deng xin cao

Name: deng xin cao
Creator: Bencao Index

灯心草·Medulla Junci

juncus

About deng xin cao

Deng Xin Cao (灯心草) is the pith of the rush, recorded as Medulla Junci. It is sweet and bland in flavour, slightly cold, and enters the Heart, Lung and Small Intestine channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that drain Dampness.

Names

Pinyin	deng xin cao
Chinese	灯心草·燈芯草
Latin Name	Medulla Junci
English Name	juncus·Juncus Pith
Japanese	tosh inso
Korean	deungsimcho

Classification

Category: Drain Dampness
Channels: Lung, Heart, Small Intestine
Flavour: Sweet, Bland
Temperature: Slightly Cold
Family: juncaceae
Species: Juncus effusus
Tags: Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Promotes urination, leaches out Damp and relieves painful urinary dysfunction

Excess Heat
Hot, painful, dribbling urination with dark, scanty urine, usually from Damp-Heat in the Lower Jiao

Clears Heart Heat, leads Fire downward and calms the Spirit

Poor sleep in children (night crying, night terrors, restless sleep) with irritability that is worse at night and dark, scanty urine; it can be used on its own
Heart and Kidneys failing to communicate, with insomnia and restless sleep
Kidney Yin deficiency with Heart Fire
Yin deficiency of the Heart and Kidneys
Excess (Shi) Heat in the Small Intestine

Clears Lung Heat

Sore throat from Lung Heat; the charred herb eases the pain, taken internally or applied topically

Cools the Blood and stops bleeding

Bleeding from Heat, using the charred herb; unprocessed, it drains water and clears Heat instead

Combinations

dan zhu ye + che qian cao
Lin syndrome. Dysuria.
hua shi
Painful urination that does not empty fully, from Damp-Heat in the Heart, Lung and Bladder channels
che qian cao + bai mao gen
Edema due to nephritis.
suan zao ren + fu ling + zhu sha + fu shen
Heart Fire with sleeplessness, irritability, and urine that is dark and painful to pass
dan zhu ye + zhu sha
Insomnia, irritability and painful passing of dark urine due to Heart Fire
mu tong
Urination that is scanty, difficult and burning, where Heart channel Heat has moved to the Large Intestine, Heat has knotted in the Bladder, or Damp-Heat has settled in the Lower Jiao
suan zao ren + fu shen + fu xiao mai
Infantile night crying.

Dosage

Age	Raw	Granule	Tincture	Concentrate	Frequency
Any 1.5-4.5g; Tincture: 1-2ml	1.5-4.5 g	—	1-2 ml	—	—

Cautions

contraindication Deficiency Cold of the Spleen and Stomach, as a cold, draining herb weakens such digestion further
contraindication Severe deficiency
contraindication Urinary incontinence, where promoting urination works in the wrong direction
contraindication Fluids already depleted by heavy sweating, dehydration or significant Yin deficiency
paediatric Although long used for children, it should be given to them by a qualified practitioner, not at home; a child who keeps crying at night or sleeping badly needs to be assessed
caution Burning or painful urination may mean a urinary tract infection, which needs medical attention

Interactions

Drug interactions

Prescription diuretics: a general caution for any herb that promotes urination, especially where fluid or electrolyte balance is already being managed (theoretical)

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