About This Herb*
Traditional Chinese Medicine background and properties
Herb Description*
Mulberry leaf is a gentle, cooling herb commonly used for colds and flu with sore throat and headache, dry coughs, and red or irritated eyes. It is one of the key herbs for managing the early stages of respiratory infections caused by Wind-Heat, and is also valued for its ability to soothe the eyes and calm a rising Liver. Modern research has explored its potential for supporting healthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
Herb Category*
Main Actions*
- Disperses Wind-Heat
- Clears Heat and Moistens the Lungs
- Clears Liver Heat and Brightens the Eyes
- Calms the Liver and Subdues Yang
- Cools the Blood and Stops Bleeding
How These Actions Work*
'Disperses Wind-Heat' means Sang Ye helps the body expel an external pathogenic influence that combines wind and heat, the kind that causes the common cold or flu with fever, sore throat, and headache. Because it is light in nature and cold in temperature, it gently opens the body's surface layer to release this trapped heat. It is considered a mild Wind-Heat disperser, best suited for early-stage respiratory infections where cough is more prominent than high fever.
'Clears the Lungs and moistens dryness' refers to Sang Ye's ability to address a dry, irritated Lung system. When the autumn climate or a hot pathogen dries out the Lungs, the result is a harsh dry cough with little or no phlegm, a dry throat, and thirst. Sang Ye's bitter and sweet taste, combined with its cold temperature, clears the heat while gently moistening the Lungs. This is why it serves as the lead herb in the classical formula Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang (Rescue the Lungs from Dryness Decoction).
'Clears the Liver and brightens the eyes' means this herb can reduce excess heat or fire in the Liver system, which in TCM is closely connected to eye health. When Liver fire flares upward, it can cause red, swollen, painful eyes and headaches. Sang Ye enters the Liver channel and clears this fire. For Liver Yin deficiency with blurry vision, it can be combined with nourishing herbs like black sesame and goji berry. 'Calms Liver Yang' refers to its ability to settle a pattern where Liver Yang rises excessively, causing dizziness, headache, and irritability. 'Cools the Blood and stops bleeding' is a milder action of Sang Ye, used in cases of vomiting blood due to Blood Heat.
Patterns Addressed*
In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony that reveal what's out of balance in the body. Sang Ye 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 Sang Ye addresses this pattern
When Wind-Heat attacks the body's exterior and invades the Lung system, the result is fever, headache, sore throat, and cough. Sang Ye is sweet, bitter, and cold, entering the Lung channel. Its light, ascending nature allows it to gently disperse Wind-Heat from the body's surface and upper body while its cold temperature clears Lung heat. Although its dispersing power is relatively mild compared to herbs like Bo He (mint), it excels specifically at clearing and calming the Lungs, making it the preferred choice when cough is the dominant symptom in a Wind-Heat pattern.
A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs
Low-grade fever with slight chills
Cough, often with yellow or sticky phlegm
Headache at the front or top of the head
Why Sang Ye addresses this pattern
When warm-dry conditions (often in autumn) or excessive heat damage the Lung's delicate moisture, the result is a dry, hacking cough with little or no phlegm, dry throat, dry nose, and thirst. Sang Ye is cold and enters the Lung channel, allowing it to clear the heat driving the dryness while its sweet and bitter tastes help restore moisture balance. In the classical formula Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang, Sang Ye serves as the King herb specifically because its light, descending nature can clear Lung dryness-heat without further injuring fluids.
A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs
Dry cough with little or no phlegm
Thirst with dry mouth
Why Sang Ye addresses this pattern
When excessive fire in the Liver flares upward, it attacks the eyes and head, causing red, swollen, painful eyes, headache, and irritability. Sang Ye enters the Liver channel and its cold, bitter nature directly clears Liver fire. Unlike heavier cold-natured herbs, Sang Ye is light enough to address heat in the upper body and eyes without heavily suppressing the digestive system. It is often combined with Ju Hua (chrysanthemum) and Jue Ming Zi (cassia seed) for this purpose.
A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs
Red, swollen, painful eyes
Headache with dizziness from Liver fire
Why Sang Ye addresses this pattern
When Liver Yang rises excessively, often due to underlying Liver Yin or Blood deficiency failing to anchor the Yang, it produces dizziness, vertigo, headaches, and sometimes blurred vision. Sang Ye's cold nature and affinity for the Liver channel allow it to gently subdue rising Liver Yang. Combined with chrysanthemum, Shi Jue Ming (abalone shell), and Bai Shao (white peony), it helps settle Yang back downward while clearing heat from the Liver. For cases with underlying Yin deficiency contributing to blurred vision, Sang Ye can be paired with nourishing herbs like black sesame and goji berry.
A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs
Dizziness and vertigo
Headache at the top of the head
TCM Properties*
Cold
Sweet (甘 gān), Bitter (苦 kǔ)
Leaf (叶 yè)
This is partial information on the herb's TCM properties. More detailed information is available on the herb's dedicated page
*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.