ma bian cao

馬鞭草·Herba Verbenae

European verbena

About ma bian cao

Ma Bian Cao (马鞭草) is verbena, recorded as Herba Verbenae. It is bitter in flavour and slightly cold, entering the Liver and Spleen channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that invigorate the Blood. Its Chinese name reads as horsewhip grass.

Names

Pinyinma bian cao
Chinese馬鞭草·马鞭草
Latin NameHerba Verbenae
English NameEuropean verbena·iron herb·Verbena·verbena; European verbena; iron herb
Koreanmapyeoncho

Classification

Category
Invigorate the Blood
Channels
Spleen, Liver
Flavour
Bitter
Temperature
Slightly Cold
Family
Verbenaceae
Species
Verbena Officinalis
Tags
Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Invigorates and cools Blood, breaks up abdominal masses and unblocks menstruation

  • Painful or absent periods from Blood stasis
  • Abdominal masses; may be decocted on its own and followed with warm wine

Clears Heat and resolves toxicity

  • Severe sore throat and throat Bi
  • Accumulated Heat toxin such as breast abscess, for which the fresh herb is crushed
  • Swollen, painful gums

Promotes urination, reduces edema and checks malarial disorders

  • Edema or ascites when Damp is blocked internally
  • Edema, ascites and fluid build-up in the later stages of parasitic infection
  • Malarial disorders, using the fresh juice

Combinations

Dosage

AgeRawGranuleTinctureConcentrateFrequency
Any4.5-30 g————

Cautions