Herb

Mao Zhao Cao

Catclaw buttercup root | 猫爪草

Also known as:

Mao Zhua Cao

Mao Zhao Cao

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Properties

Phlegm-transforming herbs (化痰药) · Warm

Traditionally supports*

Lymphatic Health Thyroid Health Respiratory Health Immune Support

Parts Used

Tuber (块茎 kuài jīng / 块根 kuài gēn)

*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

Mao Zhao Cao (Catclaw Buttercup Root) is a Chinese herb best known for breaking down lumps and nodules. It has been widely used for swollen lymph nodes, thyroid nodules, and as a supportive treatment for tuberculosis. Its name comes from the small, claw-shaped tuberous roots that resemble a cat's paw.

Herb Category

Phlegm-transforming herbs (化痰药) Warm herbs that transform Phlegm-Cold (温化寒痰药)

Main Actions

  • Transforms Phlegm and Dissipates Nodules
  • Resolves Toxicity and Reduces Swelling
  • Disperses Accumulations and Dissipates Nodules

How These Actions Work

'Resolves Phlegm and dissipates nodules' is the primary action of this herb. In TCM, when Phlegm (a thick, turbid pathological substance) congeals and lodges in a particular area, it can form lumps, masses, or swollen glands. Mao Zhao Cao's warm and pungent nature enables it to break through this congealed Phlegm and scatter the resulting nodules. This is why it has been used for centuries for scrofula (lymph node tuberculosis), thyroid swellings, and other Phlegm-type lumps. Its affinity for the Liver and Lung channels means it can address nodules along these pathways, particularly in the neck region where both channels traverse.

'Clears toxins and reduces swelling' refers to the herb's ability to counteract toxic accumulations and the swelling they produce. This action applies to boils, abscesses, venomous bites, and toxic sores where redness, pain, and pus are present. Despite being a warm herb, its sweet and pungent tastes combine to both detoxify and mobilize stagnation, helping the body push out accumulated toxins. This is also why it appears in modern clinical usage alongside other detoxifying herbs for treating certain tumors, where TCM views the underlying pathology as a form of toxic accumulation combined with Phlegm stagnation.

Patterns Addressed

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

When Phlegm and Heat combine and stagnate in the channels, they can form hard, painful nodules or masses, particularly along the neck and throat where the Liver and Lung channels pass. Mao Zhao Cao enters both of these channels and uses its pungent taste to disperse congealed Phlegm while its warm nature mobilizes stagnation. Its detoxifying action helps clear the Heat component of this pattern. This makes it a primary herb for scrofula (lymph node tuberculosis) and similar Phlegm-Fire accumulations that manifest as firm, swollen glands.

A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs

Swollen Lymph Nodes

Hard, swollen lymph nodes in the neck

Goiter

Thyroid enlargement or nodules

Low Grade Fever

Persistent low-grade fever with fatigue

TCM Properties

Temperature

Warm

Taste

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

Channels Entered
Liver Lungs
Parts Used

Tuber (块茎 kuài jīng / 块根 kuài gēn)

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 Mao Zhao Cao tuber roots (block roots) should be yellowish-brown on the surface, firm and solid in texture, plump and well-filled, with a whitish or pale yellowish cross-section. The individual spindle-shaped rootlets should be clearly formed and cluster together in the characteristic cat's-paw shape. They are typically 3–7 mm long and 2–3 mm in diameter. The herb should have no noticeable smell and a mildly sweet taste. Avoid material that is dark-coloured from prolonged storage, hollow or spongy inside, overly shrivelled, or has excessive residual rootlets. Wild-sourced material typically has smaller, more distinctly claw-shaped rootlets and is considered higher quality (and commands roughly three times the price), while cultivated material tends to have larger, less distinctly shaped blocks.

Primary Growing Regions

The primary production region and traditional terroir (道地药材) source is Henan Province, particularly the Xinyang area (信阳), where it was first discovered and widely used in folk medicine. Other significant producing regions include Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Hubei, Jiangxi, and Guangxi provinces. The herb is broadly distributed across the Yangtze River middle and lower reaches. It also grows in Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan, Fujian, and Taiwan. Wild Ranunculus ternatus is also found in Japan.

Harvesting Season

Spring or autumn (after 2–3 years of cultivation). Spring harvest is most common, collected before the plant enters its summer dormancy period (May).

Supplier Information

Treasure of the East

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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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Traditional Dosage Reference

Standard

9–15g (standard decoction), up to 30g in clinical formulas

Maximum

Up to 120g when used as a single herb for treating scrofula (lymph node tuberculosis), as recorded in classical clinical protocols, under strict practitioner supervision. Standard maximum is 30g in formula.

Notes

Standard decoction dose is 9–15g when combined with other herbs in a formula. For treating scrofula (lymph node tuberculosis) as a single herb, classical protocols use much higher doses, up to 120g (about 4 liang), decocted with rice wine as an adjuvant, taken in divided doses over two days. Some modern clinical sources recommend 10–30g for routine prescriptions. For making a tea to address sore throat, a simple preparation uses 5g of Mao Zhao Cao with 10g of Mai Dong steeped in hot water. External use requires fresh herb, pounded and applied as a poultice in appropriate amounts. The herb is mildly irritating, so patients with sensitive stomachs should start at lower doses.

Processing Methods

Processing method

Stir-fried with rice vinegar until the vinegar is absorbed and the herb is dry.

How it changes properties

Vinegar processing enhances the herb's ability to enter the Liver channel and strengthens its nodule-dispersing and pain-relieving actions. It also helps direct the herb's action toward blood-level stagnation, increasing its ability to break up stubborn, long-standing masses.

When to use this form

Preferred when treating chronic, hard, stubborn nodules with pain, or when there is more pronounced Qi and Blood stagnation contributing to the mass formation. Especially useful for breast lumps and thyroid nodules with fixed pain.

Toxicity Classification

Slightly toxic

Mao Zhao Cao belongs to the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family, which is one of the plant families most associated with toxic species (including aconite and monkshood). The stem and leaf of the living plant contain protoanemonin and anemonin, which are strongly irritating compounds that can cause skin blistering when applied externally (this property was historically exploited therapeutically as a counter-irritant). The dried tuber root used medicinally has much lower concentrations of these irritant substances. Some pharmacopoeia sources classify it as having "slight toxicity" (有小毒). At standard therapeutic doses under practitioner supervision, significant toxicity has not been observed in clinical use. Possible side effects from overuse or long-term use include gastrointestinal irritation (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), allergic skin reactions, dizziness, and dry mouth. Trace amounts of cadmium have been detected in some samples, though at levels too low to cause toxicity, especially as the herb's zinc content provides a natural antagonistic effect.

Contraindications

Avoid

Pregnancy. Mao Zhao Cao belongs to the Ranunculaceae family and contains mildly toxic components. It may adversely affect fetal development and should be avoided during pregnancy.

Avoid

Known allergy or hypersensitivity to Mao Zhao Cao or other Ranunculaceae plants. Allergic reactions including skin rash, redness, and itching have been reported.

Caution

Spleen and Stomach deficiency-cold patterns (people with weak digestion and cold constitution). The herb may cause gastrointestinal upset including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea in those with weak digestive function.

Caution

Broken or ulcerated skin (for external use). Classical sources warn that the fresh plant should not be applied directly into open wounds, as it causes tissue irritation and may cause flesh to rot.

Caution

Liver or kidney impairment. Long-term use may increase the metabolic burden on the liver and kidneys. Use with caution and under medical supervision in patients with compromised liver or kidney function.

Caution

Children. Use with caution and at reduced dosages, only under the guidance of a qualified practitioner.

Special Populations

Pregnancy

Contraindicated during pregnancy. Mao Zhao Cao belongs to the Ranunculaceae family and is classified as slightly toxic. Multiple Chinese medical sources specifically advise against use during pregnancy, as the herb may adversely affect fetal development. Although the exact teratogenic mechanism is not fully characterised, the presence of irritant and mildly toxic compounds (protoanemonin-related substances) in the plant poses a risk to the developing fetus. Pregnant women should avoid this herb entirely.

Breastfeeding

No specific safety data is available for Mao Zhao Cao during breastfeeding. Given that the herb is classified as slightly toxic and belongs to the Ranunculaceae family (which contains irritant compounds such as protoanemonin), it is advisable to avoid use during breastfeeding as a precaution. There is insufficient information on whether its active components transfer into breast milk or affect lactation. Nursing mothers should consult a qualified practitioner before use.

Pediatric Use

Use in children requires caution and should only be under professional guidance. Dosage should be reduced proportionally based on the child's age and body weight, typically to half the adult dose or less. Some clinical references describe using half the adult dose (around 60g reduced from 120g) for children in treating scrofula. Given the herb's slight toxicity classification, long-term use in children is not recommended without medical supervision.

Drug Interactions

Specific drug interactions for Mao Zhao Cao have not been well studied in formal pharmacological research. Based on its known properties and chemical constituents, the following theoretical interactions should be considered:

  • Anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications: Some sources suggest potential interaction risk. Use with caution alongside warfarin, aspirin, or other blood-thinning medications.
  • Immunosuppressant drugs: As Mao Zhao Cao has demonstrated immunomodulatory effects (stimulating immune responses and TNF production), it may theoretically counteract immunosuppressive therapy. Patients on cyclosporine, tacrolimus, or similar drugs should use this herb with caution.
  • Anti-tuberculosis medications (isoniazid, rifampicin): Mao Zhao Cao has been used clinically alongside standard anti-TB drugs, and some studies suggest complementary effects. However, combined use should still be supervised by a qualified practitioner to monitor for any unexpected interactions.

Dietary Advice

During the course of treatment with Mao Zhao Cao, avoid spicy, pungent, and greasy foods, as well as 'fa wu' (发物, foods considered to aggravate or trigger conditions, such as shellfish, certain fish, lamb, and rooster). Alcohol should generally be avoided, except when rice wine is specifically prescribed as part of the therapeutic protocol. Fresh vegetables and fruits are encouraged to support digestion and overall health during treatment.

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.