Dianthi Herba
Aliases：Jù Jù Mài (Giant Grain Wheat); Dà Lán (Large Orchid); Shān Qú Mài (Mountain Dianthus); Qú Mài Suì (Dianthus Spike); Nán Tiān Zhú Cǎo (Southern Bamboo Grass); Mài Jù Jiāng (Wheat Ginger); Jiǎn Róng Huā (Sheared Velvet Flower); Lóng Xū (Dragon Beard); Shèng Lóng Cǎo Zǐ (Sacred Dragon Grass Seed); Luò Yáng Huā (Luoyang Flower); Shí Yàng Jǐng Huā (Ten-Scene Flower); Zhú Yè Qīng (Bamboo Leaf Green); Shí Zhú Zǐ Huā (Stone Bamboo Flower).
Qú Mài (Dianthus Herb) is a Chinese medicinal herb. It is a commonly used medicinal material for promoting diuresis and treating strangury. It is the dried above-ground part of Dianthus superbus L. and Dianthus chinensis L., plants of the Caryophyllaceae family. Qú Mài was first recorded in the Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer‘s Materia Medica) and listed as a mid-grade herb.
Efficacy & Actions
Promotes diuresis and treats strangury; breaks blood and unblocks menstruation.
Indications
Indications: Heat strangury, blood strangury, urolithiasis (stone strangury), urinary retention, dribbling and painful urination, and amenorrhea due to blood stasis.
Modern Pharmacology
Diuretic Effect: Qú Mài decoction has a diuretic effect, with the spike (flowering top) being more potent than the stem. Antitumor Effect: Exhibits antitumor activity. Antioxidant Effect: Exhibits antioxidant activity. Antiviral Effect: Exhibits antiviral activity. Anti-inflammatory and Antibacterial Effects: Inhibits bacilli and staphylococci. Uterine Stimulating Effect: Has significant abortifacient and fetotoxic effects during implantation, early pregnancy, and mid-pregnancy, with the effects increasing with dosage. Other Effects: Also exhibits renal protection, immunosuppression, neuroprotection, and osteoblast proliferation-promoting effects.
Ingredients
The chemical composition of Qú Mài (Dianthus Herb) is very rich, mainly including the following categories: Saponins: Triterpenoid saponins such as dianthus saponins A and B. Flavonoids. Cyclopeptides. Volatile Oils: Eugenol, phenylethanol, benzyl benzoate, benzyl salicylate, etc. Anthraquinones. Phenolic Acids. Others: Also contains amides, coumarins, and other components.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, the standard dosage is 9–15g; or prepared in pills or powder. Topical Application: Appropriate amount, decocted in water for washing; or ground into powder for sprinkling.
Contraindications
Use with caution in patients with Spleen or Kidney qi deficiency. Use with caution (or contraindicated) during pregnancy. Incompatible with Mantis Egg-case (Sāng Piāo Xiāo): It should not be used together with Mantis Egg-case.
Selected Formulas
For heat strangury and hematuria (Taiping Huimin Heji Ju Fang, Bazheng San) Take Qumai (Dianthus herb) together with Bianxu (Polygonum aviculare), Cheqianzi (Plantago seed), Huashi (Talc), Zhizi (Gardenia), Gancao (Licorice), Mutong (Akebia), and Dahuang (Rhubarb). Decoct in water and drink. For difficult urination with fluid retention (Jin Gui Yao Lue, Gualou Qumai Wan) Take 2.5 qian of Qumai, 2 liang of Gualougen (Trichosanthes root), 3 liang each of Fuling (Poria) and Shuyu (Chinese yam), and 1 piece of Fuzi (processed aconite). Make into honey pills and take. For lower jiao heat binding with dark yellow urine and painful strangury (Taiping Huimin Heji Ju Fang, Lixiao San) Take 1 liang of Qumai spike, 0.5 liang of Shanzhizi (Gardenia fruit, peeled and stir-fried), and 3 fen of honey-fried Gancao. Grind into powder. Take 2 qian each time, add 1 cup of water, decoct to 70%, and drink warm. For red, swollen and painful eyes (Sheng Hui Fang) Take Qumai, stir-fry until yellow, grind into powder, mix with goose saliva and apply to the canthus; or crush to extract juice and apply. For urolithiasis (Waitai Miyao) Take Qumai seeds, grind into powder. Take 1 square-cun spoonful with wine, three times daily. Stones should be passed within three days.
Daily Consumption
Qú Mài Tea: Take an appropriate amount of Qú Mài (Dianthus Herb), and decoct it together with Plantago Seed (Chē Qián Zǐ) and Akebia Stem (Mù Tōng). Drink the liquid as a tea. It helps clear heat, promote diuresis, and relieve strangury.
Medicinal Parts
Dried above-ground part.
Selection & Storage
Store in a well-ventilated, dry place.
