Herb Flower (花 huā)

Gu Jing Cao

Pipewort flower · 谷精草

Eriocaulon buergerianum Koern. · Flos Eriocauli

Also known as: Dai Xing Cao (戴星草), Liu Xing Cao (流星草)

Gu Jing Cao (Pipewort flower) plant

Images shown are for educational purposes only

Gu Jing Cao (pipewort flower) is a lightweight herb prized in Chinese medicine as an eye remedy. It disperses Wind-Heat from the head and face, clears redness and pain in the eyes, and helps dissolve cloudy films on the cornea. Classical physicians considered its ability to brighten the eyes superior to chrysanthemum.

Category Cool, acrid herbs that release the Exterior (辛凉解表药) Herbs that clear Heat and drain Fire (清热泻火药)
Therapeutic focus Eye Health and Vision Headache Relief Oral and Dental Health Immune Support

TCM Properties

Temperature

Neutral

Taste

Acrid / Pungent (辛 xīn), Sweet (甘 gān)

Channels entered

Liver, Lungs

Parts used

Flower (花 huā)

Available in our store
View in Store
From $38.00

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 Gu Jing Cao does in the body, explained in both everyday and TCM terms

Therapeutic focus

In practical terms, Gu Jing Cao is primarily used to support these areas of health:

Eye Health and Vision Headache Relief Oral and Dental Health Immune Support

TCM Actions

In TCM terminology, these are the specific therapeutic actions that Gu Jing Cao performs to restore balance in the body:

Disperses Wind-Heat Brightens the Eyes Brightens the Eyes and Removes Visual Obstructions Clears Liver Heat

How these actions work

'Disperses Wind-Heat' means this herb can scatter Wind-Heat pathogens that have invaded the upper body, particularly the head and face. In TCM, when Wind-Heat rises upward, it can cause headaches, sore throat, toothaches, and red, painful eyes. Gǔ Jīng Cǎo is light in weight and ascending in nature, which allows it to reach the head and face effectively. It is particularly suited for Wind-Heat headaches and is often combined with other wind-dispersing herbs like Bò Hé (mint) or Jú Huā (chrysanthemum).

'Brightens the eyes and removes nebula' is the signature action of this herb and its most important clinical use. 'Nebula' (翳 yì) refers to cloudy films or opacities that form on the surface of the eye, obstructing vision. Li Shizhen noted in the Běn Cǎo Gāng Mù that Gǔ Jīng Cǎo's ability to clear the eyes and remove nebula surpasses even that of chrysanthemum. This action makes it a staple herb in ophthalmology formulas. It is used when Wind-Heat or Liver Heat attacks the eyes, causing redness, swelling, pain, sensitivity to light, tearing, and the formation of corneal opacities.

'Clears Liver Heat' refers to this herb's ability to address Heat that has accumulated in the Liver channel. Since the Liver 'opens to the eyes' in TCM theory, Liver Heat frequently manifests as eye problems. By clearing Liver Heat and simultaneously dispersing Wind-Heat from the head and face, Gǔ Jīng Cǎo addresses eye conditions from both the root and the branch.

Patterns Addressed

In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony. Gu Jing Cao is used to help correct these specific patterns.

Why Gu Jing Cao addresses this pattern

Gǔ Jīng Cǎo is acrid and neutral, entering the Liver and Lung channels. Its acrid taste gives it the ability to scatter and disperse, while its light, ascending nature directs it upward to the head and face where Wind-Heat pathogens accumulate. In Wind-Heat patterns affecting the eyes, the pathogenic Wind-Heat attacks the upper body, causing red, swollen, painful eyes with sensitivity to light. Gǔ Jīng Cǎo disperses this Wind-Heat from the exterior while simultaneously clearing Heat from the Liver channel (the Liver governs the eyes), making it highly targeted for this pattern when eye symptoms predominate.

A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs

Red Eyes

Red, swollen, painful eyes from Wind-Heat invasion

Headaches

Wind-Heat headache affecting the front of the head

Sore Throat

Throat pain from Wind-Heat rising upward

Sensitivity to Light

Eyes sensitive to light with excessive tearing

Commonly Used For

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

Arises from: Wind-Heat Liver Fire Blazing

TCM Interpretation

In TCM, red, swollen, painful eyes are understood as Heat affecting the eye area. The eyes are governed by the Liver ('the Liver opens to the eyes'), so any disruption of the Liver channel readily manifests in the eyes. Two main pathways produce this condition: externally, Wind-Heat pathogens invade and lodge in the head and face, causing acute redness and swelling. Internally, Liver Fire (from emotional stress, Liver Qi stagnation transforming into Fire, or Yin Deficiency) flares upward along the Liver channel, producing bloodshot eyes with burning sensations. In both cases, pathogenic Heat disturbs the delicate vessels of the eyes.

Why Gu Jing Cao Helps

Gǔ Jīng Cǎo is one of TCM ophthalmology's most valued herbs because it addresses eye redness through two complementary mechanisms. Its acrid, dispersing nature scatters Wind-Heat from the face and head, tackling the external pathogenic factor. At the same time, it enters the Liver channel and clears Liver Heat, addressing the internal root. Its light, floating quality means it naturally ascends to the eyes, delivering its therapeutic action precisely where it is needed. Classical physicians noted that its ability to brighten the eyes and clear nebula surpassed even chrysanthemum.

Also commonly used for

Blurry Vision

Corneal opacities or nebula (翳膜) affecting clarity of vision

Toothache

Toothache from Wind-Heat ascending along the Stomach channel

Sore Throat

Throat obstruction (喉痹) from Wind-Heat

Nosebleeds

Epistaxis from Heat forcing blood upward

Sensitivity to Light

Photophobia with tearing from Wind-Heat eye conditions

Night Blindness

Night blindness (雀盲), traditionally treated by steaming with animal liver

Herb Properties

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

Temperature

Neutral

Taste

Acrid / Pungent (辛 xīn), Sweet (甘 gān)

Channels Entered

Liver Lungs

Parts Used

Flower (花 huā)

Dosage & Preparation

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

Standard dosage

5-10g

Maximum dosage

Up to 12g in standard decoction. Folk remedies using the whole plant (rather than just the flower heads) cite doses of 30-60g, but such doses should only be used under practitioner supervision.

Dosage notes

The standard dosage of 5-10g applies to the dried flower heads with stalks used in decoction. When used as a powder (ground and taken directly or blown into the nose for nosebleed), the dose is much smaller, around 3-6g per dose. For external washes (e.g. eye washes for conjunctivitis), the herb is decocted in larger quantities and used to rinse the affected area. The herb can also be charred (burned to ash while retaining some form) and the powder applied topically for nosebleeds or skin conditions.

Common Herb Pairs

These ingredients are traditionally combined with Gu Jing Cao for enhanced therapeutic effect

Mi Meng Hua
Mi Meng Hua 1:1 (equal parts)

Gǔ Jīng Cǎo disperses Wind-Heat from the head and face (addressing the branch), while Mì Méng Huā (Buddleia flower) nourishes Liver Blood and clears Heat (addressing the root). Together they treat both the excess pathogen and the underlying Blood deficiency that makes the eyes vulnerable, providing a branch-and-root approach to removing corneal opacities and brightening the eyes.

When to use: When eye conditions involve both Wind-Heat invasion and underlying Liver Blood insufficiency, such as corneal opacities with tearing, photophobia, and blurred vision in patients who also show signs of Blood Deficiency.

Long Dan Cao
Long Dan Cao 1:1

Gǔ Jīng Cǎo disperses Wind-Heat and ascends to the eyes, while Lóng Dǎn Cǎo (gentian root) powerfully drains Liver Fire downward. Together they address eye conditions from two directions: one lifting and dispersing, the other draining and clearing, providing comprehensive treatment for severe eye inflammation with nebula.

When to use: For eye redness with corneal opacities, headache, and toothache caused by intense Liver Fire or combined Wind-Heat and Liver Fire. This is the core pairing in Gǔ Jīng Lóng Dǎn Sǎn.

Jue Ming Zi
Jue Ming Zi 1:1

Gǔ Jīng Cǎo excels at dispersing Wind-Heat and removing nebula from the eye surface, while Jué Míng Zǐ (cassia seed) clears Liver Heat and brightens the eyes from a deeper level. Together they combine superficial Wind-Heat dispersal with deeper Liver Heat clearing for comprehensive eye treatment.

When to use: For Wind-Heat or Liver Fire eye conditions with redness, photophobia, tearing, and corneal opacity. This pair is featured in Gǔ Jīng Cǎo Tāng from the Shěn Shì Yáo Hán.

Fang Feng
Fang Feng 1:1 (equal parts, ground into powder and taken with rice water)

Both herbs disperse Wind, but through different mechanisms. Gǔ Jīng Cǎo specifically targets the eyes and removes nebula, while Fáng Fēng is a broader Wind-expelling herb that releases the exterior. Together they provide thorough Wind dispersal for eye conditions with surface opacities.

When to use: For corneal opacities (翳膜) caused by Wind invasion, particularly when the nebula persists after an acute Wind-Heat attack has partially resolved.

Comparable Ingredients

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

Mu Zei
Gu Jing Cao vs Mu Zei

Both Gǔ Jīng Cǎo and Mù Zéi (horsetail herb) disperse Wind-Heat and are ophthalmology herbs that remove nebula. However, Gǔ Jīng Cǎo is neutral and sweet-acrid, making it gentler and better suited for patients with some underlying deficiency. Mù Zéi is more bitter and astringent, with stronger nebula-removing action but also more drying, making it better for robust patients with pure excess conditions. They are frequently combined together for stubborn corneal opacities.

Chan Tui
Gu Jing Cao vs Chan Tui

Both disperse Wind-Heat and are used for eye conditions. Chán Tuì (cicada slough) is cool in nature, disperses Liver Wind, and is also used for convulsions, skin rashes, and loss of voice. Gǔ Jīng Cǎo is neutral and more specifically targeted at the eyes, with a stronger nebula-removing action. Choose Chán Tuì when eye symptoms accompany skin rashes or itching; choose Gǔ Jīng Cǎo when the primary concern is corneal opacity or nebula.

Qing Xiang Zi
Gu Jing Cao vs Qing Xiang Zi

Both are ophthalmology herbs that clear the Liver and remove nebula. Qīng Xiāng Zǐ (celosia seed) is bitter and cold, entering the Liver channel, with a stronger Liver Fire-draining and Blood-cooling action. Gǔ Jīng Cǎo is neutral and acrid, with a stronger Wind-dispersing action. Choose Qīng Xiāng Zǐ for Liver Fire with blood-heat eye conditions; choose Gǔ Jīng Cǎo when Wind-Heat is the dominant pathogen.

Common Substitutes & Adulterants

Related species and common adulterations to be aware of when sourcing Gu Jing Cao

Several closely related Eriocaulon species are commonly used as regional substitutes and can be difficult to distinguish morphologically from the authentic E. buergerianum. These include Eriocaulon sieboldianum (赛谷精草, Sai Gu Jing Cao, also called Liu Xing Cao) and Eriocaulon sexangulare (华南谷精草, also known as Gu Jing Zhu). While these are used medicinally in some regions, their chemical profiles differ substantially: E. buergerianum is rich in flavonols and naphthopyranones, while E. cinereum is rich in isoflavones, E. sexangulare in flavones, and E. faberi in xanthones. In some areas of Henan province, the entirely different plant E Bi Shi Cao (鹅不食草, Centipeda minima from the daisy family) has been sold under the name Gu Jing Cao. This substitution is incorrect and should be identified and avoided, as it is a completely different species with different properties.

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

Toxicity Classification

Classical Chinese pharmacopoeia toxicity rating for Gu Jing Cao

Non-toxic

Contraindications

Situations where Gu Jing Cao should not be used or requires extra caution

Caution

Blood deficiency (Yin/Blood insufficiency) causing eye diseases. The herb's dispersing, wind-expelling nature can further deplete Blood and Yin, worsening dry eye conditions rooted in deficiency rather than excess Heat.

Caution

Avoid decocting with iron vessels or iron-containing implements. Classical sources (Ben Cao Shu) state that this herb is incompatible with iron (忌铁), which may alter its therapeutic properties.

Special Populations

Important considerations for pregnancy, breastfeeding, and pediatric use

Pregnancy

No specific contraindication during pregnancy has been established in classical or modern sources. The herb is mild in nature (neutral thermal property) and non-toxic. However, as with all herbs, it should only be used during pregnancy under the guidance of a qualified practitioner, and unnecessary use should be avoided.

Breastfeeding

No specific safety concerns during breastfeeding have been identified in classical or modern sources. The herb is non-toxic and mild. Standard caution applies: use only when clinically indicated and under practitioner guidance.

Children

No specific age restrictions are recorded. The herb is non-toxic and mild. For children, dosage should be reduced proportionally based on age and body weight, typically one-third to one-half of the adult dose. A qualified practitioner should supervise use in young children.

Drug Interactions

If you are taking pharmaceutical medications, be aware of these potential interactions with Gu Jing Cao

No well-documented pharmaceutical drug interactions have been reported for Gu Jing Cao. Pharmacological research is limited. The herb has shown in vitro antifungal and antibacterial activity, but these effects have not been studied in the context of interactions with antimicrobial drugs. Given its mild nature and low toxicity profile, the risk of significant drug interactions is considered low, but practitioners should exercise standard caution when combining it with any ongoing medication.

Dietary Advice

Foods and dietary considerations when taking Gu Jing Cao

When using Gu Jing Cao for wind-heat eye conditions, it is generally advisable to avoid greasy, fried, spicy, and strongly warming foods (such as lamb, chilli, alcohol), as these can generate or worsen internal Heat and counteract the herb's cooling, dispersing action. Light, cooling foods such as leafy greens and chrysanthemum tea complement its therapeutic direction.

Botanical Description

Physical characteristics and morphology of the Gu Jing Cao source plant

Eriocaulon buergerianum Koern. is a small annual herb of the Eriocaulaceae (Pipewort) family, typically growing 15 to 20 cm tall. It has fine, white, fibrous roots and a basal rosette of numerous clustered leaves that are narrowly linear-lanceolate, with visible transverse markings (horizontal veins). From the center of the leaf cluster, slender erect flower stalks emerge, each topped with a single small, globe-shaped (capitulum) flower head about 4 to 5 mm in diameter. The flower heads appear greyish-white and are composed of tightly packed tiny florets surrounded by layers of pale yellowish-green bracts. The anthers are characteristically black. The fruit is a small, three-parted capsule (inverted egg-shaped, splitting into three sections).

This plant grows wild in wet, marshy habitats, particularly in and around rice paddies, along stream banks, and at the edges of ponds and shallow marshes. It thrives in damp, shady conditions in subtropical and temperate East Asia.

Sourcing & Harvesting

Where Gu Jing Cao is sourced, when it's harvested or collected, and how to assess quality

Harvesting season

Autumn (August to September), when the flower heads are fully developed. The entire flower head with its stalk is pulled up, cleaned of soil and debris, and sun-dried.

Primary growing regions

The primary production regions (道地药材) for Gu Jing Cao are Jiangsu province (especially Suzhou and Yixing) and Zhejiang province (especially Huzhou, Tongxiang, and Haining). Additional significant production areas include Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, and Guangxi provinces. The plant grows wild in damp locations near rice paddies, ponds, and streams throughout much of southeastern and central China, as well as in Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.

Quality indicators

Good quality Gu Jing Cao has tightly packed, round flower heads (capitula) that are greyish-white in colour, relatively large and firm. The flower stalks should be short, slender, and yellowish-green with a slight lustre. The material should be dry, clean, and free of soil or other debris. When the flower head is crumbled, numerous small black seeds (actually tiny dark anthers or dark-coloured immature fruits) should be visible. The herb should have no noticeable odour and a bland, mild taste. Avoid material with loose, crumbling flower heads, overly long or dark stalks, or signs of mould.

Classical Texts

Key passages from the classical Chinese medical texts that describe Gu Jing Cao and its therapeutic uses

《开宝本草》 (Kai Bao Ben Cao, Song Dynasty)

Original:

Historical Context

The history and evolution of Gu Jing Cao's use in Chinese medicine over the centuries

Gu Jing Cao (谷精草, "Essence of Grain Herb") was first recorded in the Kai Bao Ben Cao (开宝本草, 973 CE) of the early Song Dynasty, where it was described primarily for treating throat obstruction, wind-type toothache, and skin sores. Its earliest alternative name, Dai Xing Cao (戴星草, "Star-Wearing Herb"), comes from that same text and poetically describes the appearance of the round, whitish flower heads atop slender stalks, resembling little stars. Later names include Wen Xing Cao (文星草, "Literary Star Herb") and Liu Xing Cao (流星草, "Shooting Star Herb"), all recorded in the Ben Cao Gang Mu.

Li Shizhen (Ming Dynasty) significantly elevated the herb's status in the Ben Cao Gang Mu, explaining that the name "Gu Jing" (谷精, "Grain Essence") derives from the belief that the plant is nourished by the residual Qi of harvested grain fields. He praised its ability to brighten the eyes and remove corneal opacities as surpassing even that of Chrysanthemum (Ju Hua), one of the most celebrated eye herbs. Li Shizhen emphasized the herb's light, floating, upward-moving quality, which allows it to carry therapeutic action to the head and face via the Yangming (Stomach) channel. This made it a signature herb in the ophthalmology tradition of later Chinese medicine. Classical formulas such as Gu Jing Long Dan San from the Zheng Zhi Zhun Sheng (证治准绳) paired it with Gentiana and other herbs for red eyes with corneal opacity and headache.

Modern Research

4 published studies investigating the pharmacological effects or clinical outcomes of Gu Jing Cao

1

Neuroprotective effects of Eriocaulon buergerianum extract in PC12 cells and zebrafish (Preclinical study, 2011)

Wang M, Zhang Z, Cheang LCV, Lin Z, Lee SMY. Chinese Medicine. 2011; 6:16.

An ethanol extract of Gu Jing Cao showed significant neuroprotective activity, protecting dopaminergic neurons in zebrafish from 6-hydroxydopamine-induced damage in a dose-dependent manner. The mechanism appeared to involve suppression of the iNOS-NO pathway. The extract is rich in flavonoids, which may be responsible for these effects.

Link
2

Antibacterial phenolic components from Eriocaulon buergerianum (Phytochemical study, 2008)

Fang JJ, Ye G, Chen WL, Zhao WM. Phytochemistry. 2008; 69(5):1279-1286.

Twenty-four compounds (including five new phenolic components such as xanthones, isoflavones, and naphthopyranones) were isolated from the herb. Ten of these showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 32 to 256 micrograms/mL.

Link
3

Chemical analysis of Eriocaulon buergerianum and adulterating species by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn (Analytical study, 2012)

Qiao X, Ye G, Liu CF, Zhang ZX, Tu Q, Dong J, Li YQ, Guo DA, Ye M. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2012; 57:133-142.

A total of 72 compounds were characterized from E. buergerianum and three adulterating species (E. faberi, E. sexangulare, and E. cinereum). The authentic species was rich in flavonols and naphthopyranones, and could be clearly differentiated from adulterants by HPLC fingerprinting and principal component analysis. This method correctly identified the botanical source of 13 commercial batches.

Link
4

Predicted range changes of Eriocaulon buergerianum under climate change (Ecological modelling study, 2018)

Xie YF, Yang L, Deng RY, Chen MH, Luan XF, Gottardi E, Zhang ZX. Plant Biology. 2018; 20(4):771-779.

Using ecological niche modelling, researchers found that the range of E. buergerianum in China faces threats from climate change. Conservation priority areas were identified in southeastern China, particularly northern Taiwan and the Wuyi Mountains. The authors recommended upgrading the species' threatened status to 'vulnerable.'

Link

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.