Herb

Chong Wei Zi

Motherwort fruit | 茺蔚子

Also known as:

Leonurus

Chong Wei Zi

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Properties

Blood-invigorating and stasis-dispelling herbs (活血化瘀药) · Slightly Cool

Traditionally supports*

Menstrual Health Women's Health Eye Health and Vision Blood Pressure Support

Parts Used

Seed (种子 zhǒng zǐ / 子 zǐ / 仁 rén)

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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About This Herb

Traditional Chinese Medicine background and properties

Herb Description

Motherwort fruit is a traditional Chinese herb best known for supporting menstrual health and eye wellness. It helps improve blood circulation in the uterus and is commonly used for irregular, painful, or absent periods, as well as postpartum recovery. It also clears excess heat from the Liver to relieve red, swollen, or painful eyes and headaches related to high blood pressure.

Herb Category

Blood-invigorating and stasis-dispelling herbs (活血化瘀药)

Main Actions

  • Invigorates Blood and Regulates Menstruation
  • Clears Liver Heat and Brightens the Eyes
  • Disperses Wind-Heat
  • Promotes Urination and Reduces Edema

How These Actions Work

'Invigorates Blood and regulates menstruation' means that Chong Wei Zi moves stagnant Blood in the uterus and pelvic area, helping restore a normal menstrual flow. This is its primary and most important action. It is used for irregular periods, painful periods, missed periods, and postpartum abdominal pain caused by retained blood clots. The classical text Ben Cao Jing Shu described it as "an essential medicine for regulating menstruation in women's pregnancy and childbirth" (为妇人胎产调经之要药). Its acrid taste disperses stagnation while its bitter taste helps move Blood downward, making it effective for gynecological Blood stasis conditions.

'Clears the Liver and brightens the eyes' refers to Chong Wei Zi's ability to cool Liver Heat and improve eye conditions. Since the eyes are considered the "opening" of the Liver in TCM, when excess Heat accumulates in the Liver channel, it can rise to the eyes causing redness, swelling, pain, or the formation of a film or opacity over the eye (pterygium or corneal opacity). Chong Wei Zi's slightly cool, bitter nature clears this Heat from the Liver channel, while its Blood-moving action ensures good blood flow to nourish the eyes. This action was noted as early as the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, which stated that it "brightens the eyes and benefits essence."

'Dispels Wind-Heat' means the herb can help address conditions where external Wind-Heat pathogens affect the head and eyes, causing headache, dizziness, and eye redness. Its acrid taste helps disperse wind, while its cool nature counteracts the heat. 'Promotes urination and reduces edema' is a secondary action also noted in the classical texts, where its acrid, dispersing quality helps move fluids through the waterways and relieve mild edema.

Patterns Addressed

In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony that reveal what's out of balance in the body. Chong Wei Zi is traditionally associated with these specific patterns.

The following describes this herb's classification within Traditional Chinese Medicine theory and is provided for educational purposes only.

Why Chong Wei Zi addresses this pattern

Chong Wei Zi is acrid and bitter with a slightly cool nature, entering the Pericardium and Liver channels. Its acrid taste disperses stagnant Blood while its bitter taste drives Blood downward, directly breaking up the Blood stasis that is the defining pathomechanism of this pattern. Unlike strongly warming Blood movers, Chong Wei Zi's cool nature means it can address Blood stasis that has generated Heat without worsening the heat component. The classical Ben Cao Jing Shu praised it as "an essential medicine for women's menstrual regulation" precisely because it both moves and mildly nourishes Blood.

A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs

Amenorrhea

Fixed, stabbing menstrual pain

Amenorrhea

Absent periods due to Blood stasis

Irregular Menstruation

Late periods with dark, clotted blood

Postpartum Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain after childbirth with lochia retention

TCM Properties

Temperature

Slightly Cool

Taste

Acrid / Pungent (辛 xīn), Bitter (苦 kǔ)

Channels Entered
Pericardium Liver
Parts Used

Seed (种子 zhǒng zǐ / 子 zǐ / 仁 rén)

This is partial information on the herb's TCM properties. More detailed information is available on the herb's dedicated page

