heart channel: nothing in its group or its actions points to it
Formulas containing Xiǎo Jì
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
- Cè Bǎi Yè
- Ǒu Jié
- Fú Lóng Gān
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Xiǎo Jì?
Xiǎo Jì is cool and sweet and bitter.
Which channels does Xiǎo Jì enter?
Xiǎo Jì enters the Heart and Liver channels.
What are the actions of Xiǎo Jì?
Cools Blood, stops bleeding — especially blood in the urine; Disperses stasis, resolves toxicity, reduces abscesses.
What is Xiǎo Jì used for?
Heat in the Blood with bleeding, especially haematuria and Blood Lin; epistaxis, haematemesis, bloody stool, uterine bleeding, traumatic bleeding; hot toxic sores and abscesses.
Which formulas contain Xiǎo Jì?
Shí Huī Sǎn.
Practise Xiǎo Jì 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.