Artemisiae Argyi Folium
Aliases：Ài (Mugwort); Ài Hāo (Mugwort Wormwood); Qí Ài (Qizhou Mugwort); Qí Ài (Qizhou Mugwort); Jiǔ Cǎo (Moxa Herb); Bīng Tái (Ice Platform); Yī Cǎo (Medicinal Herb); Huáng Cǎo (Yellow Herb); Ài Péng (Mugwort Canopy); Xiāng Ài (Fragrant Mugwort); Jiā Ài (Domestic Mugwort); Wǔ Yuè Ài (May Mugwort); Dà Ài Yè (Large Mugwort Leaf); Cǎo Péng (Grass Canopy); Láng Wěi Hāo Zi (Wolf Tail Wormwood); Yě Lián Tóu (Wild Lotus Head); Ài Róng (Moxa Wool); È Cǎo (Stopping Herb); Wěi Hāo (Withered Wormwood); Dù Ài Yè (Du Mugwort Leaf).
Ài Yè (Argy Wormwood Leaf) is a Chinese medicinal herb. It is the dried leaf of Artemisia argyi Levl. et Vant., a plant of the Asteraceae family. The leaves are harvested in summer before flowering, with impurities removed and dried in the sun. The herb is mostly crumpled and broken, with a grayish-green upper surface and densely grayish-white tomentose lower surface. It is soft in texture, with a pure fragrance and bitter taste.
Efficacy & Actions
Warms the meridians to stop bleeding, disperses cold to relieve pain; for external use, dispels dampness and relieves itching.
Indications
Oral Indications: Hematemesis, epistaxis, hemoptysis, bloody stool, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis, excessive menstruation, threatened miscarriage with bleeding (bleeding during pregnancy), lower abdominal cold pain, menstrual irregularities due to cold, infertility due to uterine cold, cardiac and abdominal cold pain, chronic diarrhea and dysentery, cholera-like spasms, and leukorrhea. External Indications: Skin pruritus, eczema, scabies, hemorrhoids, and carbuncles and sores. Vinegar-processed Ai Ye charcoal (Cu Ai Tan) warms the meridians to stop bleeding and is suitable for deficient-cold bleeding.
Modern Pharmacology
Antibacterial and antiviral: Volatile oils inhibit or kill various pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Anti-inflammatory: Significantly inhibits inflammatory responses through multiple pathways. Antitumor: Flavonoids exhibit antitumor and anticancer activities. Antioxidant: Scavenges free radicals and shows antioxidant activity. Immunomodulatory: Enhances immune function. Hemostatic: Shortens coagulation time and stops bleeding. Antiasthmatic, antitussive, and expectorant: Relieves wheezing, suppresses cough, and promotes expectoration. Hepatoprotective and choleretic: Protects the liver and promotes bile secretion. Regulation of blood glucose and lipids: Modulates glucose and lipid metabolism. Analgesic: Exhibits analgesic effects.
Ingredients
Volatile oils: Main active components, including 1,8-cineole, α-thujone, α-phellandrene, β-caryophyllene, camphene, camphor, carvone, trans-thujanol, 1-α-terpineol, etc. Compositions vary by region; products from Qichun, Hubei are considered the highest quality. Flavonoids: Possess antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, and other activities. Other constituents: Sesquiterpenoids, phenylpropanoids, polysaccharides, tannins, organic acids, etc.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, 3–10g; or prepared in pills or powder; or juice extracted. For warming the meridians to stop bleeding, it should be stir-fried to charcoal (Ai Ye Tan); otherwise, use it raw. Topical Administration: Appropriate amount. It can be made into moxa wool for moxibustion; or mashed for external application; or decocted in water for fumigation and washing; or stir-fried and applied warm.
Contraindications
Use with caution in patients with yin deficiency and blood heat. This herb is slightly toxic and should not be used in excess. The volatile oils in Ai Ye are both active and toxic components. Oral administration may cause gastrointestinal irritation and, after absorption, may lead to toxic jaundice hepatitis. It also has a significant inhibitory effect on the central nervous system, which may cause convulsions. When used concurrently with sedatives or anesthetics, the dosage should not be excessive. Use with caution in patients with a history of bleeding disorders.
Selected Formulas
For metrorrhagia, vaginal bleeding during pregnancy (Jin Gui Yao Lue, Jiao'ai Tang) Take Aiye (Artemisia argyi leaf) combined with Ejiao (Donkey-hide gelatin), Danggui (Angelica), and Dihuang (Rehmannia). Decoct in water and drink warm. For deficiency cold of Chong and Ren meridians with lower abdominal cold pain, irregular menstruation, and uterine cold infertility (Zhizhi Fang, Aifu Nuangong Wan) Take Aiye with Xiangfu (Cyperus), Wuzhuyu (Evodia), Danggui, and Rougui (Cinnamon). Make into pills and take. For bleeding due to deficiency cold (Jin Gui Yao Lue, Baiye Tang) Take Aiye combined with Ganjiang (Dried ginger) and Baiye (Cacumen biotae). Decoct in water and drink. For threatened miscarriage during pregnancy (Zhouhou Fang) Take a piece of Aiye about the size of a chicken egg. Add 4 sheng of wine, boil down to 2 sheng, and take in two divided doses. For persistent postpartum diarrhea with bleeding (Shiliao Bencao) Take 15g of dried Aiye (roasted) and 15g of old fresh ginger. Decoct in a strong concentration and drink.
Daily Consumption
Ai Ye Pain-Relieving Congee Ingredients: 30g Ai Ye (Argy Wormwood Leaf), 100g brown rice, appropriate amount of brown sugar. Preparation: Rinse Ai Ye lightly, decoct in water to make a concentrated liquid, strain, add washed brown rice, cook into a thick congee, and season with brown sugar. Efficacy: Warms the meridians to stop bleeding, disperses cold to relieve pain. Usage: Once daily, served with meals. Suitable for dysmenorrhea due to deficient-cold constitution. Ai Ye Tea Ingredients: Young Ai Ye seedlings collected in spring, dried in the sun, ground into coarse powder. Preparation: Steep in boiling water and drink. Ai Ye Foot Soak Preparation: Take an appropriate amount of Ai Ye, decoct in water, and use for foot soaking. Efficacy: Warms the meridians, disperses cold, and relieves dampness and itching. Adding Sichuan pepper (Huā Jiāo) helps with foot sweat, odor, athlete‘s foot, and eczema; adding safflower (Hóng Huā) improves varicose veins and numbness of hands and feet; adding ginger treats wind-cold colds and joint disorders. Ai Ye External Wash Preparation: Take 30–50g of fresh Ai Ye, steep in boiling water for 10 minutes, then add cold water to adjust to a comfortable temperature for bathing. Efficacy: Prevents colds, and helps with heat rash, eczema, and folliculitis. Ai Ye Sachet Preparation: Place Ai Ye in a sachet and carry it with you. Efficacy: Aromatic and refreshing, repels insects, calms the mind, and promotes sleep.
Medicinal Parts
Dried leaf.
Selection & Storage
Store in a dry, airtight container in a cool, dry place, protected from mold.