Herb Leaf (叶 yè)

Gong Lao Ye

Mahonia Leaf · 功劳叶

Mahonia bealei (Fort.) Carr. · Folium Mahoniae

Also known as: Shi Da Gong Lao Ye (十大功劳叶)

Gong Lao Ye (Mahonia Leaf) plant

Images shown are for educational purposes only

Gong Lao Ye is a cooling, bitter leaf used in Chinese medicine to clear lingering low-grade fevers and support the body's fluids. It is especially valued for chronic coughs with blood-streaked phlegm, afternoon fevers, dizziness, and sore lower back and knees associated with long-term depletion. It also has traditional uses for red eyes, dysentery, and skin sores.

Category Herbs that clear Deficiency Heat (清虚热药)
Therapeutic focus Respiratory Health Bone and Joint Health Eye Health and Vision Immune Support

TCM Properties

Temperature

Cool

Taste

Bitter (苦 kǔ)

Channels entered

Lungs, Liver, Stomach

Parts used

Leaf (叶 yè)

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Educational content • Consult qualified TCM practitioners for diagnosis and treatment

What This Herb Does

Every herb has a specific set of actions — here's what Gong Lao Ye does in the body, explained in both everyday and TCM terms

Therapeutic focus

In practical terms, Gong Lao Ye is primarily used to support these areas of health:

Respiratory Health Bone and Joint Health Eye Health and Vision Immune Support

TCM Actions

In TCM terminology, these are the specific therapeutic actions that Gong Lao Ye performs to restore balance in the body:

Clears Deficiency Heat Nourishes Yin Resolves Phlegm and Stops Cough Dries Dampness Resolves Toxicity Cools the Blood

How these actions work

'Clears Deficiency Heat' means this herb addresses the low-grade, lingering Heat that arises when the body's cooling, moistening Yin fluids become depleted. This type of Heat is not caused by an external infection but by an internal imbalance. Symptoms include afternoon fevers, night sweats, a flushed face, and a sensation of heat in the palms and soles. Gong Lao Ye's cool, bitter nature directly drains this kind of smoldering Heat, making it especially useful for people with chronic conditions like tuberculosis where Yin has been consumed over time.

'Nourishes Yin' refers to the herb's ability to support and replenish the body's vital fluids and cooling resources. Classical commentators compared its action to that of Nu Zhen Zi (privet fruit), describing it as a cooling tonic that strengthens the body while clearing Heat. The Ben Cao Jing Shu noted that this herb "enters the Kidney channel and nourishes Yin, so Phlegm-Fire naturally resolves, like removing fuel from beneath a pot." This makes it different from purely draining Heat-clearing herbs, as it also supports the root deficiency.

'Stops coughing and transforms Phlegm' applies specifically to coughs arising from Lung Yin Deficiency with Deficiency Fire, where heat scorches the Lung fluids and produces thick, scanty, or blood-streaked phlegm. The herb cools the Lungs while addressing the underlying Yin depletion that generates the cough.

'Dries Dampness and resolves toxins' reflects the bitter taste's natural ability to dry pathological Dampness and the herb's demonstrated antimicrobial properties. This action is relevant for conditions like dysentery, Damp-Heat jaundice, vaginal discharge, and eye infections where Damp-Heat and toxins accumulate.

Patterns Addressed

In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony. Gong Lao Ye is used to help correct these specific patterns.

Why Gong Lao Ye addresses this pattern

When Lung and Kidney Yin are depleted, Deficiency Fire flares upward, scorching the Lungs and producing chronic cough, blood-streaked phlegm, and afternoon fevers. Gong Lao Ye's cool, bitter nature clears this Deficiency Heat from the Lung channel while simultaneously nourishing the depleted Yin of the Kidneys. Classical sources specifically note that this herb 'enters the Kidney channel to nourish Yin, so Phlegm-Fire naturally resolves.' This dual action of clearing Heat above while supporting the root deficiency below makes it particularly well-suited for this pattern, where purely draining herbs would further damage Yin.

