Plantago Semen, Plantain Seed, Che Qian Zi 车前子

Che Qian Zi (TCM)
Picture      Red Plantain (variety)                                                Greater Plantain       
Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578

Picture P. major
Flora von Deutschland (20), Kohler, 1885

 Picture P. lanceolata
Flora von Deutschland (20), Kohler, 1885
Picture P. asciatica
Illustrations Of Indian Botany, Vol. II, Wight, 1850

Picture

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Botanical name:


Plantago spp.
Several species are used:
  1. P. majus is the Greater Plantain;
  2. P. lanceolata is Ribwort Plantain;
  3. P. coronopus is Buck’s-Horn Plantain
  4. P. asciatica and others are used in India and China.

Parts used:


Seed

Temperature & Taste:


Cool, moist and dry. Slightly Bitter and Sweet
cleanses, thickens

Classifications:


2P. HEMOSTATICS
3B. FEBRIFUGE & ANTIPYRETIC.    3D. CORDIALS & CARDIACS
4c. CARDIAC.    4h. NEPHRITIC

Uses:


1. Clears Heat and Damp, Promotes Urine: (TCM, West)
-Urinary Tract Infections, Cystitis, Edema, Oliguria, Strangury
-Ulcers of the bladder and kidneys;
-Damp-Heat Diarrhea, Dysentery, Gonorrhea etc.
    
2. Stops Leakage, Strengthens the Kidneys: (TCM, West)
-Spermatorrhea, Impotence and premature Ejaculation from Kidney deficiency (TCM).
-Lumbago, Bed-wetting in children; also Nephritis in TCM
-Excess Menstruation from Heat
-‘promotes Longevity’ (Tao Hong Jing)
    
3. Clears Phlegm and Heat, Stops Cough (TCM, West):
-Heat type Cough with profuse sputum

4. Clears Liver Heat (TCM, West):
-Red Eyes, Headache, Irritability
-Jaundice
-seeds are given for Jaundice and Vertigo (TCM)   
    
5. Clears Heat, Benefits the Eyes:
-red, swollen and sore Eyes; poor Vision from Liver weakness; light sensitivity (TCM)
    
6. Moistens to Promote Stool:
-moist laxative in constipation

7. Promotes Labor:
-‘good for treating Difficult Labor’. (Ben Cao Gang Mu)


Dose:


Seed in Powder: 2–6 grams
Seed in Decoction: 6–15 grams
Picture

Main Combinations:


1. For heat-type Bleeding: Plantain seed with 

… available in PRO version


2. Bleeding from the Lungs, Plantain seed with 

 … available in PRO version


3. Edema, Dribbling or Obstructed Urine, Plantain seed with 

… available in PRO version


4. Painful, dribbling, burning urine:
i. Plantain seed with 

… available in PRO version


ii. Plantain seed with 

 … available in PRO version


5. Liver Heat with Red Eyes, Headache, Irritability, Plantain seed with 

 … available in PRO version


6. Diabetes, excess Urination, Plantain seed with 

 … available in PRO version


7. Diarrhea from Damp-Heat, or Damp with Spleen deficiency Plantain seed with 

 … available in PRO version


8. Excessive Menstruation, Plantain seed with

 … available in PRO version


9. Threatened Miscarriage, Plantain seed

 … available in PRO version


10. To promote Labor, Plantain seed with 

 … available in PRO version


11. Cataracts from Yin deficiency, Plantain seed with 

… available in PRO version



Major Formulas:


Powder for Diabetes (Riverius)
Powder of Lavender Seed to Promote Labor
Powder for Bleeding During Pregnancy
Powder for Excessive Menstruation
Powder Against Abortion
Troches of Agnus Castus

TCM:
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang
Ba Zhen San
Jia Wei Shen Qi Wan
Long Dan Bi Yuan Tang
Shi Wei San
Wan Dai Tang
Yi Huang Tang

Cautions:


Generally Safe. Use cautiously in cold and weakness of the digestion

Main Preparations used: