Asiatic Pennywort Herb

Traditional Use

Primary Actions

• Clears Heat and promotes urination — used for Damp-Heat jaundice, painful urinary disorders, and summer-heat dysentery
• Resolves toxicity and reduces swelling — applied internally or topically for abscesses, sores, shingles, and inflamed skin lesions
• Promotes tissue regeneration and wound healing — valued for traumatic injury, chronic sores, burns, and delayed healing
• Cools Blood and stops bleeding while also invigorating Blood — used for blood in the urine, epistaxis, bruising, and traumatic swelling

Secondary Actions

• Supports the Liver and Gallbladder in Damp-Heat patterns with jaundice or hepatitis
• Fresh herb juice or poultice is a classic folk application for red eyes, sore throat, and hot swellings

Classical References

• Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Divine Husbandman's Classic of Materia Medica) — records Ji Xue Cao as bitter and cold, indicated for great Heat, malignant sores, abscesses, spreading sores, red skin lesions, and fever.
• Xin Xiu Ben Cao (Tang dynasty) — describes the coin-shaped leaves and recommends the pounded fresh herb applied topically for hot swellings and erysipelas.
• Ben Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica, Li Shizhen, 1578) — notes that the expressed juice can be used for sudden red eyes and other acute Heat conditions.