A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs

Chronic Coughing

Chronic dry cough, sometimes with blood-streaked sputum

Night Sweats

Night sweats from Yin Deficiency

Tinnitus

Tinnitus and dizziness from Kidney Yin depletion

Lower Back Pain

Sore and weak lower back and knees

Afternoon Fever

Afternoon tidal fever (bone-steaming heat)

Commonly Used For

These are conditions where Gong Lao Ye is frequently used — but only when they arise from the specific patterns it addresses, not in all cases

Arises from: Lung and Kidney Yin Deficiency with Empty Fire

TCM Interpretation

TCM understands tuberculosis as a consumptive disease (called 'Lung taxation' or fei lao) in which a prolonged pathogenic process gradually exhausts the body's Yin fluids, particularly those of the Lungs and Kidneys. As Yin declines, Deficiency Fire arises unchecked, producing the characteristic afternoon fevers, night sweats, flushed cheeks, and bone-steaming heat. This Fire scorches the Lung's delicate blood vessels, causing coughing with blood. The Kidney, which is the root of Yin for the whole body, also becomes depleted, leading to lower back soreness, weak knees, dizziness, and tinnitus.

Why Gong Lao Ye Helps

Gong Lao Ye addresses tuberculosis through its dual mechanism of clearing Deficiency Heat while nourishing Yin. Its cool nature brings down the smoldering Fire that causes fevers and sweats, while its Yin-nourishing quality supports the depleted root. Classical texts compare its effects to Nu Zhen Zi (privet fruit), noting it acts as a 'cooling tonic' rather than a purely draining herb. Its Lung channel affinity means it directly targets the organ most affected, helping to stop coughing and transform the thick Phlegm produced when Heat condenses Lung fluids. In traditional formulas for tuberculosis, it is often combined with herbs like Mai Dong (Ophiopogon), Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena), and Chuan Bei Mu (Fritillaria) to enhance its Yin-nourishing and cough-stopping actions.

Also commonly used for

Dysentery

Damp-Heat dysentery with mucus or blood

Jaundice

Damp-Heat jaundice with yellowing

Bronchitis

Cough with phlegm from Lung Heat

Diarrhea

Acute diarrhea from Damp-Heat

Eczema

Damp-Heat skin lesions, applied topically or taken internally

Toothache

Toothache from Wind-Fire

Leukorrhea

Excessive vaginal discharge from Damp-Heat

Herb Properties

Every herb has an inherent temperature, taste, and affinity for specific channels — these properties determine how it interacts with the body

Temperature

Cool

Taste

Bitter (苦 kǔ)

Channels Entered

Lungs Liver Stomach

Parts Used

Leaf (叶 yè)

Dosage & Preparation

These are general dosage guidelines for Gong Lao Ye — always follow your practitioner's recommendation, as dosages vary based on the formula and your individual condition

Standard dosage

6-15g

Maximum dosage

Up to 15g in standard decoction; some folk recipes use up to 30g of fresh leaves for acute conditions, but this should only be done under practitioner guidance and for short duration.

Dosage notes

Use lower doses (6 to 9g) for clearing deficiency Heat and nourishing Yin in chronic conditions such as Lung consumption with tidal fever. Use higher doses (9 to 15g) for acute conditions involving Damp-Heat, such as dysentery, jaundice, or red swollen eyes. Fresh leaves may be used at higher doses (up to 30g) for acute febrile conditions in folk practice. As an external wash, an appropriate amount can be decocted for eczema, sores, or eye inflammation. Because of its intensely bitter, cold nature, prolonged use or excessive dosage can injure the Spleen and Stomach, so treatment courses should be kept brief, especially in patients with weak digestion.

Preparation

No special decoction handling required. Decoct normally with other herbs. When used as a wash for external conditions, prepare a concentrated decoction and apply topically after cooling.

Common Herb Pairs

These ingredients are traditionally combined with Gong Lao Ye for enhanced therapeutic effect

Bai Wei
Bai Wei 1:1 (Gong Lao Ye 9g : Bai Wei 9g)

Gong Lao Ye and Bai Wei (Cynanchum root) together powerfully clear Deficiency Heat from the Lungs and cool the Blood. Gong Lao Ye nourishes Yin while clearing Heat, and Bai Wei specifically drains lurking Fire and cools Blood to stop bleeding, making the pair more effective than either herb alone for bone-steaming fever with blood in the sputum.

When to use: Lung Yin Deficiency with tidal fever, night sweats, and coughing of blood, as seen in tuberculosis or chronic consumptive conditions.

He Zi
He Zi 1:1 (Gong Lao Ye 9g : He Zi 9g)

Gong Lao Ye clears Lung Heat and stops coughing, while He Zi (Terminalia fruit) astringes the Lung and benefits the throat. Together they address both the root (Lung Heat/Yin Deficiency) and the branch (chronic cough with hoarseness), providing a clearing-and-astringing combination that stops coughing without trapping pathogens.

When to use: Chronic cough with hoarseness or loss of voice from Lung Yin Deficiency with lingering Heat.

Huang Lian
Huang Lian 2:1 (Gong Lao Ye 9g : Huang Lian 4.5g)

Both herbs are bitter and cold, and both contain berberine. Gong Lao Ye provides Yin-nourishing support and Lung-directed Heat clearing, while Huang Lian (Coptis) powerfully drains Fire and resolves toxins from the Heart and Stomach. Together they create a strong toxin-resolving, Heat-clearing combination for infectious conditions with sores.

When to use: Boils, carbuncles, and toxic sores with Heat signs, or Damp-Heat dysentery with fever.

Nu Zhen Zi
Nu Zhen Zi 1:1 (Gong Lao Ye 9g : Nu Zhen Zi 9g)

Both herbs nourish Yin and clear Deficiency Heat, but through complementary mechanisms. Gong Lao Ye is more cooling and better at clearing active Heat from the Lungs, while Nu Zhen Zi more directly tonifies Liver and Kidney Yin. Together they address Yin Deficiency comprehensively from both the clearing and tonifying sides.

When to use: Liver-Kidney Yin Deficiency with dizziness, tinnitus, sore lower back, and low-grade fever, as in chronic wasting conditions.

Comparable Ingredients

These ingredients have overlapping uses — here's how to tell them apart

Nu Zhen Zi
Gong Lao Ye vs Nu Zhen Zi

Both nourish Yin and clear Deficiency Heat, and classical sources explicitly compare them. However, Nu Zhen Zi (privet fruit) is milder, more purely tonifying, and better suited as a gentle Liver-Kidney Yin tonic for long-term use. Gong Lao Ye is cooler and more bitter, giving it stronger Heat-clearing, Dampness-drying, and toxin-resolving actions. Choose Gong Lao Ye when there is more active Heat, Damp-Heat, or infection alongside the Yin Deficiency; choose Nu Zhen Zi for pure Yin Deficiency without significant Heat or Dampness.

Huang Qi
Gong Lao Ye vs Huang Qi

Both are bitter, cold herbs that clear Heat, dry Dampness, and drain Deficiency Fire. Huang Bai (Phellodendron bark) is stronger at draining Kidney Fire and drying Lower Burner Damp-Heat (for conditions like urinary infections, vaginal discharge, and leg sores). Gong Lao Ye is milder overall, has a Yin-nourishing quality that Huang Bai lacks, and targets the Lungs more specifically. Choose Huang Bai for pronounced Lower Burner Damp-Heat; choose Gong Lao Ye when Lung Yin Deficiency with cough is the primary concern.

Yin Chai Hu
Gong Lao Ye vs Yin Chai Hu

Both herbs clear Deficiency Heat and are used for bone-steaming tidal fevers. Yin Chai Hu (Stellaria root) is a specialist at clearing Deficiency Heat without any Dampness-drying or toxin-resolving action. Gong Lao Ye has broader utility because it also dries Dampness, resolves toxins, stops coughing, and transforms Phlegm. Choose Yin Chai Hu for pure Yin Deficiency fever in children or delicate patients; choose Gong Lao Ye when the Deficiency Heat is accompanied by cough, phlegm, or Damp-Heat complications.

Common Substitutes & Adulterants

Related species and common adulterations to be aware of when sourcing Gong Lao Ye

The most significant source of confusion historically is between Gong Lao Ye (十大功劳叶, from Mahonia species in the Barberry family, Berberidaceae) and Gou Gu Ye (枸骨叶, from Ilex cornuta in the Holly family, Aquifoliaceae). For a long time, many regions used the Holly leaf (Gou Gu Ye) under the name "Gong Lao Ye," and this substitution was widespread. The two can be distinguished: Gou Gu Ye has a distinctive rectangular shape with 3 large terminal spines (one often curved downward) and is a simple leaf, while true Gong Lao Ye (Mahonia) is a leaflet from a pinnately compound leaf, with an ovate or lance shape and multiple small spiny teeth along the edges. Gou Gu Ye is thicker and more rigid. Their chemical compositions differ significantly: Mahonia leaves contain berberine and isoquinoline alkaloids, while Holly leaves contain caffeine, triterpenoids, and saponins. Clinically, Gou Gu Ye is more focused on nourishing Liver and Kidney, while Mahonia Gong Lao Ye has stronger Heat-clearing and Dampness-drying properties. Processed Mahonia leaves are also sometimes used as a type of Ku Ding Cha (苦丁茶, bitter tea), which adds another layer of potential confusion, since Ku Ding Cha can also come from Ilex kudingcha or Ilex latifolia.

Educational content — always consult a qualified healthcare provider or TCM practitioner before using any herb.

Toxicity Classification

Classical Chinese pharmacopoeia toxicity rating for Gong Lao Ye

Non-toxic

Gong Lao Ye (Shi Da Gong Lao Ye) is classified as non-toxic in traditional Chinese sources. Both the broad-leaved and narrow-leaved Mahonia species contain berberine and related isoquinoline alkaloids (palmatine, jatrorrhizine), which are the main pharmacologically active compounds. In animal toxicity studies, oral administration of berberine showed no lethal dose (no LD50 found for intragastric route in mice), suggesting very low oral toxicity. However, berberine in high doses can cause gastrointestinal upset, lowered blood pressure, and reduced heart rate. The primary safety concern is for newborns: berberine can displace bilirubin from albumin binding, potentially causing kernicterus (bilirubin-related brain damage) in jaundiced infants. At standard decoction doses (6 to 15g), the herb is considered safe for adults. Prolonged use at high doses may injure the Spleen and Stomach due to the intensely bitter, cold nature of the herb.

Contraindications

Situations where Gong Lao Ye should not be used or requires extra caution

Caution

Spleen and Stomach deficiency cold (脾胃虚寒). This herb is bitter and cold in nature. It can further damage the Spleen and Stomach Yang in people with weak, cold digestion, worsening symptoms like loose stools, poor appetite, and abdominal cold pain.

Avoid

Pregnancy. The herb contains berberine and related isoquinoline alkaloids that can cross the placenta and may cause harm to the fetus, including a risk of kernicterus (bilirubin-related brain damage) in newborns.

Caution

Yin deficiency without Heat signs. Although Gong Lao Ye can nourish Yin, its strong bitter-cold properties can be overly draining if there is no genuine Heat present, potentially damaging Yin fluids further through excessive cooling.

Avoid

Neonates and young infants, especially those with jaundice. The berberine content can interfere with bilirubin metabolism in newborns, increasing the risk of kernicterus (a form of brain damage).

Special Populations

Important considerations for pregnancy, breastfeeding, and pediatric use

Pregnancy

Contraindicated during pregnancy. Gong Lao Ye contains berberine and related isoquinoline alkaloids that can cross the placenta. Berberine has been associated with uterine stimulation (potentially causing contractions) and can interfere with bilirubin metabolism in the fetus. In newborns exposed to berberine, there is a documented risk of kernicterus, a form of brain damage caused by bilirubin accumulation in the brain. One limited study of 218 pregnancies exposed to berberine-containing herbs found cases of nervous system and genital defects. Pregnant women should avoid this herb entirely.

Breastfeeding

Likely unsafe during breastfeeding. Berberine, the primary active alkaloid in Gong Lao Ye, can be transferred to the nursing infant through breast milk. In newborns, berberine may interfere with bilirubin metabolism by displacing bilirubin from serum albumin, raising the risk of dangerous bilirubin accumulation in the brain (kernicterus). This risk is greatest in premature infants and those with neonatal jaundice. Nursing mothers should avoid this herb or discontinue breastfeeding while using it.

Children

Gong Lao Ye should not be given to newborns or young infants due to the berberine content, which can interfere with bilirubin metabolism and cause kernicterus in neonates, particularly premature infants or those with jaundice. For older children, the bitter-cold nature of the herb can easily injure the Spleen and Stomach. If used, dosage should be reduced to approximately one-third to one-half the adult dose depending on age and body weight, and the duration of use should be kept short. A practitioner experienced in pediatric TCM should supervise its use.

Drug Interactions

If you are taking pharmaceutical medications, be aware of these potential interactions with Gong Lao Ye

Cyclosporine and CYP3A4 substrates: Berberine, the primary alkaloid in Gong Lao Ye, has been shown to inhibit cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) enzymes. This could slow the metabolism of drugs processed through this pathway, including cyclosporine, potentially increasing their blood levels and risk of toxicity.

Antihypertensive medications: Berberine and related Mahonia alkaloids may lower blood pressure. Concurrent use with antihypertensive drugs could result in additive hypotensive effects.

Hypoglycaemic agents (metformin, insulin, etc.): Berberine has documented blood sugar-lowering effects. Combined use with diabetes medications may increase the risk of hypoglycaemia. Blood glucose should be monitored closely.

Anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs: Some research suggests berberine may affect platelet function. Caution is advised when combining with warfarin, aspirin, or other blood thinners.

Bilirubin-displacing drugs: Berberine competes for albumin binding sites with bilirubin. In patients (especially neonates) receiving drugs that also displace bilirubin (e.g. sulfonamides, ceftriaxone), concurrent use could increase the risk of bilirubin toxicity.

Dietary Advice

Foods and dietary considerations when taking Gong Lao Ye

Because Gong Lao Ye is bitter and cold, it is best taken alongside easily digestible, warming foods to protect the Spleen and Stomach. Avoid excessive cold, raw, or greasy foods while taking this herb, as these could compound its cooling effect on digestion. When used for Yin-deficiency Heat conditions, nourishing foods such as congee, pear, lily bulb, or small amounts of honey may be complementary. Avoid alcohol and spicy, heavily stimulating foods when using this herb for inflammatory or Heat conditions.

Botanical Description

Physical characteristics and morphology of the Gong Lao Ye source plant

Gong Lao Ye comes from evergreen shrubs of the genus Mahonia in the Barberry family (Berberidaceae). The two primary source species are the broad-leaved Mahonia (Mahonia bealei) and narrow-leaved Mahonia (Mahonia fortunei).

Mahonia bealei (Leatherleaf Mahonia) is an upright, sparsely branching evergreen shrub growing 1 to 4 metres tall, with thick, rough stems that are yellowish-brown on the surface and bright yellow internally. The leaves are alternate, pinnately compound, 25 to 40 cm long, with 7 to 15 leathery leaflets. Each leaflet is broadly ovate, 4 to 12 cm long, with 2 to 8 coarse spiny teeth along the margins, deep green and glossy on top, yellowish-green underneath. Fragrant yellow flowers appear in upright terminal clusters from late winter to early spring, followed by oval blue-black berries covered in a waxy bloom. It prefers moist, well-drained acidic soil in partial shade.

Mahonia fortunei (narrow-leaved) is a smaller shrub, 1 to 2 metres tall, with more slender, lance-shaped leaflets bearing 6 to 13 spiny teeth per side. Both species have distinctively yellow wood due to their high alkaloid content.

Sourcing & Harvesting

Where Gong Lao Ye is sourced, when it's harvested or collected, and how to assess quality

Harvesting season

Leaves can be harvested year-round, though autumn is the traditional collection season. The plant is typically grown for 4 to 5 years before the stems and roots are harvested in autumn or winter.

Primary growing regions

Gong Lao Ye (十大功劳叶) is distributed across central and southern China. The broad-leaved species (Mahonia bealei) grows in Shaanxi, Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, and Guangdong provinces. The narrow-leaved species (Mahonia fortunei) is found in Zhejiang, Hubei, and Guangdong. Historically, Zhejiang and Jiangxi were the primary sourcing regions where genuine Shi Da Gong Lao Ye was traded as medicine. Sichuan is also an important production area. There is no single dominant dao di (terroir) region as for some other major herbs, but material from Zhejiang and the Yangtze River region has traditionally been most valued. The plant is also cultivated in Japan, parts of the United States, Mexico, and Europe.

Quality indicators

Good quality broad-leaved Gong Lao Ye (阔叶十大功劳叶) leaflets are ovate-elliptical, 4 to 12 cm long, with a pointed tip ending in a sharp spine and 2 to 8 spiny teeth along each margin. The upper surface should be purplish-green with a clear glossy sheen, while the lower surface is yellowish-green. The texture should be hard and brittle (leathery), characteristic of fresh, properly dried material. The smell is faint, and the taste is mild to slightly bitter. For the narrow-leaved species (细叶十大功劳叶), leaflets are narrowly lance-shaped with 6 to 13 spiny teeth per side, otherwise similar in colour and texture. Avoid leaves that are yellowed, blackened, excessively fragmented, or show signs of mould or insect damage. Leaves should be whole or largely intact, with clearly visible spiny margins.

Classical Texts

Key passages from the classical Chinese medical texts that describe Gong Lao Ye and its therapeutic uses

《本草经疏》(Ben Cao Jing Shu) by Miao Xiyong

Original: 秘方取其叶煮饮，治痰火甚验。盖痰火未有不因阴虚火炎，上烁乎肺，煎熬津液而成。此药直入足少阴经，补养阴气，则痰火自消，如釜底抽薪之意出。兼能散风毒恶疮。

Translation: A secret recipe uses its leaves boiled as a drink, which is highly effective for treating Phlegm-Fire. Phlegm-Fire invariably arises from Yin deficiency with flaring Fire, which scorches the Lung above and boils down the body's fluids. This herb enters the Foot Shaoyin (Kidney) channel directly and nourishes Yin, so that Phlegm-Fire resolves on its own, like removing fuel from beneath a cauldron. It can also disperse Wind-toxin and malignant sores.

《饮片新参》(Yin Pian Xin Can)

Original: 治肺劳，止咳化痰，退虚热，杀虫。

Translation: Treats Lung consumption, stops coughing and transforms Phlegm, clears deficiency Heat, and kills parasites.

《现代实用中药》(Xian Dai Shi Yong Zhong Yao)

Original: 清凉性滋养强壮药。功效与女贞子相似，适用于潮热、骨蒸、腰酸、膝软、头晕、耳鸣等证。

Translation: A cooling, nourishing, and strengthening remedy. Its effects are similar to Nu Zhen Zi (Ligustrum), suitable for tidal fever, steaming bone disorder, sore lower back, weak knees, dizziness, and ringing in the ears.

《陆川本草》(Lu Chuan Ben Cao)

Original: 泻火退热。治温病发热，心烦，下利，赤眼。

Translation: Drains Fire and reduces fever. Treats warm-disease fevers, irritability, diarrhea, and red eyes.

Historical Context

The history and evolution of Gong Lao Ye's use in Chinese medicine over the centuries

The name "Gong Lao Ye" (功劳叶, literally "meritorious leaf") is a shortened form of "Shi Da Gong Lao Ye" (十大功劳叶), meaning "Leaf of Ten Great Merits." This striking name reflects the high regard folk medicine held for the plant, whose roots, stems, and leaves were all used medicinally with broad therapeutic applications. The number "ten" (十) is not literal but symbolizes completeness and perfection in Chinese culture, suggesting the plant's many virtues.

The medicinal use of this leaf began under the name "Gou Gu Ye" (枸骨叶), first appearing in the Tang Dynasty text Ben Cao Shi Yi (《本草拾遗》). For centuries, there was considerable confusion between the leaf of Ilex cornuta (枸骨, Holly family) and the leaf of Mahonia (小檗科, Barberry family), since their spiny leaflets look superficially similar. The Ben Jing Feng Yuan (《本经逢原》) first used the name "Shi Da Gong Lao" as a folk name for Gou Gu. It was Wu Qijun's Zhi Wu Ming Shi Tu Kao (《植物名实图考》, 1848) that first clearly illustrated and distinguished the Mahonia species as a separate plant from Gou Gu. Modern pharmacognosy has now firmly separated the two: "Gou Gu Ye" refers to the Holly leaf (Ilex cornuta), while "Shi Da Gong Lao Ye" or "Gong Lao Ye" in many modern references refers to the Mahonia leaf.

The Ming Dynasty physician Miao Xiyong (缪希雍) provided a famous clinical analysis in his Ben Cao Jing Shu, describing how Gong Lao Ye clears Phlegm-Fire by nourishing Kidney Yin, likening its mechanism to "removing fuel from beneath a cauldron" (釜底抽薪). He also recorded a remarkable case of a woman who cured a 30-year-old syphilitic skin condition by using this herb alone, attributed to its ability to cool the Blood and clear Heat.

Modern Research

3 published studies investigating the pharmacological effects or clinical outcomes of Gong Lao Ye

1

Ethnopharmacological, phytochemical, and pharmacological review of genus Mahonia in TCM (Systematic Review, 2015)

He JM, Mu Q. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2015, 175: 668-683.

This comprehensive review documented the traditional uses, chemical constituents, and pharmacological evidence for Mahonia species in Chinese medicine. Over 150 compounds were identified, primarily isoquinoline alkaloids. The review confirmed antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antimutagenic, and analgesic properties across various Mahonia species, supporting their traditional clinical applications.

PubMed
2

Antioxidant and antiproliferative properties of water extract from Mahonia bealei leaves (In vitro study, 2011)

Hu W, Wu Z, et al. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2011, 49(1): 86-92.

This study found that a water extract of M. bealei leaves demonstrated strong antioxidant activity, scavenging 50% of DPPH free radicals at 60.46 micrograms/ml. It also significantly inhibited the growth of human colon cancer (HT-29) cells in a concentration-dependent manner and induced apoptosis, suggesting potential anticancer applications.

3

M. bealei leaf extract modulates TLR2/MyD88/NF-κB signaling to inhibit PGN-induced inflammation (In vitro study, 2025)

Xiong Y, et al. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2025, 340: 119194.

Using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis and cell-based assays, researchers identified key anti-inflammatory components in M. bealei leaf extract and demonstrated that it inhibited inflammation in macrophages through the TLR2/MyD88/NF-kB signaling pathway. This provides a mechanistic explanation for the leaf's traditional anti-inflammatory uses.

Research on individual TCM herbs is growing but still limited by Western clinical trial standards. These studies provide emerging evidence and should be considered alongside practitioner expertise.