Use with caution. Review interactions and contraindications below.
TCM Properties
- Taste
- acrid
- Temperature
- neutral
- Channels
- Liver, Heart
Traditional Use
Primary Actions
- Invigorates blood and regulates menstruation; treats amenorrhea, menstrual obstruction, and postpartum blood stasis
- Dispels blood stasis and reduces masses; used for traumatic injury, fixed abdominal masses, and chronic pain
- Stops bleeding when charred (Juan Bai Tan); treats uterine bleeding, hematuria, and hemorrhage with underlying stasis
Secondary Actions
- Reduces swelling and alleviates pain from traumatic injury
- Raw form moves stagnant blood; charred form arrests hemorrhage while transforming stasis
Classical References
- Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Divine Husbandman's Classic of the Materia Medica) — 'governs pathogenic Qi of the five organs; addresses women's vaginal pain, blood obstruction, and infertility'
- Ben Cao Jing Shu — explicitly states 'pregnant women are prohibited from using this herb'
Modern Research
Active Compounds
- Amentoflavone (primary biflavonoid)
- Selaginellin derivatives
- Additional biflavonoids
- Lignans
- Phenolic compounds
Studied Effects
- Anti-inflammatory — biflavonoids inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokines via ERK 1/2 signaling (PMID 29673161)
- Antioxidant — scavenges free radicals via phenolic compound activity
- Hemostatic — charred preparation (Juan Bai Tan) promotes coagulation (PMID 34302944)
- Antidiabetic — inhibits protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B
- Anticancer potential — synergistic effects with conventional chemotherapy in preclinical models
PubMed References
Safety & Interactions
Contraindications
- Pregnancy — explicitly prohibited per Ben Cao Jing Shu; strong blood-invigorating action risks miscarriage
- Bleeding without underlying blood stasis — raw form may worsen hemorrhage
Cautions
- Raw vs charred form (Juan Bai Tan) have opposite therapeutic actions — confirm preparation before dispensing
- Use cautiously in patients with digestive weakness or pronounced deficiency patterns