About jue ming zi

Jue Ming Zi (决明子) is the seed of cassia, a legume, recorded as Semen Cassiae. It is bitter, sweet and salty in flavour, slightly cold, and enters the Liver, Kidney and Large Intestine channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that drain Fire. Its Chinese name speaks of deciding, or restoring, clear sight.

Pinyin

jue ming zi

Chinese

决明子

Latin Name

Semen Cassiae

English Name

cassia seed·Cassia Seeds

Japanese

ketsumeishi

Korean

kyeolmyeongja

Actions and indications

Clears Liver Heat and Wind-Heat, and brightens the eyes

Painful, swollen red eyes when Liver Heat, or Wind-Heat lodged in the Liver channel, rises
Red itchy eyes, sensitivity to light and heavy tearing, including tears in the wind
Night blindness, and gradual loss of sight with no visible change in the eye

Calms the Liver and anchors Liver Yang

Headache and dizziness from Liver Fire or rising Liver Yang
Eye disturbance of a Liver Yang type
Hypertension

Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels

Long-standing constipation with dry or infrequent stools, above all when Liver Yin is deficient

Lowers blood pressure and serum cholesterol

High blood pressure
High cholesterol

Combinations

shi jue ming

Cools the Liver for eye problems arising from Liver Fire, or from Liver Yin Deficiency with Liver Yang Rising

long dan cao + huang qin + xia ku cao

Liver Fire with eye problems

ju hua + man jing zi + mu zei

Wind-Heat with red, swollen, painful eyes

chuan xiong + man jing zi

Wind-Heat causing headache at the temples

ju hua + sang ye

Liver Fire or Wind-Heat with red, painful eyes

xia ku cao

Liver Fire with red, painful, swollen eyes, excessive tearing, sensitivity to light, headache and dizziness; eye pain that worsens at night points to Liver Yang Rising

ju hua + sheng di huang + xuan shen + shan yao

Eye problems in Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency, such as dryness of the eyes, cataract, optic atrophy, weakened vision and light sensitivity

shi hu + tian men dong + qing xiang zi

Blurred vision, excessive tearing and sensitivity to light from Deficient Liver and Kidney Yin

gou teng + mu li + ju hua

Liver Yang Rising with high blood pressure, headache and dizziness

ju hua

Hypertension.

dang gui + sheng di huang + huo ma ren

Lingering Heat in the Intestines causing constipation

dan zhu ye + gua lou ren

Constipation with red eyes, very bad breath and scanty, dark urine

xia ku cao + zhi zi

Liver Heat with eye problems

dang gui

Dry Intestines with constipation

dan shen

Atherosclerosis.

hei zhi ma + dang gui + sheng di huang

Constipation.

jiao gu lan + da huang + shan zha + ze xie

High cholesterol.

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any 9-15g; Powder: 3-6g; Tincture: 2-4ml

9-15 g

—

2-4 ml

—

Cautions

contraindication Loose stools or diarrhea, including diarrhea from Deficiency Cold of the Spleen and Stomach; its moistening, laxative action works against them

caution Low blood pressure: it is associated with lowering blood pressure, so avoid it or take care, and do not pair it with other strong pressure-lowering measures without professional guidance

pregnancy Use with caution in pregnancy because it stimulates the uterus

Interactions

Caution with

huo ma ren Traditionally not combined with Huo Ma Ren (hemp seed), as two moistening laxative seeds together are too much for the bowels

Drug interactions

Diuretic drugs (chlorothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, bumetanide, torsemide): together they may drain more water or electrolytes
Blood pressure and cholesterol-lowering medicines: the herb is associated with lowering both, so be aware of added effect; precautionary, not a demonstrated interaction

Prepared forms (1)

jue ming zi

决明子·Semen Cassiae

Jue Ming Zi (Chao) (决明子) is the dry-fried seed of cassia, recorded as Semen Cassiae. Beyond the names the record holds no category, channels or actions.

The catalogue records no separate actions, dose or cautions for this preparation. Unless noted above it follows jue ming zi.

jue ming zi

About jue ming zi

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Clears Liver Heat and Wind-Heat, and brightens the eyes

Calms the Liver and anchors Liver Yang

Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels

Lowers blood pressure and serum cholesterol

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions

Interactions

Caution with

Drug interactions

Prepared forms (1)

jue ming zi

About jue ming zi

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Clears Liver Heat and Wind-Heat, and brightens the eyes

Calms the Liver and anchors Liver Yang

Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels

Lowers blood pressure and serum cholesterol

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions

Interactions

Caution with

Drug interactions

Prepared forms (1)

jue ming zi

Related

Prepared forms