qu mai

瞿麦·Herba Dianthi

Dianthus

About qu mai

Qu Mai (瞿麦) is dianthus, the lilac pink, recorded as Herba Dianthi. It is bitter in flavour and cold in temperature, entering the Heart, Small Intestine and Bladder channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that drain Dampness.

Names

Pinyin	qu mai
Chinese	瞿麦
Latin Name	Herba Dianthi
English Name	Dianthus·lilac pink
Japanese	kubaku
Korean	gumaek

Classification

Category: Drain Dampness
Channels: Heart, Small Intestine, Bladder
Flavour: Bitter
Temperature: Cold
Family: caryophyllaceae
Species: Dianthus superbus|dianthus chinensis
Tags: Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Clears Damp-Heat from the Bladder, promotes urination and relieves painful urinary dysfunction

Painful urinary dysfunction (Lin) from Damp-Heat, with dribbling or blood in the urine; especially suited to Blood Lin

Breaks up Blood stasis, invigorates Blood and regulates menstruation

Amenorrhea from Blood stasis, as a supporting herb
Menstrual cramps with clots from stagnant Blood

Unblocks the bowels

Constipation

Drains Fire from the Heart and Small Intestine

Heart Fire passing down to the Small Intestine as Excess Heat

Reduces swelling and heals sores

Gynecological swellings and sores attributed to toxin and Damp-Heat

Combinations

bian xu
Lin Syndrome.
hai jin sha
Stone Lin.
zhi zi
Damp-Heat in the Lower Jiao with painful, burning, dribbling urination
zhi zi + bai mao gen + xiao ji
Hematuria due to Heat.
dan shen + chi shao + yi mu cao
Blood Stasis causing amenorrhea.
gua lou ren
Constipation.
che qian zi + hua shi
Re Lin (Heat dysuria): urination that burns and hurts
bai mao gen + xiao ji + pu huang
Bloody dysuria. (Xue Lin)
jin qian cao + ji nei jin + hai jin sha
Stone Lin.
tao ren + chuan xiong + hong hua + huai niu xi
Blood clots.

Dosage

Age	Raw	Granule	Tincture	Concentrate	Frequency
Any 4-15g; Tincture: 2-4ml	4-15 g	—	2-4 ml	—	—

Cautions

pregnancy Do not use in pregnancy or when trying to conceive: in animal studies it caused uterine contractions, and extracts lowered progesterone and ended pregnancy in mice
contraindication Difficult urination after childbirth
contraindication Edema from Spleen deficiency
contraindication Urinary obstruction in older or weak patients where Damp-Heat is not the cause
contraindication Cold or deficient patients, weak digestion, depleted fluids, or any picture without Damp-Heat, since it is bitter, cold and draining

Interactions

Antagonistic with

sang piao xiao Antagonistic pairing with Sang Piao Xiao (mantis egg case)

Drug interactions

Diuretics (chlorothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, bumetanide, torsemide): with the herb's own diuretic effect, more water and electrolytes may be lost