Zi Cao 

"Purple Herb"

Herbs that Cool the Blood

 

 

Channels: HT, LIV

Properties: Sweet, Cold

Common: Groomwell Root or Arnebia or Lithospermum

Latin: Radix Arnebiae seu Lithospermi

 

Actions: 

  • Clears heat, cools blood, relieves fire toxins: for fire toxins in the skin causing very dark purple rashes. This herb encourages the rash to erupt, used when diseases (like mumps or chickenpox) are not progressing.
  • Clears damp-heat skin lesions: used topically for skin lesions, vaginal itching, eczema, dermatitis, or burns.
  • Unblocks the bowels and invigorates the blood: for mild constipation from heat in the blood, or used to treat amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea.

 

Contraindications:

  • Do not use in cases of measles. Caution in cases of spleen and stomach deficiency with loose stool.

 

Dosage:

  • 3-9g. Can be made into an ointment for use topically.