Da Ji大薊
Herba Sive Radix Cirsii JaponiciLarge Thistle
Also known asJapanese Cirsium · Japanese Thistle
- Category
- Herbs that Stop Bleeding (hemostatics)
- Nature
- cool
- Taste
- sweet
- Channels entered
- Liver, Spleen, Heart
- Dosage
- 4.5–20 g
Usual doses
- Dosage
- 4.5–20 g
- Fresh
- 30–60 g
- Tincture
- 1–4 ml
Actions & indications
- Cools the Blood and stops bleeding
- Blood Heat with epistaxis, hematemesis, hematuria, hemafecia or uterine bleeding
- Disperses Blood Stasis, reduces swelling and generates flesh
- Topically for carbuncles, sores, and swellings (Chuang Yung) (use fresh)
- Benefits the Gallbladder and reduces jaundice
- Jaundice, especially due to Damp-Heat
- Lowers Blood pressure
- Hypertension, especially due to Liver Heat
Contraindications
- Avoid in Spleen and Stomach Deficiency Cold.
- Avoid in watery diarrhea or white dysenteric disorder.
- Avoid in the early stages of Hot dysenteric disorder.
- Avoid where Stomach weakness has led to severe Blood Deficiency.
- Use with caution during pregnancy.
- Use caution in those without signs and symptoms of Blood Stagnation.
Interactions
This herb has been shown to weaken warfarin's anticoagulant effect; use with caution to avoid clot formation.
Combinations
Hematemesis and epistaxis caused by Blood Heat.
Hemorrhage caused by Heat. (charred)
- Niu Xi
- Di Yu
- Jin Yin Hua
Internal abscess, such as an intestinal abscess.
- Yin Chen
- Hu Zhang
Damp-Heat jaundice
Taken daily as a drink for hypertension.
Hypertension arising from Liver Heat.
Hematuria from Blood Heat, and Heat-induced hemorrhages.
Hematemesis.
Hematemesis and hemoptysis. (using the charred form of all the herbs)
Notes
- Used alone, fresh, it treats hematemesis, epistaxis and profuse menstrual bleeding.
- It is particularly effective for hematemesis and hemoptysis.
- It can be used by itself for Lung abscesses.
- By itself, it can be used for hypertension.
- It is stronger in action than Hb. Cirsii Xiao Ji.
- The aerial part of the plant, Da Ji Ye, drains abscesses.
- Da Ji and Hb. Cirsii Xiao Ji both drive Stasis downward and out. Xiao Ji is milder than Da Ji and has little effect on reducing sores; it stops bleeding and clears Heat, and its ability to break up Stasis to promote water movement exceeds Da Ji's, so it is mainly used to promote urination. Da Ji, meanwhile, treats swollen abscesses, breaks up Stasis and disperses toxicity.
- Fresh Large Thistle Root Xian Da Ji Gen is more effective for cooling the Blood, stopping bleeding and reducing sores; it can be applied externally to sores, scalds and burns, and it lowers Blood pressure.
- Charred Large Thistle Root Da Ji Tan is less cooling and acts directly on the Blood, astringing it to check bleeding.