che qian zi

车前子·Semen Plantaginis

plantago seed

About che qian zi

Che Qian Zi (车前子) is the seed of plantain, recorded as Semen Plantaginis. It is sweet in flavour and cold in temperature, and enters the Bladder, Kidney, Liver and Lung channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that drain Dampness.

Names

Pinyinche qian zi
Chinese车前子·車前子
Latin NameSemen Plantaginis
English Nameplantago seed·Plantago Seeds
Japaneseshazenshi
Koreanchajeonja

Classification

Channels
Lung, Bladder, Kidney, Liver
Flavour
Sweet
Temperature
Cold
Part used
Seed
Family
Plantaginaceae
Species
Plantago asiatica|Plantago depressa
Tags
Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Promotes urination, drains Damp and clears Damp-Heat

  • Damp-Heat, usually in the Lower Jiao, with edema and painful urinary dysfunction
  • Lin syndrome: urination that is painful, difficult or dribbling, or turbid and burning from Damp-Heat in the Bladder
  • Vaginal discharge from Damp-Heat

Promotes urination to firm the stool

  • Diarrhea from Damp-Heat
  • Summerheat with Damp

Clears Liver Heat and brightens the eyes

  • Dry eyes and weakening sight from Liver and Kidney Yin deficiency, combined with herbs that nourish the Liver and Kidneys
  • Light sensitivity with red, swollen and painful eyes, from Heat in the Liver channel

Clears the Lungs, expels Phlegm and stops cough

  • Cough from Lung Heat with plenty of yellow phlegm

Combinations

Dosage

AgeRawGranuleTinctureConcentrateFrequency
Any 4-15g; Tincture: 2-4ml4-15 g2-4 ml

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions