Zhī Mǔ (知母), known in English as Anemarrhena (Anemarrhena asphodeloides), is a cold, bitter and sweet Chinese herb from the Clear heat category. It enters the Lung, Stomach and Kidney channels. Its main action: clears Heat, drains Fire from Lung and Stomach.
| Pinyin | Zhī Mǔ (Zhi Mu) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 知母 |
| English | Anemarrhena |
| Botanical name | Anemarrhena asphodeloides |
| Category | Clear heat |
| Nature | Cold |
| Flavour | Bitter, Sweet |
| Channels | Lung, Stomach, Kidney |
| Dosage | 6–12g |
| Cautions | Diarrhoea; Spleen deficiency; Cold patterns |
Actions
- Clears Heat, drains Fire from Lung and Stomach
- Nourishes Yin, moistens Dryness
- Clears Heat in Kidney, reduces steaming bone disorder
Indications
- Qi-level Heat (with Shi Gao)
- Yin deficiency Heat with night sweats
- Lung Heat cough with thick phlegm
How to remember Zhī Mǔ
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
- Lung and Stomach channels: from its action “drains Fire from Lung and Stomach”
- Kidney channel: from its action “Clears Heat in Kidney”
- Learn by heart
- Sweet: unusual for Clear heat herbs (most are bitter)
Formulas containing Zhī Mǔ
Other Clear heat herbs
- Shí Gāo
- 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
- Xià Kū Cǎo
- 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 Zhī Mǔ?
Zhī Mǔ is cold and bitter and sweet.
Which channels does Zhī Mǔ enter?
Zhī Mǔ enters the Lung, Stomach and Kidney channels.
What are the actions of Zhī Mǔ?
Clears Heat, drains Fire from Lung and Stomach; Nourishes Yin, moistens Dryness; Clears Heat in Kidney, reduces steaming bone disorder.
What is Zhī Mǔ used for?
Qi-level Heat (with Shi Gao); Yin deficiency Heat with night sweats; Lung Heat cough with thick phlegm.
Which formulas contain Zhī Mǔ?
Bái Hǔ Tāng, Zhī Bǎi Dì Huáng Wán, Suān Zǎo Rén Tāng, Xiāo Fēng Sǎn, Yù Nǚ Jiān and Qīng Gǔ Sǎn.
Practise Zhī Mǔ 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.