Zǐ Huā Dì Dīng (紫花地丁), known in English as Violet herb (Viola yedoensis), is a cold, bitter and acrid Chinese herb from the Clear heat category. It enters the Heart and Liver channels. Its main action: clears Heat, resolves Fire toxicity.
| Pinyin | Zǐ Huā Dì Dīng (Zi Hua Di Ding) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 紫花地丁 |
| English | Violet herb |
| Botanical name | Viola yedoensis |
| Category | Clear heat |
| Nature | Cold |
| Flavour | Bitter, Acrid |
| Channels | Heart, Liver |
| Dosage | 9–30g |
| Cautions | Cold and deficient patterns |
Actions
- Clears Heat, resolves Fire toxicity
- Reduces swelling, dissipates nodules
Indications
- Carbuncles
- Sores
- Snake bites
- Red eyes from Heat toxicity
- Appendicitis
How to remember Zǐ Huā Dì Dīng
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, Liver channel: like most Clear heat herbs
- Learn by heart
- Acrid: unusual for Clear heat herbs (most are bitter)
- Heart channel: nothing in its group or its actions points to it
Formulas containing Zǐ Huā Dì Dīng
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
- Xià Kū Cǎo
- Jué Míng Zǐ
- Kǔ Shēn
- Qín Pí
- Bái Xiān Pí
- 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 Zǐ Huā Dì Dīng?
Zǐ Huā Dì Dīng is cold and bitter and acrid.
Which channels does Zǐ Huā Dì Dīng enter?
Zǐ Huā Dì Dīng enters the Heart and Liver channels.
What are the actions of Zǐ Huā Dì Dīng?
Clears Heat, resolves Fire toxicity; Reduces swelling, dissipates nodules.
What is Zǐ Huā Dì Dīng used for?
Carbuncles; sores; snake bites; red eyes from Heat toxicity; appendicitis.
Which formulas contain Zǐ Huā Dì Dīng?
Wǔ Wèi Xiāo Dú Yǐn.
Practise Zǐ Huā Dì Dīng 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.