Product Details

Manufacturing, supplier, and product specifications

Product Type

Granules

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Botanical & Sourcing

Quality Indicators

Good quality Chong Wei Zi fruits are plump, full, and uniformly three-angled in shape, measuring 2-3 mm long and about 1.5 mm wide. The surface should be greyish-brown to greyish-dark brown with scattered darker spots, and the texture should be slightly rough without luster. When cut open, the fruit skin appears brownish-black, the endosperm is very thin and grey, and the cotyledons (seed leaves) are greyish-white and oily. The taste should be distinctly bitter with only a faint aroma. Avoid fruits that are shriveled, broken, or contain excessive stem and leaf debris. A common adulterant to watch for is Perilla seeds (紫苏子), which are ovoid-shaped (not three-angled), have a milder flavor without the characteristic bitterness, and produce a white mucilaginous layer when soaked in water (Chong Wei Zi only swells without producing mucilage).

Primary Growing Regions

Leonurus japonicus grows throughout China and has no single renowned 'terroir' (道地药材) region, unlike many other herbs. It is commonly found wild in fields, roadsides, and damp grasslands across all provinces. The major commercial production areas include Northeast China (Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning) and Anhui province, both of which are prominent sources in the current market. The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing records its habitat as 'seaside ponds and marshlands' (海滨池泽). It also grows widely throughout Korea, Japan, Cambodia, and has naturalized in the Americas, Europe, and Africa.

Harvesting Season

Late summer to autumn (August-October), when the flowers have withered and the fruits are fully mature. The entire above-ground plant is cut, sun-dried, and the fruits are threshed out.

Supplier Information

Treasure of the East

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Miscellaneous Info

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Usage & Safety

How to use this herb and important safety information

Important Medical Disclaimer

The information provided here is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice or to replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. This herb is a dietary supplement and has not been evaluated by the FDA. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition, or are taking other medications. Discontinue use and consult your healthcare provider if you experience any adverse reactions.

Recommended Dosage

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Instructions for safe storage and consumption

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Traditional Dosage Reference

Standard

4.5-9g

Maximum

Do not exceed 15g per day in decoction. Single doses above 20g have been documented to cause toxicity.

Notes

The standard decoction dose is 4.5-9g. Some sources extend the range to 5-10g. For eye conditions (red, swollen, painful eyes or corneal opacities), it is often combined with Liver-clearing and vision-brightening herbs like Ju Hua (Chrysanthemum) and Bai Ji Li (Tribulus). For menstrual irregularities and Blood stasis pain, the dry-fried form (炒茺蔚子) is preferred, as dry-frying makes it slightly more warming and enhances its Blood-moving action. When used as powder, the dose is reduced to 1-3g. Prolonged continuous use beyond two weeks is not recommended due to risk of cumulative toxicity from the alkaloid content.

Processing Methods

Processing method

Stir-fry clean Chong Wei Zi seeds over a gentle flame until popping sounds are heard and the surface color deepens, then remove and cool.

How it changes properties

Stir-frying slightly moderates the herb's cool nature, makes the hard seed coat easier to break during decoction (improving extraction of active compounds), and adds a mild aromatic quality. The core actions of invigorating Blood and clearing the Liver are preserved, but the processed form is considered slightly gentler on the Stomach. It does not fundamentally change the thermal nature or channel entry.

When to use this form

The stir-fried form is the standard clinical preparation for most indications. Because the raw seeds are very small and hard, frying cracks the seed coat and improves the decoction yield. This is the form specified in most modern formularies. Use it for both gynecological Blood stasis and eye conditions. Raw (unprocessed) seeds are sometimes used specifically for stronger eye-clearing effects.

Toxicity Classification

Slightly toxic

Chong Wei Zi is classified as slightly toxic (小毒) in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The toxic component is primarily leonurine (益母草宁碱, also called stachydrine-related alkaloids), which in excessive doses can paralyze the central nervous system and produce a curare-like paralysis of motor nerve endings. Based on 25 reported cases of poisoning, ingesting 20-30g in a single dose can cause toxicity within 4-10 hours. Some individuals developed symptoms only after consuming up to 500g cumulatively over 10 days. Symptoms include sudden generalized weakness, paralysis of the lower limbs (inability to walk), whole-body soreness and numbness, chest tightness, and profuse sweating with a state of collapse. Importantly, consciousness, speech, and pulse remain normal throughout. All reported cases recovered with treatment, with no fatalities. In some regions (e.g. Changshu, Jiangsu), there was a folk custom of eating roasted and ground Chong Wei Zi mixed into pancakes or rice powder as a 'tonic,' which led to poisoning incidents. At standard decoction doses of 4.5-9g, the herb is considered safe.

Contraindications

Avoid

Pregnancy. Chong Wei Zi is a Blood-invigorating herb that promotes uterine contractions and moves Blood vigorously. It should not be used during pregnancy due to the risk of miscarriage.

Avoid

Pupil dilation (mydriasis) from Liver Blood deficiency. Classical sources, including Li Dongyuan (Li Gao), specifically prohibit its use when the pupils are dilated, as this indicates Blood deficiency and the herb's strong Blood-moving action would further deplete Blood. However, when red eyes are caused by Blood Heat threatening the pupil, it may be used cautiously with Blood-cooling herbs.

Caution

Liver Blood deficiency without Blood stasis or Blood Heat. The Ben Cao Cong Xin states: 'Do not use unless there is Blood stagnation or Blood Heat.' Using it in pure deficiency patterns would worsen the condition.

Caution

Active uterine bleeding (Blood collapse/崩漏) without Blood stasis. The Ben Cao Jing Shu warns that it is prohibited in cases of uterine hemorrhage, as its Blood-moving nature could worsen uncontrolled bleeding.

Avoid

Excessive dosage (over 20g in a single dose). Toxicity reports document that consuming 20-30g at once can cause poisoning symptoms within 4-10 hours, including generalized weakness, lower limb paralysis, and profuse sweating.

Special Populations

Pregnancy

Contraindicated during pregnancy. Chong Wei Zi is a Blood-invigorating herb derived from Motherwort (Yi Mu Cao), a plant with well-documented uterotonic properties that can stimulate uterine contractions. Classical sources explicitly list pregnant women (孕妇) among those who should not take this herb. Its strong Blood-moving action poses a risk of miscarriage or premature labor.

Breastfeeding

Caution advised. While there is no specific classical prohibition against use during breastfeeding, Chong Wei Zi is classified as slightly toxic and contains alkaloids (stachydrine, leonurine-related compounds) that could theoretically transfer through breast milk. Its Blood-moving properties may also affect postpartum recovery in complex ways. Use only under professional guidance and at conservative doses if deemed necessary.

Pediatric Use

Not commonly used in pediatric practice. If prescribed for a child by a qualified practitioner, dosage should be significantly reduced according to age and body weight (typically one-third to one-half of the adult dose for older children). Given the herb's slight toxicity and Blood-moving properties, it should be used with extra caution and for short durations in children.

Drug Interactions

Anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications: Chong Wei Zi invigorates Blood and promotes circulation. Concurrent use with blood-thinning drugs such as warfarin, heparin, aspirin, or clopidogrel may theoretically potentiate anticoagulant effects and increase bleeding risk.

Antihypertensive medications: Pharmacological studies show that Chong Wei Zi extracts have a mild blood pressure-lowering effect. Combining it with antihypertensive drugs may result in additive hypotensive effects, potentially causing excessive blood pressure reduction.

Uterotonic medications: As a herb from the Motherwort plant with known uterotonic properties, it should not be combined with oxytocin or other uterine-stimulating drugs without medical supervision, as this could cause excessive uterine contractions.

Dietary Advice

Avoid iron vessels and utensils when preparing this herb, as noted in the classical text Jing Xiao Chan Bao (经效产宝). During treatment with Chong Wei Zi for Blood stasis conditions, avoid excessive consumption of cold and raw foods that may impede Blood circulation. When using it for eye conditions related to Liver Heat, reduce intake of spicy, greasy, and heating foods (such as alcohol, deep-fried foods, and strong spices) that may aggravate Liver Heat.

Cautions & Warnings

Although this formula is typically safe for most individuals, it may cause side effects in some people. Pregnant women, nursing mothers, postpartum women, and those with liver disease should use the formula with caution.

As with any Chinese herbal remedy, it is advisable to seek guidance from a qualified TCM practitioner before beginning treatment.