gu jing cao

Name: gu jing cao
Creator: Bencao Index

谷精草·Flos Eriocauli

pipewort flower

About gu jing cao

Gu Jing Cao (谷精草) is the flower head of pipewort, recorded as Flos Eriocauli. It is sweet in flavour and neutral in temperature, entering the Liver and Stomach channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that drain Fire.

Names

Pinyin	gu jing cao
Chinese	谷精草
Latin Name	Flos Eriocauli
English Name	pipewort flower·Pipewort Scapus And Inflorescence
Japanese	kokuseiso
Korean	kokjeongcho

Classification

Category: Drain Fire
Channels: Stomach, Liver
Flavour: Sweet
Temperature: Neutral
Family: Eriocaulaceae
Species: Eriocaulon buergerianum
Tags: Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Disperses Wind-Heat from the Liver channel, brightens the eyes and clears superficial visual obstruction

Wind-Heat in the Liver channel: red, swollen eyes, floaters, cataract, light sensitivity, hazy vision, watering eyes or pterygium
Headache, toothache or throat Bi from Wind-Heat
Eye problems that come with Wind-Heat affecting the face and head

Combinations

jing jie + ju hua
Wind-Damp-Heat causing itchy skin, blurred vision and pterygium
long dan cao + chi shao
Liver Fire with toothache, headache, pterygium and red eyes
ju hua + xia ku cao + long dan cao
Red eyes
jing jie
Itching of the eyes
chan tui
Superficial visual obstruction

Dosage

Age	Raw	Granule	Tincture	Concentrate	Frequency
Any 4.5-15g; Tincture: 2-5ml	4.5-15 g	—	2-5 ml	—	—

Cautions

contraindication Eye problems stemming from Blood deficiency, including chronically dry, tired, dim eyes in a depleted patient: the herb clears obstruction rather than nourishing and may worsen dryness
contraindication Metabolic deficiency
caution Do not let it come into contact with iron
caution A red, painful eye, sudden floaters or flashes, or any decline in sight needs prompt assessment by an eye-care professional rather than self-treatment
caution Other Eriocaulon species, chemically distinct, are used under the same name in some regions; the supplied material should be verified
pregnancy No traditional prohibition is recorded; seek professional guidance in pregnancy

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