Natural Herb Library

Japanese Thistle Herb

Chinese
大蓟
Pinyin
Da Ji
Latin
Herba Seu Radix Cirsii Japonici
Botanical illustration of Japanese Thistle Herb, Cirsium japonicum, showing habit, spiny leaves, flower head, floret, achene, root, and diagnostic plant details.
Botanical plate by Kodi . View print →

Known in TCM as Da Ji (大蓟), this bitter and sweet, cool herb enters the Liver and Heart. Traditionally, it cools Blood and stops bleeding, most often applied for uterine bleeding, hematuria, and hypertension. Modern research has identified Pectolinarin among its active constituents.

Part used: Whole herb

Also Known As

Seu

Latin: Herba Seu Radix Cirsii Japonici | Pinyin: Da Ji | Chinese: 大蓟

TCM Properties

Taste
bitter, sweet
Temperature
cool
Channels
Liver, Heart

Traditional Use

Primary Actions

  • Cools Blood and stops bleeding … hematemesis, hemoptysis, hematuria, epistaxis, uterine bleeding, and hematochezia from Blood Heat; one of the principal haemostatic herbs in TCM
  • Resolves toxicity and reduces swelling … carbuncles, abscesses, furuncles, and lymph node swellings from fire toxin
  • Disperses Blood stasis … traumatic swelling and bruising (used internally and topically)

Secondary Actions

  • Lowers blood pressure … antihypertensive activity documented in modern clinical use; flavonoids act on multiple vascular pathways
  • Charred form (Da Ji Tan, 大蓟炭) … charring enhances astringent haemostatic properties; specifically used for severe uterine bleeding (beng lou) and haematemesis in deficiency patterns

Classic Formulas

  • Shi Hui San (十灰散) … classical formula for Blood-Heat bleeding; Da Ji combined with Xiao Ji (小蓟), He Ye (lotus leaf), Ce Bai Ye, Bai Mao Gen, Qian Cao Gen, Zhi Zi, Da Huang, Mu Dan Pi, and Zong Lu Pi … all ten herbs charred; principal formula for upper-body bleeding (hemoptysis, hematemesis, epistaxis) from Blood Heat
  • Da Ji San (大蓟散) … single-herb or two-herb decoction of Da Ji (fresh or charred) for acute uterine bleeding and hematuria; classic folk first-aid formula for Blood-Heat haemorrhage

Classical References

  • Ben Cao Gang Mu (Li Shizhen): 'Da Ji (大蓟, great thistle) cools blood, stops bleeding, breaks blood stasis, and resolves toxic swellings … superior to Xiao Ji for reducing hard swellings; both cool blood, but Da Ji is stronger for resolving masses while Xiao Ji is preferred for urinary bleeding'
  • LATIN NOTE: XLSX source lists three Latin variants for this herb … Herba Cirsii Japonici, Radix Cirsii Japonici, and Herba Seu Radix Cirsii Japonici … reflecting the Chinese Pharmacopoeia practice of using both aerial parts and root; 'Herba Seu Radix Cirsii Japonici' is the most complete designation and is used here

Modern Research

Active Compounds

  • Pectolinarin (principal flavone glucoside; antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective)
  • Linarin (flavone; antihypertensive, spasmolytic, mild sedative)
  • Luteolin and apigenin (flavonoids; anti-inflammatory, antioxidant)
  • Chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid (phenolic acids; antioxidant, antimicrobial)
  • Taraxasterol and β-amyrin (triterpenoids; anti-inflammatory)
  • Tannins (astringent; haemostatic, antimicrobial)
  • Alkaloids (minor trace; anti-inflammatory)

