Cirsium setosum, Xiao Ji 小蓟

Field Thistle, Small Thistle
Xiao Ji (TCM)
Picture Cirsium setosum
Kops, J., Flora Batava (1911)

Botanical name:


Cirsium setosum (syn. C. arvense, Cephalanoplos setosum), C. segetum, C. lineare, C. botryodes

Parts used:


Root

Temperature & Taste:


Cool, dry. Sweet

Classifications:


L. Stop Bleeding

Uses:


1. Cools the Blood, Stops Bleeding:
-Coughing or Vomiting Blood, Blood in the Urine or Stool
-Uterine Bleeding

2. Clears Heat and Toxin, Reduce Abscess:
-Sores, Abscesses, Boils (topically and Internally)

3. Clears Liver Heat:
-Jaundice from Damp-Heat
-Hepatitis
-Hypertension


Dose:


Decoction: 9–30 grams

Substitute:


1. Cirsium Da Ji
2. Sonchus brachyotus

Preparation:


Charred to increase its effect of stopping Bleeding.

Main Combinations:


1. Bleeding:
i. with Imperata Bai Mao Gen
ii. burning Urine with Blood in the Urine, with Rehmannia Sheng Di Huang, Gardenia Zhi Zi, Talcum (Hua Shi)
iii. fresh herb can be taken with fresh Lotus root for Blood-streaked sputum
2. Abscesses, with Dandelion (Pu Gong Ying)

Cautions:


Not used in Cold and Weakness of the Spleen and Stomach

Main Preparations used: