Xi Xian Cao – Siegesbeckia orientalis, pubescens, or glabrescens aerial parts

Nature: bitter, cold

Enters: Liver, Kidney

Actions: Clears heat; eliminates toxicity; eliminates wind-dampness; dispels obstruction from the channels and collaterals; strengthens the sinews; calms the Shen; pacifies the liver; transforms damp-heat; alleviates itching.

Indications:

• Wind-damp: Bi syndrome with numbness, spasms, and weakness in the limbs; facial paralysis, hemiplegia, numbness and weakness in the back and legs. More effective for these indications when processed with wine or (grain-based) liquor.
• Damp-heat-toxicity: carbuncles, boils, eczema, sores, itching. Used both internally and externally for dermatological issues.
• Wind-damp: rash, itching.
• Shen disturbance: irritability, insomnia, forgetfulness.
• Liver Yang rising: headache, dizziness.
• Hypertension: lowers blood pressure.
• Anti-inflammatory
• Acute malaria: use large doses (up to 60g per day).
• Mild antibiotic effect against numerous bacteria
• Topical: soak in this tea for numbness due to dampness.
• Use raw to clear heat and resolve dampness.
• Recently used in many topical “stretch marks” products for its purported ability to heal this form of scarring.

• Likewise, it has recently been employed to break down scar tissue in the fallopian tubes to clear blockage and support fertility.
• Treat with wine for wind-damp Bi.
Hsu: Antibacterial, hypotensive, antiphlogistic.

Dose: 6-15g

6 comments on “Xi Xian Cao – Siegesbeckia orientalis, pubescens, or glabrescens aerial parts

  1. dawn says:

    I have read about this herb being good for pain? Will it help me with the pain that my mum has had in my calf for 9 years
    Thank you
    Dawn

    • Peter Borten says:

      It could, but we generally wouldn’t use it on its own. It would be best to see a trained practitioner of Chinese medicine and have them write her a more comprehensive, personalized formula.

  2. Lorna Espeut says:

    My husband have stage 5 kidney disease. Can he drink this tea and possibly see some improvement?

    • Peter Borten says:

      Sorry to hear it. This herb may help, but usually I would prescribe an appropriate, customized formula for that. Late kidney disease isn’t likely to be reversed by taking a single herb.

  3. Mish says:

    Can this be used to unblock Fallopian tubes

    • Peter Borten says:

      There’s growing hype around this possible use of xi xian cao but I haven’t seen any good research on it yet. If there’s any benefit in this area I would guess that (1) it would depend on how blocked the tubes are, and (2) it would likely be more effective in combination with other herbs (like di long, Jiang can) or fibrinolytic enzymes like serrapeptase, lumbrokinase

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