Studied Effects

  • Haemostatic: pectolinarin and tannins from Cirsium japonicum reduce bleeding time and clotting time in rodent tail-transection and incision models; mechanisms include platelet aggregation enhancement and local vasoconstriction … pharmacological validation of the classical cooling-blood and stopping-bleeding indication
  • Antihypertensive: pectolinarin and linarin produce dose-dependent blood-pressure reduction in spontaneously hypertensive rats via Ca2+-channel antagonism and ACE inhibition; vascular smooth muscle relaxation confirmed in isolated aortic ring preparations … provides mechanistic basis for the growing clinical use of Da Ji for hypertension
  • Anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective: flavonoid and phenolic acid fraction from C. japonicum inhibits NF-κB, COX-2, and hepatic stellate cell activation in LPS and CCl4 models; antifibrotic activity in chronic liver injury models … supports the toxin-resolving and blood-cooling indications in the context of inflammatory hepatic disease

Safety & Interactions

Contraindications

  • Cold-pattern bleeding without Blood Heat … pale blood, cold extremities, weak pulse; cooling haemostatic will worsen Yang deficiency bleeding
  • Spleen-Stomach Deficiency Cold … cool herb impairs digestive Yang with prolonged use

Cautions

  • Standard dose: 9–15 g dried herb in decoction; 30–60 g fresh herb; charred form (Da Ji Tan): 6–9 g
  • Anticoagulants and antiplatelets (warfarin, aspirin): haemostatic herbs paradoxically enhance coagulation … avoid combining with anticoagulants as bidirectional platelet effects can be unpredictable; monitor closely
  • Antihypertensive drugs: additive blood-pressure lowering; monitor in patients on antihypertensives
  • Pregnancy: Blood-cooling, stasis-dispersing actions; traditionally used with caution in pregnancy; high doses avoided

Drug Interactions

  • Anticoagulants/antiplatelets … haemostatic herb with complex platelet effects; monitor bleeding parameters
  • Antihypertensive drugs … additive blood-pressure lowering via pectolinarin/linarin

Conditions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Japanese Thistle Herb used for?

Japanese Thistle Herb is traditionally used to Cools Blood and stops bleeding … hematemesis, hemoptysis, hematuria, epistaxis, uterine bleeding, and hematochezia from Blood Heat; one of the principal haemostatic herbs in TCM, Resolves toxicity and reduces swelling … carbuncles, abscesses, furuncles, and lymph node swellings from fire toxin, Disperses Blood stasis … traumatic swelling and bruising (used internally and topically). Research has investigated its effects on: Haemostatic: pectolinarin and tannins from Cirsium japonicum reduce bleeding time and clotting time in rodent tail-transection and incision models; mechanisms include platelet aggregation enhancement and local vasoconstriction … pharmacological validation of the classical cooling-blood and stopping-bleeding indication; Antihypertensive: pectolinarin and linarin produce dose-dependent blood-pressure reduction in spontaneously hypertensive rats via Ca2+-channel antagonism and ACE inhibition; vascular smooth muscle relaxation confirmed in isolated aortic ring preparations … provides mechanistic basis for the growing clinical use of Da Ji for hypertension.

What are other names for Japanese Thistle Herb?

Japanese Thistle Herb is also known as Seu. In TCM: 大蓟 (Da Ji); Herba Seu Radix Cirsii Japonici.

Is Japanese Thistle Herb safe during pregnancy?

The safety of Japanese Thistle Herb during pregnancy has not been established. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before use.

What are the contraindications for Japanese Thistle Herb?

Japanese Thistle Herb should not be used in: Cold-pattern bleeding without Blood Heat … pale blood, cold extremities, weak pulse; cooling haemostatic will worsen Yang deficiency bleeding; Spleen-Stomach Deficiency Cold … cool herb impairs digestive Yang with prolonged use. Consult a qualified practitioner before use.

Does Japanese Thistle Herb interact with any medications?

Japanese Thistle Herb may interact with: Anticoagulants/antiplatelets … haemostatic herb with complex platelet effects; monitor bleeding parameters; Antihypertensive drugs … additive blood-pressure lowering via pectolinarin/linarin. Always inform your healthcare provider of any herbal supplements you are taking.