Yīn Chén Hāo (茵陈蒿), known in English as Capillary wormwood (Artemisia capillaris), is a cool, bitter and acrid Chinese herb from the Drain damp category. It enters the Spleen, Stomach, Liver and Gallbladder channels. Its main action: clears Damp-Heat — primary herb for jaundice.
| Pinyin | Yīn Chén Hāo (Yin Chen Hao) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 茵陈蒿 |
| English | Capillary wormwood |
| Botanical name | Artemisia capillaris |
| Category | Drain damp |
| Nature | Cool |
| Flavour | Bitter, Acrid |
| Channels | Spleen, Stomach, Liver, Gallbladder |
| Dosage | 9–30g |
| Cautions | No Damp-Heat; Blood deficiency jaundice |
Actions
- Clears Damp-Heat — primary herb for jaundice
- Clears Heat, resolves Damp
Indications
- Jaundice from Damp-Heat or Cold-Damp (with appropriate supporting herbs)
- Damp-Heat skin conditions
How to remember Yīn Chén Hāo
Drain damp herbs are mostly cool or cold and sweet, and most enter the Bladder channel.
- You can work these out
- Cool: like most Drain damp herbs
- Gallbladder channel: from its action “Clears Damp-Heat — primary herb for jaundice”
- Learn by heart
- Bitter: unusual for Drain damp herbs (most are sweet)
- Acrid: unusual for Drain damp herbs (most are sweet)
- Spleen, Stomach and Liver channels: nothing in its group or its actions points to them
Formulas containing Yīn Chén Hāo
Other Drain damp herbs
- Fú Líng
- Yì Yǐ Rén
- Zé Xiè
- Mù Tōng
- Huá Shí
- Chē Qián Zǐ
- Qú Mài
- Bì Xiè
- Jīn Qián Cǎo
- Hǎi Jīn Shā
- Zhū Líng
- Dēng Xīn Cǎo
- Tōng Cǎo
- Biǎn Xù
- Shí Wéi
- Dōng Kuí Zǐ
- Dì Fū Zǐ
- Dōng Guā Zǐ
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Yīn Chén Hāo?
Yīn Chén Hāo is cool and bitter and acrid.
Which channels does Yīn Chén Hāo enter?
Yīn Chén Hāo enters the Spleen, Stomach, Liver and Gallbladder channels.
What are the actions of Yīn Chén Hāo?
Clears Damp-Heat — primary herb for jaundice; Clears Heat, resolves Damp.
What is Yīn Chén Hāo used for?
Jaundice from Damp-Heat or Cold-Damp (with appropriate supporting herbs); Damp-Heat skin conditions.
Which formulas contain Yīn Chén Hāo?
Yīn Chén Hāo Tāng, Zhèn Gān Xī Fēng Tāng and Gān Lù Xiāo Dú Dān.
Practise Yīn Chén Hāo 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.