INDIVIDUAL HERBS

NAME: QU MAI - 瞿麦 - HERBI DIANTHI

Pharmaceutical Latin: Herba Dianthi
Common English: Dianthus
Fringed Pink
Chinese Pink
Proud Pink Herb
Lilac Pink
Rainbow Pink

CATEGORY

Herbs that Drain Dampness (Diuretics)

PROPERTIES

Taste Temperature Entering Meridians Dosage
Bitter
Cold
Bladder
Heart
Small Intestine
(Kidney)
4-15g
Tincture: 2-4ml

ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS

Actions Indications/Syndromes

Drains Damp-Heat from the Urinary Bladder,
promotes urination and unblocks painful urinary dysfunction

Damp-Heat Painful Urinary Dysfunction, especially Blood Lin

Breaks up Blood Stasis, invigorates Blood circulation and regulates menstruation

Amenorrhea due to Blood Stasis (auxiliary)

Unblocks the bowels

Constipation

Purges Heart and Small Intestine Fire

Heart Fire leading to Small Intestine Excess Heat

CONTRAINDICATIONS, INCOMPATIBILITIES AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Contraindicated during pregnancy.
  • Contraindicated for those with urinary difficulty postpartum.
  • Contraindicated for those with edema due to Spleen Deficiency.
  • Contraindicated for elderly and deficient patients with urinary blockage when it is not due to Damp-Heat.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS
  • Concurrent use with diuretics such as chlorothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, furmoside (Lasix), bumetinide (Bumex) and torsemide (Demadex) may lead to increased elimination of water and/or electrolytes.

MAJOR COMBINATIONS

Hb. Polygoni Avicularis
Bian Xu

Spora Lygodii
Hai Jin Sha

Fr. Gardeniae
Zhi Zi

Lin Syndrome.

Stone Lin.

Lower Jiao Damp-Heat with burning, painful, dribbling urination.

Fr. Gardeniae
Zhi Zi
Rz. Imperatae
Bai Mao Gen
Hb. Cirsii
Xiao Ji

Rx. Salviae Miltiorrhizae
Dan Shen
Rx. Paeoniae Rubra
Chi Shao
Hb. Leonuri
Yi Mu Cao

Sm. Trichosanthis
Gua Lou Ren

Hematuria due to Heat.

Blood Stasis causing amenorrhea.

Constipation.

Sm. Plantaginis
Che Qian Zi
Talcum
Hua Shi

Rz. Imperatae
Bai Mao Gen
Hb. Cirsii
Xiao Ji
Pollen Typhae
Pu Huang

Hb. Lysimachiae
Jin Qian Cao
End. Corneum Gigeriae Galli
Ji Nei Jin
Hb. Lygodii
Hai Jin Sha

Heat dysuria (Re Lin) with burning and pain during urination.

Bloody dysuria. (Xue Lin)

Stone Lin.

Sm. Persicae
Tao Ren
Rz. Chuanxiong
Chuan Xiong
Flos Carthami
Hong Hua
Rx. Achyranthis Bidentatae
Niu Xi

 

 

Blood clots.

 

 

NOTES

  1. This herb is most appropriate when Heat is predominant.
  2. This herb can be used for gynecological swellings and sores and other skin rashes due to Damp-Heat.
  3. One source says that this herb is good for Obstruction Syndrome with frequent vomiting, difficult urination and/or defecation, masses and distention.
  4. This herb has been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
  5. It is said that the leaves cure anal fistula, hematochezia, ascariasis, ophthalmia, female tinea sores and detoxifies mineral toxicity.
  6. For a carbuncle on the tip of the thumb, burn the herb to ash, blend with vegetable oil and apply to the lesion.
  7. Take the powder orally for a sore throat.
  8. This herb is also used for promoting contractions in case of prolonged pregnancy or uterine dystocia.
  9. Both Qu Mai and Hb. Polygoni Avicularis Bian Xu clear Heat and facilitate the removal of pathogenic water to unblock painful urinary dysfunction. They are often used together to treat burning, painful and difficult urination Bian Xu is bitter, directs downward and directly enters the Bladder to cool Damp-Heat and is superior for scanty, dark and difficult -to-pass urine due to Damp-Heat. It can also be used for Damp-Heat jaundice. Qu Mai facilitates the function of the Small Intestine to guide Internal Heat outward and is better for burning pain during urination or hematuria due to Heat. It also breaks up blood Stasis and unblocks the channels to treat amenorrhea.
  10. Aerial Parts of Dianthus Qu Mai Sui are superior for cooling Heat, facilitating urination, breaking up Blood Stasis and unblocking the channels.