Yì Mǔ Cǎo (益母草), known in English as Motherwort (Leonurus japonicus), is a cool, acrid and bitter Chinese herb from the Invigorate blood category. It enters the Heart, Liver and Bladder channels. Its main action: invigorates Blood, regulates menses — primary gynaecological herb.
| Pinyin | Yì Mǔ Cǎo (Yi Mu Cao) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 益母草 |
| English | Motherwort |
| Botanical name | Leonurus japonicus |
| Category | Invigorate blood |
| Nature | Cool |
| Flavour | Acrid, Bitter |
| Channels | Heart, Liver, Bladder |
| Dosage | 9–30g |
| Cautions | Pregnancy; Yin deficiency; Blood deficiency without stasis |
Actions
- Invigorates Blood, regulates menses — primary gynaecological herb
- Promotes urination, reduces oedema
Indications
- Menstrual irregularity, amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea from Blood stasis
- Post-partum lochia
- Oedema
How to remember Yì Mǔ Cǎo
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
- Bladder channel: from its action “Promotes urination”
- Learn by heart
- Cool: Invigorate blood herbs vary in nature
- Acrid: unusual for Invigorate blood herbs (most are bitter)
- Heart channel: nothing in its group or its actions points to it
Formulas containing Yì Mǔ Cǎo
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
- Wáng Bù Liú Xíng
- Jī Xuè Téng
- Gǔ Suì Bǔ
- Wǔ Líng Zhī
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Yì Mǔ Cǎo?
Yì Mǔ Cǎo is cool and acrid and bitter.
Which channels does Yì Mǔ Cǎo enter?
Yì Mǔ Cǎo enters the Heart, Liver and Bladder channels.
What are the actions of Yì Mǔ Cǎo?
Invigorates Blood, regulates menses — primary gynaecological herb; Promotes urination, reduces oedema.
What is Yì Mǔ Cǎo used for?
Menstrual irregularity, amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea from Blood stasis; post-partum lochia; oedema.
Which formulas contain Yì Mǔ Cǎo?
Tiān Má Gōu Téng Yǐn.
Practise Yì Mǔ 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.