Pogonatherum, Jin Si Cao 金丝草

Jin Si Cao, Bi Zi Cao (TCM)
Picture Pogonatherum crinitum
Thunberg, C.P., Flora Japonica (1784)

Picture Pogonatherum crinitum
(Photo by 天問 小窩) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:


Pogonatherum crinitum (syn. Pogonantherum crinitum, Andropogon crinitum)

Parts used:


Whole Herb

Temperature & Taste:


Cool, dry. Sweet

Classification:


C. Clear Damp, Promote Urine

Uses:


1. Clears Heat and Damp, Promotes Urine:
-Edema from Damp or Damp-Heat
-Dysuria from Urinary tract infections, Cystitis or Nephritis
-Turbid urine from Damp accumulation
-Leukorrhea, Spermatorrhea
-Jaundice
-Diabetes with frequent urination

2. Clears Heat, Resists Poison:
-Fever, Cold, Influenza from Heat
-also for Summer-heat (Barefoot Doctors Manual)


Dose:


Decoction: 5–15 grams (30–60 grams fresh–Barefoot Doctors Manual)

Main Combinations:


1. Leukorrhea:
i. from Damp-Heat, Pogoatherum with Phellodendron Huang Bai
ii. from Damp, Pogoatherum with Ginkgo Semen Bai Guo
2. Turbid Urine from Damp, Pogoatherum with Plantain seed (Che Qian Zi), Poria Fu Ling
3. Urinary Tract Infection:
i. from Damp-Heat, Pogoatherum with Plantain seed (Che Qian Zi), Imperata Bai Mao Gen, Knotgrass Bian Xu
ii. with stronger Heat, Pogoatherum with Plantain seed (Che Qian Zi), Phellodendron Huang Bai, Poria Rubra Chi Fu Ling
4. Dysuria, Pogonatherum with Ludwigia Shui Ding Xiang.
5. Diabetes, Pogonatherum with Euphoria longan flower (Long Yan Hua)
6. Nephritis, Pogonatherum with Polygonum Bian Xu, Dianthus Qu Mai, Elephantopus Ding Shu Xiu
7. Summer-heat, Pogonatherum with Bulbophyllum inconspicuum Mai Hu (Barefoot Doctors Manual)

Major Formulas:



Cautions:


None noted

Main Preparations used: