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Knowledge baseHerbs

Dan Zhu Ye淡竹葉

Herba LophatheriBamboo Leaves and Stem

Also known asLophatheri Leaves and Stem

Category
Herbs that Clear Heat in the *Qi* Stage
Nature
cold
Taste
sweet, bland
Channels entered
Heart, Small Intestine, Stomach
Secondary channels
Bladder
Dosage
6–16 g

Usual doses

Dosage
6–16 g
Tincture
2–4 ml

Actions & indications

Clears Heat and eliminates irritability
  • Internal Heat patterns with irritability, restlessness, dry mouth and thirst
  • Mouth and lip ulcers ulcers due to Heat in the Heart or Stomach channels
Promotes urination and clears Damp-Heat
  • Rough, scanty, painful urination
  • Especially useful for Heat in the Small Intestine channel with rough, scanty, painful urination, irritability and a dark, red tip of the tongue

Contraindications

Use with caution in pregnancy.

Interactions

Combining this herb with diuretics — such as chlorothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide (Lasix), bumetanide (Bumex) or torsemide (Demadex) — may increase the loss of water and electrolytes.

Combinations

    • Shi Gao

    Late-phase febrile disease with residual fever, a feeling of Heat in the chest, craving for cold drinks and a red tongue with a thin coating; also lingering fever from febrile disease with insomnia, irritability and a scanty, dry tongue coating; childhood cough with fever; and Heart-Stomach Heat presenting as mouth ulcers and swollen gums.

  • Heat invading the Lung and Stomach, causing chest irritability and thirst.

  • Febrile disease marked by irritability and thirst, or Stomach Heat presenting with thirst and stomatitis.

  • Heat and irritability felt in the chest and Stomach, mouth and tongue sores, and dark, scanty urine, all arising from Heat in the Heart and Stomach channels.

  • Ulcers of the tongue.

  • Painful urination caused by Small Intestine Heat.

Notes

  • The root of this herb is used to induce abortion and to speed up difficult labor.
  • The leaf is unsuitable during pregnancy, being harmful to the fetus.
  • It is typically applied in febrile illness where Heat moves inward and sinks downward.
  • Its sweet flavor allows it to support and tonify weaker patients.
  • According to some sources, this herb moistens Dryness and has a purgative action.
  • It is beneficial for cold sores (herpes).
  • Rather than serving as a chief herb, it works well as a capable assistant herb.
  • Dan Zhu Ye and Fr. Gardeniae Zhi Zi share the ability to clear Heat, relieve irritability and promote urination. Zhi Zi, very bitter and cold in nature, reaches both the Qi and Blood levels, drains pent-up Heat from the San Jiao, cools the Blood, resolves toxicity and clears the Liver and Gallbladder — it is particularly effective at relieving constrained irritability. Dan Zhu Ye is gentler, acting only at the Qi level; besides being bitter and cold it is also acrid, letting it vent and disperse Heat. Its main targets are the Heart and Lungs, with some effect on the Stomach, and it also helps with Wind-Heat cough and mouth ulcers arising from Heart Heat.

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