Herb of Japanese Hedge Nettle
Aliases：Jī Sū (Chicken Mint), Láo Zǔ (Labor Ancestor), Jiè Zǔ (Mustard Mint), Lóng Nǎo Bò He (Borneol Mint), Xiāng Sū (Fragrant Perilla), Jiè Jū (Mustard Plant), Yě Zǐ Sū (Wild Perilla), Péng Tóu Cǎo (Friend-head Grass), Shān Shēng Má (Mountain Cimicifuga), Wū Léi Gōng (Black Thunder Duke), Chén Shā Cǎo (Old Sha Syndrome Herb), Shuǐ Jī Sū (Water Chicken Mint).
Shuǐ Sū is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It is the whole plant or root of Stachys japonica Miq., Stachys chinensis Bunge ex Benth., or Stachys baicalensis Fisch. ex Benth., plants belonging to the genus Stachys of the family Lamiaceae.
Efficacy & Actions
Clears heat and detoxifies; relieves cough and benefits the throat; stops bleeding and reduces swelling.
Indications
Common cold, Sha syndrome (acute febrile diseases caused by pathogenic factors), pulmonary atrophy (consumptive lung disease), lung abscess, wind-type headache with dizziness, sore throat, loss of voice (aphonia), hematemesis (vomiting blood), hemoptysis (coughing up blood), epistaxis (nosebleed), metrorrhagia and metrostaxis (abnormal uterine bleeding), dysentery, strangury (painful difficult urination), and traumatic swelling and pain.
Usage & Dosage
For oral administration: decoct in water, 9–15 g. For external use: apply an appropriate amount, decocted in water for washing; or ground into powder and sprinkled; or crushed and applied topically.
Contraindications
Use with caution during pregnancy. Use with caution in patients with Spleen-Stomach deficiency cold.
Selected Formulas
For wind‑heat headache with heat binding in the upper jiao, causing wind‑type and phlegm‑syncope headache (Sheng Hui Fang) Take 5 liang of water mint leaves, 3 liang of Zaojia (Gleditsia, roasted, skin and seeds removed), and 1 liang of Yuanhua (Daphne genkwa, stir‑fried with vinegar until charred). Grind into powder, mix with honey to form pills the size of waxberry seeds. Take 20 pills after meals with Jingjie (Schizonepeta) decoction. For herpes zoster (Zhenan Bencao Xinbian) Take the rhizome of water mint, crush to extract juice, and apply to the affected area. For tonsillitis and pharyngitis (Zhenan Bencao Xinbian) ① Take 30g of water mint, decoct in water and drink, or crush to extract juice and drink. Alternatively, combine 30g of water mint with 30g of fresh Niuxi (Achyranthes) root and 9g of Jingu Cao (Ajuga), decoct in water and drink. ② Take 30g each of water mint, Banlangen (Isatis root), Baimaogen (Imperata rhizome), and Tuniuxi (Achyranthes root). Decoct in water and drink. For cough with loss of voice (Zhenan Bencao Xinbian) Take 30g of water mint and 15g of Pufu Jin (Viola diffusa). Decoct in water, add rock sugar, and drink. For whooping cough (Zhenan Bencao Xinbian) Take 30g of the whole plant of water mint, decoct in water and drink (half dose for infants). Alternatively, combine 30g of Houttuynia with 15g each of Gangbangui (Polygonum perfoliatum) and Yizhihuanghua (Solidago decurrens), decoct in water and drink. For hematemesis, hematochezia, and metrorrhagia in women (Meishi Jiyan Fang) Take the stems and leaves of Jisu (water mint), extract the juice, and drink. For hematemesis (Jiangxi Herbal Medicine Manual) Take 30g of fresh water mint whole plant, 9g of Tudahuang (Rumex), 15g of Liuyueshuang (a local herb), and 9g of Juanbai (Selaginella). Decoct in water, and take with pork broth. For epistaxis (Meishi Jiyan Fang / Enshi Chinese Herbal Medicine Manual) ① Take 5 he of raw water mint and 2 he of fermented soybeans. Grind together, roll into pieces the size of jujube pits, and insert into the nostrils. ② Take 15–30g of water mint, decoct in water and drink. For persistent hematuria (Guangji Fang, Jisu Yinzi) Take a handful of Jisu (water mint), a handful of Zhuye (bamboo leaves, chopped), 8 fen of Shigao (Gypsum, crushed), 1 sheng of Shengdihuang (Rehmannia root, chopped), and 4 fen of Shukuizi (Althaea seed, powdered, added after decoction). Add 6 sheng of water, decoct to 2 sheng, strain, mix with the powdered Shukuizi, and divide into two warm doses. Take the second dose after walking about 4–5 li. For traumatic injuries (Jiangxi Herbal Medicine Manual) Take 30g of fresh water mint stems and leaves, crush to extract juice, mix with boiling sweet wine, and drink.
Medicinal Parts
Whole plant or root.
Selection & Storage
Store in a ventilated, cool, and dry place.
