Herb

Gu Jing Cao

Cibot rhizome (processed) | 谷精草

Also known as:

Dai Xing Cao (戴星草) , Liu Xing Cao (流星草)

Gu Jing Cao

Product appearance may vary from images shown

Properties

Cool, acrid herbs that release the Exterior (辛凉解表药) · Neutral

Traditionally supports*

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

Parts Used

Flower (花 huā)

*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.

Select Product Type

Select Supplier

Select Size

Quantity

$38.00 ($0.38/g)
For shipments to: United States Change
Standard Shipping (3-5 business days): $4.99
Express Shipping (1-2 business days): $9.99
Free shipping on orders over $75

About This Herb

Traditional Chinese Medicine background and properties

Herb Description

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.

Herb 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)

Main Actions

  • 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 that reveal what's out of balance in the body. Gu Jing Cao 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 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

TCM Properties

Temperature

Neutral

Taste

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

Channels Entered
Liver Lungs
Parts Used

Flower (花 huā)

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

Quantity Description

Loading quantity information...

Concentration Ratio

Loading concentration information...

Fabrication Method

Loading fabrication information...

Supplier Certifications

Loading certifications information...

Botanical & Sourcing

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.

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.

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.

Supplier Information

Treasure of the East

Loading supplier information...

Loading supplier attributes...

Miscellaneous Info

No additional information available

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

Loading dosage information...

Instructions for safe storage and consumption

Loading storage and consumption information...

Traditional Dosage Reference

Standard

5-10g

Maximum

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.

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.

Toxicity Classification

Non-toxic

Contraindications

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

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.

Pediatric Use

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

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

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.

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.