Wiseman’s Chinese Medical Database

yā zhí cǎo / 鸭跖草 / 鴨跖草 / dayflower;

Latin pharmacognostic name: Commelinae Herba

Alternate English names: commelina [flower]

Alternate Chinese names: 鸭脚掌 yā jiǎo zhǎng; 鸭食草 yā shí cǎo; 竹叶菜 zhú yè cài; 竹叶水草 zhú yè shuǐ cǎo

Origin: Plant

Use: medicinal

Category: Heat-clearing agents / Heat-clearing fire-draining agents

Properties: Sweet; cold; nontoxic*.

Channel entry: heart, liver, spleen, and kidney channels.*

Indications:

• Clears heat and resolves toxin: Febrile disease with heat effusion; painful swollen throat; welling- and flat-abscesses (yōng jū), and clove sores (dīng).
• Disinhibits urine and frees strangury: heat strangury; water swelling.

  Dosage & Method:

  Oral: 15–30g (60–90g if using fresh product. Topical: Apply the fresh product crushed.

  Product Area:

  Grows wild in most parts.