Qu Mai

Naming

Qu Mai (Dianthus Superbus)——Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shen Nong’s Herbal)

The Processing of Herba Dianthi

Origin

The aerial part of Dianthus superbus L. or D. chinensis L.

Location

Most area in China.

Harvest

Collected in summer or autumn during fruit time.

The true smell and taste

No smell, slightly bitter.

Best quality

Bud, green, dry, without impurity, without root.

Processing

Sliced and unprocessed.

The Effect of Herba Dianthi

Property

Bitter, cold; heart, small intestine and bladder meridians entered.

Actions

Induce diuresis to treat stranguria, activate blood and induce menstruation.

Indications

A. Stranguria

It has the actions of clearing small intestine to purge heart-fire and clearing bladder to purge damp-heat. It is a main herb for stranguria. It is good at treating heat-stranguria manifested as dribbling, difficult and painful urine. It is usually combined with other herbs which have the similar actions to increase the actions of clearing heat and treating stranguria. For instance, it is combined with Bian Xu, Mu Tong, Che Qian Zi, etc. , in Ba Zheng San from Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang. For heat accumulation in lower energizer manifested as dribbling urination with blood, it should be combined with blood-cooling and bleeding-stopping herbs. For instance, it is combined with Zhi Zi, Gan Cao in Li Xiao San from Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang. For urolithic stranguria, it should be combined with diuresis-inducing, stranguria-treating, stone-dispelling herbs.

B. Amenorrhea and irregular menstruation

It can activate blood and induce menorrhea, it is good at treating amenorrhea and irregular menstruation due to heat and blood stasis. It is usually combined with blood-acivating and menorrhea-inducing herbs, such as Tao Ren, Hong Hua, Dan Shen and Chi Shao.

Dosage and Administrations

Decoct 9~15 g.

Cautions

It is cold and descending in property and can cause abortion, so it is contraindicated for pregnant women.