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
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