Mu Zei (木贼) is the scouring rush, a horsetail, recorded as Herba Equiseti Hiemalis. It is sweet and bitter in flavour and neutral in temperature, entering the Lung, Liver and Gallbladder channels. The catalogue files it among the cool, acrid herbs that release the Exterior.

Pinyin

mu zei

Chinese

木贼

Latin Name

Herba Equiseti Hiemalis

English Name

common scouring rush·Equisetum

Japanese

mokuzoku

Korean

mokjeok

Actions and indications

Disperses Wind-Heat, clears the eyes and removes superficial visual obstruction

Wind-Heat in the eyes: redness, pain and swelling, clouding, blurred vision, pterygium, excess tearing and headache
Cataract and conjunctivitis
Fire in the Liver and Gallbladder channels
Hazy vision from Liver Yin deficiency

Clears Heat and stops bleeding

Blood in the stool or bleeding hemorrhoids from Heat in the Blood or the Lower Jiao

Combinations

ju hua

Red, swollen, painful eyes; pterygium

cang zhu

Excessive tearing and blurred vision

bai ji li

Hives, itching, pterygium and excessive tearing (the partner is better at calming the Liver and clearing obstruction; Mu Zei disperses more strongly)

gu jing cao + shi jue ming

Red eyes

huai jiao + di yu

Blood Heat causing hemafecia or bleeding hemorrhoids

chan tui + gu jing cao + xia ku cao + bai ji li

Liver Heat or external Wind-Heat with red eyes, excess tearing and similar signs

ye ming sha + dang gui + chan tui

Liver Blood Deficiency with night blindness

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any 3-12g; Tincture: 1-4ml

3-12 g

—

1-4 ml

—

Cautions

caution Frequent urination

caution Depleted fluids, as its drying quality works against an already dry state

caution Qi deficiency, or deficiency of Qi and Blood; this dispersing herb scatters what is already lacking

caution Deficiency of Yin, of Yang, or of both

pregnancy Use with care in pregnancy

caution Heart or Kidney disorders

caution Red eyes from rising Liver Yang

paediatric Use with care in infants under one year

caution Avoid prolonged use

caution Sudden change in vision, eye pain or loss of sight is an urgent medical matter needing diagnosis

caution Horsetails readily take up minerals from the soil, so the quality and origin of the product matter

mu zei

About mu zei

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Disperses Wind-Heat, clears the eyes and removes superficial visual obstruction

Clears Heat and stops bleeding

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions