Herb

Ma Chi Xian

Purslane | 马齿苋

Also known as:

Portalaca Herb

Ma Chi Xian

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Properties

Heat-clearing herbs · Cold

Traditionally supports*

Digestive Health Skin Health Immune Support Women's Health

Parts Used

Whole plant / Aerial parts (全草 quán cǎo)

*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

Purslane is a common edible plant that doubles as a powerful medicinal herb in Chinese medicine, often called a "natural antibiotic." It is best known for treating dysentery and other intestinal infections, as well as skin sores, eczema, and abnormal bleeding. Cold in nature and safe even in large doses, it is one of the most accessible herbs for clearing heat and toxins from the body.

Herb Category

Heat-clearing herbs Herbs that clear Heat and resolve Toxicity (清热解毒药)

Main Actions

  • Clears Heat and Resolves Toxicity
  • Cools the Blood and Stops Bleeding
  • Stops Dysentery
  • Clears Damp-Heat

How These Actions Work

Clears Heat and resolves toxins: Ma Chi Xian is cold in nature and has a strong ability to clear Heat and eliminate toxic pathogens from the body. This makes it especially useful for conditions involving infections and inflammation, such as skin abscesses, boils, carbuncles, and infected sores. It can be taken internally as a decoction or applied topically as a fresh poultice. Its antibacterial properties have earned it the nickname "natural antibiotic" in Chinese medical practice.

Cools the Blood and stops bleeding: Because it is sour in taste and cold in nature, and enters the Liver channel (which governs Blood), Ma Chi Xian can cool Blood that is overheated and stop abnormal bleeding. This applies to conditions like blood in the stool, hemorrhoidal bleeding, and uterine bleeding (崩漏 bēng lòu). The sour taste provides an astringent quality that helps to contain and stop the flow of Blood.

Stops dysentery: This is the herb's most celebrated action. Ma Chi Xian enters the Large Intestine channel and powerfully clears Heat and toxins from the gut, making it the go-to herb for bacterial dysentery with symptoms like bloody or mucus-laden stools, abdominal pain, and tenesmus (a painful straining urge to pass stool). It can be used alone or combined with other Heat-clearing herbs for this purpose.

Clears Damp-Heat: Ma Chi Xian also addresses Damp-Heat conditions beyond the intestines, including painful or bloody urination (hot lin syndrome), vaginal discharge, and eczema or other weeping skin conditions. Its cold, slippery nature helps drain Damp-Heat downward and out of the body.

Patterns Addressed

In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony that reveal what's out of balance in the body. Ma Chi Xian 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 Ma Chi Xian addresses this pattern

Ma Chi Xian is cold in nature and sour in taste, entering the Large Intestine channel directly. Its cold nature clears the Heat component of this pattern, while its slippery quality helps expel Damp-Heat from the intestines. The sour taste provides an astringent action that helps control the dysenteric discharge. This makes it the primary single herb for treating Hot dysentery (热毒血痢), where Heat and toxins in the Large Intestine cause bloody, mucus-laden stools with tenesmus and abdominal pain.

A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs

Dysentery

Bloody or mucus-laden stools from Damp-Heat in the intestines

Abdominal Pain

Cramping abdominal pain with urgent straining (tenesmus)

Diarrhea

Frequent loose stools with burning sensation

Fever

Fever accompanying intestinal infection

TCM Properties

Temperature

Cold

Taste

Sour (酸 suān)

Channels Entered
Liver Large Intestine
Parts Used

Whole plant / Aerial parts (全草 quán cǎo)

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 dried Ma Chi Xian herb should be yellowish-brown in color, with intact stems and leaves that are wrinkled and curled but not crumbled into powder. The stems should be cylindrical with clear longitudinal groove marks. Complete leaves, when spread out, should be recognizably obovate (spoon-shaped). The herb should have a faint, mild odor and a slightly sour taste. Fresh herb is preferred for many clinical applications and should have plump, succulent, dark green leaves with reddish-purple stems, appearing vibrant and juicy rather than wilted or yellowed. Avoid material that is excessively broken, darkened, moldy, or has lost its characteristic mild sourness.

Primary Growing Regions

Ma Chi Xian grows wild throughout China, from north to south, and is found worldwide in temperate and tropical regions. It is not strongly associated with a single 'terroir' region (道地药材) the way many other Chinese herbs are, because it grows abundantly as a common weed in gardens, farmland, and roadsides everywhere. In China, it is widely collected across most provinces. Its ease of growth and ubiquity mean that regional quality differences are minimal compared to herbs with strong terroir traditions.

Harvesting Season

Summer to autumn (August to September), when stems and leaves are at their most luxuriant. The whole above-ground plant is cut, washed, briefly blanched or steamed, then sun-dried.

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

9-15g (dried herb); 30-60g (fresh herb)

Maximum

Up to 60g dried herb or 120g fresh herb in acute dysentery or toxic sore conditions, under practitioner supervision. As this herb is also an edible vegetable, larger amounts are generally well tolerated.

Notes

For treating hot-type dysentery (the herb's primary indication), larger doses are typically used: 30-60g of fresh herb, or 15-30g dried. Fresh herb is considered more effective for dysentery and is often juiced. For bleeding conditions such as uterine bleeding or bloody stool, fresh juice taken orally is preferred. For topical application on sores, abscesses, eczema, or insect bites, fresh herb is pounded and applied directly, with no fixed internal dosage needed. When first introducing the herb, especially as a food, it is advisable to start with a small amount and gradually increase, as some people may experience digestive discomfort initially. Do not add brown sugar (红糖) when preparing as a drink, as its warming nature counteracts the herb's cooling therapeutic action; white sugar is acceptable for flavoring.

Toxicity Classification

Non-toxic

Ma Chi Xian is classified as non-toxic in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and has a long history of use both as medicine and as an edible vegetable. Clinical use of its decoction by mouth shows no significant toxicity. When given as an injection in larger doses, mild nausea has been reported. The plant does contain notable amounts of oxalic acid (approximately 671-869 mg per 100g fresh weight), which is comparable to spinach. Blanching in boiling water before eating reduces oxalate content. People prone to kidney stones should be cautious about consuming large quantities. The herb also contains norepinephrine and potassium salts, which at normal dietary and medicinal doses are not harmful but contribute to its pharmacological activity on blood vessels and blood sugar.

Contraindications

Avoid

Pregnancy. Ma Chi Xian has a cold, slippery nature and has been shown pharmacologically to stimulate uterine contractions. Classical texts such as the Ben Cao Gang Mu note it can 'make the fetus slippery' (滑胎). It may increase the risk of miscarriage or premature labor.

Avoid

Spleen and Stomach deficiency cold (脾胃虚寒) with loose stools or diarrhea. The Ben Cao Jing Shu explicitly warns: 'When the Spleen and Stomach are deficient and cold, and there is intestinal slipperiness with diarrhea, do not use.' The herb's cold nature will further damage already weakened digestive function.

Avoid

Cold-type diarrhea caused by simple exposure to cold (as opposed to Damp-Heat dysentery). Ma Chi Xian treats Heat-type dysentery only. Using it for cold-type diarrhea will worsen the condition.

Caution

Concurrent use with Bie Jia (turtle shell, Trionyx sinensis). The Ben Cao Jing Shu states that Ma Chi Xian must not be combined with Bie Jia in decoctions, as the two are considered incompatible.

Caution

People with kidney stones or high oxalate risk. Purslane contains significant amounts of oxalic acid (671-869 mg/100g fresh weight), which may contribute to oxalate kidney stone formation in susceptible individuals.

Caution

During menstruation with heavy flow. The herb's blood-moving and cold properties may increase menstrual bleeding in women who already have excessive flow.

Classical Incompatibilities

Ma Chi Xian does not appear on the classical Eighteen Incompatibilities (十八反) or Nineteen Mutual Fears (十九畏) lists. However, the Ben Cao Jing Shu specifically warns that it should not be combined with Bie Jia (鳖甲, turtle shell/Trionyx sinensis carapace) in decoctions: '煎饵方中不得与鳖甲同入.' This is a traditionally recognized incompatibility specific to this herb.

Special Populations

Pregnancy

Contraindicated during pregnancy. Ma Chi Xian has a cold, slippery (寒滑) nature and the Ben Cao Gang Mu explicitly records that it can 'make the fetus slippery' (滑胎), meaning it promotes fetal expulsion. Modern pharmacological studies confirm that purslane extracts stimulate uterine smooth muscle contraction in animal models, with effects reportedly comparable to or stronger than ergometrine (a pharmaceutical used to contract the uterus after delivery). Ma Chi Xian injection preparations have even been used clinically in China as a substitute for ergometrine to manage postpartum hemorrhage. For these reasons, pregnant women should strictly avoid Ma Chi Xian in any form, whether as medicine or as a food vegetable, throughout all stages of pregnancy.

Breastfeeding

There is limited specific data on the safety of Ma Chi Xian during breastfeeding. While it has a long history as an edible vegetable and is generally considered safe as food, its cold nature may theoretically affect lactation or the infant's digestion through breast milk transfer. Traditionally, postpartum women are advised to avoid cold-natured foods and herbs to protect the Spleen and Stomach. The herb's norepinephrine content and uterine-contracting properties are additional considerations. Breastfeeding mothers should use Ma Chi Xian only under practitioner guidance, and in small amounts if at all.

Pediatric Use

Ma Chi Xian has historically been considered suitable for children. The Tang Ben Cao (Xin Xiu Ben Cao) specifically noted that it is 'especially good for children' (小儿尤良). It has been used traditionally to treat childhood conditions such as erysipelas (丹毒), dysentery, and hookworm. Modern clinical use includes treatment of pediatric whooping cough using a 50% Ma Chi Xian syrup. However, because the herb is cold in nature and children's digestive systems are often delicate, dosage should be reduced proportionally (typically one-third to one-half of the adult dose for school-age children). It should not be given to very young children (under 3 years) without practitioner guidance, and should be avoided in children with weak digestion or loose stools.

Drug Interactions

There are no extensively documented drug interactions with Ma Chi Xian in the formal pharmacological literature. However, the following theoretical interactions warrant caution based on the herb's known pharmacological properties:

  • Antihypertensive medications: Purslane contains significant potassium salts and has demonstrated blood pressure-lowering effects. Concurrent use with antihypertensive drugs may theoretically enhance hypotensive effects.
  • Hypoglycemic agents (insulin, metformin, etc.): Purslane contains norepinephrine and has shown blood sugar-lowering effects in some studies. People on diabetes medication should monitor blood glucose when consuming Ma Chi Xian regularly.
  • Oxytocic drugs: Given the herb's demonstrated ability to stimulate uterine contractions, concurrent use with oxytocin or similar uterine-stimulating drugs could potentially produce additive effects.
  • Anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs: The herb has blood-invigorating (活血) properties and may theoretically enhance the effects of warfarin or similar medications, though this has not been confirmed in clinical studies.

Dietary Advice

While taking Ma Chi Xian, avoid eating cold and raw foods if the digestive system is already weakened, as the herb's cold nature combined with cold foods may further tax the Spleen and Stomach. Do not consume turtle meat (鳖肉) or preparations containing turtle shell (鳖甲) concurrently. When preparing Ma Chi Xian as a beverage, use white sugar for sweetening if needed, and avoid brown sugar (红糖), which has a warming nature that counteracts the herb's cooling therapeutic effect. The herb pairs well with rice porridge (congee), which helps buffer its cold nature while delivering its medicinal benefits, as in the classical Ma Chi Xian Porridge (马齿粥) from the Sheng Hui Fang.

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.