Promotes urination and drains Damp-Heat — primary herb for heat strangury (Lin Zheng)
Clears Heart Fire and drains it through the Small Intestine to the Bladder
Breaks Blood stasis and promotes menstruation
Treats stone strangury (Shi Lin) and bloody strangury (Xue Lin)
Secondary Actions
Anti-inflammatory for lower urinary tract — acute cystitis, urethritis, pyelonephritis
Immunomodulatory — a non-polar fraction suppresses alloreactive T cells while generating Treg; relevant to Lin-type autoimmune/inflammatory presentations
Classic Formulas
Ba Zheng San (八正散) — the classic formula for acute Heat-type strangury; Qu Mai combined with Bian Xu, Che Qian Zi, Hua Shi, Zhi Zi, Mu Tong, Da Huang, and Deng Xin Cao to flush Damp-Heat from the lower burner
Zhu Ling Qu Mai Tang (猪苓瞿麦汤) — for urinary difficulty with water retention; Qu Mai paired with Zhu Ling, Fu Ling, Ze Xie, and Fu Zi
Classical References
Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Divine Husbandman's Classic): lists Qu Mai as principal herb for treating Lin Zheng (strangury) — its inclusion in the foundational pharmacopoeia reflects centuries of empirical validation for urinary Damp-Heat
Ben Cao Gang Mu (Li Shizhen): 'Qu Mai clears Heart Fire, drains Bladder Damp-Heat, promotes urination, and breaks Blood stasis — the foremost herb for painful dribbling urination, bloody urine, and stone strangury'
Modern Research
Active Compounds
Triterpenoid saponins (oleanane-type; principal bioactives — 19 identified in D. superbus)
Dianosides A–F (triterpenoid saponins with analgesic and hepatoprotective activity)
Methyl salicylate and eugenol (volatile oil fraction)
Cyclic peptides (dianthins)
Sterols (β-sitosterol)
Studied Effects
Comprehensive review: 194 compounds identified across Dianthus species; pharmacological activities confirmed include diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral (anti-influenza A), anticancer, antioxidant, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, neuroprotective, and anti-diabetic nephropathy effects (PMID 35062995)
Anti-influenza and antioxidant: ethanol extract of D. superbus shows significant inhibition of influenza A virus replication in MDCK cells and potent DPPH radical scavenging; saponins and flavonoids identified as active fractions (PMID 30654095)
Immunosuppressive: non-polar dichloromethane fraction suppresses naïve and memory alloreactive T cells while directly generating regulatory T cells (Treg) — dual immunomodulatory mechanism distinct from conventional immunosuppressants (PMC3640757)
Pregnancy — Qu Mai strongly breaks Blood stasis and promotes downward-draining; risk of miscarriage
Cold-Damp strangury (Lin Zheng without heat signs — clear urine, cold body, no fever)
Spleen-Stomach Deficiency Cold with loose stools
Cautions
Standard dose 9–15g decoction
Immunosuppressive activity in vitro (T-cell inhibition); caution in patients on pharmaceutical immunosuppressants — potential additive effect; avoid in known immunodeficiency
Herba Dianthi covers two pharmacopoeial species: Dianthus superbus L. (瞿麦) and Dianthus chinensis L. (石竹); both are used interchangeably in clinical practice with similar safety profiles