Yin Chen Hao (茵陈) is virgate wormwood, a plant of the daisy family, recorded as Herba Artemisiae Scopariae. It is bitter in flavour and slightly cold, entering the Liver, Gallbladder, Spleen and Stomach channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that drain Dampness.

Pinyin

yīn chén·yin chen hao

Chinese

茵陈

Latin Name

Herba Artemisiae Scopariae

English Name

Vigate Wormwood·virgate wormwood herb

Japanese

inchin·ikurinin

Korean

kyunchin·ukriin

Actions and indications

Clears Damp-Heat from the Liver and Gallbladder and resolves jaundice

Yang-type jaundice from Damp-Heat
Jaundice from Damp-Cold (Yin type, dull and lustreless), in combination with warming herbs

Clears Heat and resolves Damp in the skin

Skin disease of the lower body from Damp-Heat, including Damp sores, Wind rashes, eczema, weeping lesions and urticaria; can be used alone as a wash

Clears and releases Damp from the Exterior

Damp-Warm febrile disease with fever, body aches, a stifling feeling in the chest, abdominal distension, constipation and dark urine

Promotes urination (a mild effect)

Combinations

zhi zi + da huang

Damp-Heat jaundice presenting with fever, abdominal distention, constipation and urinary dysfunction. Gallstones

fu ling + gui zhi + ze xie

Jaundice with Damp predominating and pronounced urinary dysfunction

gan jiang + zhi fu zi + fu ling

Damp-Cold jaundice.

hou po

Jaundice, or Damp turbidity with Summer-Heat blocking the Middle Jiao

chai hu + jin qian cao + yu jin + da huang

Cholecystitis or cholelithiasis.

hua shi + huang qin + bai dou kou

Urinary dysfunction and jaundice caused by Summerheat or Warm febrile disease

huang qin

Damp-Heat skin rashes.

bai xian p + ku shen + di fu zi

Damp-Heat sores and rashes, used internally or externally

zhi zi

Strong relief for Damp-Heat jaundice

zhi fu zi

Yin-type jaundice. Dampness arising from Spleen Yang Deficiency

da huang

Damp-Heat jaundice in its early stage, with Heat outweighing Dampness

wu ling san

Jaundice with dysuria where Dampness is the main cause

huang qin + jin qian cao + bai hua she she cao + chai hu

Hepatitis.

bai hua she she cao + hu zhang

Liver cirrhosis.

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any 9-30g; Tincture: 2-4ml

9-30 g

—

2-4 ml

—

Cautions

contraindication Jaundice of a deficiency type, from weak Middle Jiao Qi: the skin a pale yellow, the urine unchanged and the pulse soft

contraindication Jaundice arising from accumulated Blood

contraindication Patterns with no Damp-Heat, where a cool, draining herb weakens rather than helps

caution Yin-type jaundice: traditionally contraindicated, although it is also combined with warming herbs for this type

caution Jaundice is a medical sign; new or unexplained jaundice needs medical assessment and should not be self-treated

caution Rare adverse effects have been recorded at excessive doses

yīn chén

About yīn chén

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Clears Damp-Heat from the Liver and Gallbladder and resolves jaundice

Clears Heat and resolves Damp in the skin

Clears and releases Damp from the Exterior

Promotes urination (a mild effect)

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions

About yīn chén

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Clears Damp-Heat from the Liver and Gallbladder and resolves jaundice

Clears Heat and resolves Damp in the skin

Clears and releases Damp from the Exterior

Promotes urination (a mild effect)

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions

Related

Used in 7 formulas