About chuan xin lian

Chuan Xin Lian (穿心莲) is andrographis, recorded as Herba Andrographitis and known in English as green chiretta. It is bitter in flavour and cold in temperature, entering the Lung, Stomach, Small Intestine and Large Intestine channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that clear Heat and relieve toxicity.

Pinyin

chuan xin lian

Chinese

穿心莲·穿心蓮

Latin Name

Herba Andrographis·Herba Andrographitis

English Name

Andrographis·Andrographis Paniculata·andrographis; green chiretta; kariyat·green chiretta·kariyat

Japanese

senshinren·senshiren

Korean

cheonsimyeon

Actions and indications

Clears Heat, resolves Fire toxicity and benefits the throat

Heat in the Lungs and throat, with a sore, swollen throat, cough or wheezing
Lung abscess
Encephalitis B
Acute gastrointestinal infection
Carbuncles, toxic sores (Chuang Yung) and skin disorders from toxin

Clears Damp-Heat and stops diarrhea

Acute diarrhea or dysentery from Damp-Heat in the Intestines
Gallbladder Heat
Viral hepatitis
Herpes zoster
Hot, painful urinary dysfunction (Lin), including urinary tract infection

Cools the Blood

Nosebleed

Resolves Phlegm

Phlegm-Heat with pus in the sputum

Clears Heat toxin when applied externally

Eczema and itchy, weeping skin lesions from Damp-Heat, as a powder, wash or ointment
Snakebite, with the fresh herb applied to the skin, and insect bites in folk use

Combinations

chen pi

Lung Heat with cough

yu xing cao + jie geng

Lung abscess; cough from Lung Heat, as in pneumonia or bronchitis; sore throat

jin yin hua + niu bang zi + ju hua

Early-stage Warm-Heat pathogen with sore throat and fever

chong lou + ye ju hua

Applied topically for snakebite and for toxic sores and swellings

ma chi xian + jin yin hua

Dysenteric disorder Diarrhea

hu zhang + bai mao gen + che qian zi

Hot, painful urinary dysfunction

jin yin hua + ye ju hua

Carbuncles and skin sores; snakebite; used both internally and topically for each

yu xing cao + jie geng + gua lou

Lung Heat with asthma and a cough bringing up yellow sputum

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any 6-20g; Powder: 0.6-1.5g; Tincture:2-5ml

6-20 g

—

2-5 ml

—

Cautions

caution Meant for short courses in acute Heat patterns, not long-term use or high doses: its bitter cold nature can damage Stomach Qi over time, leading to nausea, loose stools, a poor appetite and abdominal discomfort

contraindication Weak, debilitated patients

contraindication Patterns without Fire toxin

contraindication Deficiency Cold of the Spleen and Stomach (poor appetite, loose stools, feeling the cold), unless warming herbs that protect digestion are added

pregnancy Pregnancy: traditionally avoided, and at the least used only with caution

caution Men trying to conceive: animal studies report reversible effects on male fertility, although a short human study of a combination product found no change in semen quality

caution Mild stomach upset and skin rash are the side effects most often reported in trials

caution Autoimmune disease or immunosuppressive treatment: use under practitioner supervision, as the herb acts on the immune system in laboratory models