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.