Nature: sweet, bland, neutral

Enters: Kidney, Bladder, Liver, Gallbladder

Actions: Dissolves stones and discharges them; eliminates dampness; clears damp-heat from the liver and gallbladder, relieves jaundice; eliminates toxicity; relieves swelling; drains dampness and heat by promoting urination; unblocks painful urinary dysfunction.

Indications:
• Damp-heat and/or bladder stones, kidney stones, or gall stones: painful urination.
• Liver/gallbladder damp-heat: jaundice and/or red, swollen eyes.
• Topical and/or internal: for carbuncles, boils, snake bite, abscess, traumatic injury.
• Very effective for acute mastitis.
• Often used alone as an infusion for stones.
*A diverse array of herbs that have similar functions are used as Jin qian cao. Besides Lysimachia christinae, these include:
• Desdemodium styracifolium – known as Guang Jin Qian Cao, since it comes from Guangdong.
• Glechoma longituba – (Ground Ivy) known as Lian Qian Cao, “Linking Gold Money Herb.”
• Dichondra repens – known as Xi Jin Qian Cao, as it comes from Jiangxi.
• Hydrocotyle sibthorpiodes – known as Xiao Jin Qian Cao, “Little Gold Money Herb.”
Hsu: Helps dissolve and excrete urinary calculi, stimulates bile production.
DY: Very effective in cases of biliary or renal lithiasis and may be used alone at a dose of 200-250g. Even when combined with other herbs, it should still be prescribed in relatively high doses of 50-150g daily.
• With Hai jin sha for mutual enhancement, to strongly clear heat and eliminate dampness, disinhibit urination, free strangury, and expel stones. See Hai jin sha in this category for specific indications and notes.
SD: May help antidote mercury and lead poisoning.

Dose: 15-60g (or much more for stones)