FlowersHeat-clearingPrunellae Spica

Xia Ku Cao (Common Selfheal Spike)

A practical guide to Xia Ku Cao: what it is, how Traditional Chinese Medicine uses it, the classical formulas it appears in, and who should be careful with it.

View Herb Profile →

Last reviewed Oct 28, 2026

Quick Facts

Latin Name	Prunellae Spica
Chinese Name & Pinyin	夏枯草 · Xia Ku Cao
Medicinal Part	Flowers
The item	Xia Ku Cao is the dried fruit spike of selfheal, a Lamiaceae plant. Ju Hua is not this herb. It usually goes into decoctions and light teas.
Nature and channels	Bitter, acrid, cold. Enters the Liver and Gallbladder. Bitter acrid cold drains liver-gallbladder fire, brightens the eyes, and scatters lumps.
Pharmacopoeia line	Clears liver fire and brightens the eyes, scatters nodulation and lumps. Used for headache and dizziness, red swollen painful eyes, scrofula, goiter-like lumps, and breast abscess swelling.
Pattern cues	Excess liver fire. Red painful eyes. Neck lumps. Breast nodules. Irritability with poor sleep.
In this article	Xia Ku Cao versus Ju Hua. Clearing liver fire versus scattering lumps. Why the cold nature is a caution. Why lumps need a clinic. Who should skip it.

What Is Xia Ku Cao?

Xia Ku Cao (夏枯草; Xià Kū Cǎo; Latin: Spica Prunellae; English: selfheal spike) in the current pharmacopoeia is the dried fruit spike of Prunella vulgaris, a Lamiaceae plant harvested in early autumn when the spikes have dried and turned brown. It is bitter, acrid, and cold, enters the Liver and Gallbladder channels, and its core actions are to clear liver fire and brighten the eyes, and to scatter bound lumps and nodulation. It usually goes into decoctions and light herbal teas. The usual amount is 9–15 g. It needs no pre-boiling, late addition, or bagging. In daily food therapy it appears in small-dose teas with Ju Hua and Gou Qi.

It is not Ju Hua. Chrysanthemum is cold, pungent, bitter, and sweet, entering the Liver and Lung channels; it scatters head-face wind-heat outward and upward, while Xia Ku Cao drains downward and inward and also dissolves lumps. Spleen-stomach cold with frequent abdominal pain and diarrhea is a poor match. Pregnancy and breastfeeding need a clinic first. Cold-deficient constitutions need pattern diagnosis. Do not take it long on your own.

It is used most often for three patterns:

Excess liver fire: headache, dizziness, red painful dry eyes, bitter mouth
Bound lumps: neck scrofula, breast nodules, painful breast swelling — seek care
Daily liver-clearing tea after late nights and irritability

Bitter, acrid, and cold, it is not a daily “liver-clearing tea” to keep increasing. Draining when there is no liver fire injures the spleen-stomach and consumes qi.

When liver-gallbladder fire flares upward, the head and face feel the strain: headache, red painful eyes, and irritability; when qi and phlegm bind below, neck lumps and breast nodules appear. Xia Ku Cao is bitter, acrid, and cold. It drains fire downward and scatters bound lumps, which is why it appears in Xia Ku Cao Tang (Prunella Decoction)–type formulas. It drains more than it builds. A cold weak spleen and stomach, with no fire, get worse if more is added.

Xia Ku Cao is not a catch-all eye tea or lump herb. In spleen-stomach cold, with no liver fire, or in pregnancy, using it alone is a poor match. Raw or stir-fried, and whether it belongs in a formula, should be decided by a licensed Chinese medicine practitioner after pattern diagnosis.

Xia Ku Cao: Materia Medica Profile

Identification & Quality Standard

Prunellae Spica

Botanical Origin

The dried fruit spike of Prunella vulgaris L.(Lamiaceae)

Production Regions

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material is purplish-brown, with large fruit spike.

Macroscopic Features

Rod-like shape, slightly flat, 1.5~8cm long, 0.8~1.5cm diameter, pale brown to brownish-red. Whole fruit spike formed by numerous whorls of calyxes and buds, each has 2 opposing bracts; fan-shaped, apex is pointed tail-like, distinct vein striations, externally covered white hairs. Every bract has 3 flowers inside, corolla has often fallen off, persistent calyx is 2-liped, 4 small nuts inside, oval, and brown, pointed end has white raised up. Light and brittle texture, slightly clear aromatic odor, tasteless.

Main Regions and Quality Identification

Traditional materia medica and industry experience value regions such as Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui, though actual quality also depends on variety, harvest time, processing, and storage. In appearance, good-quality dried spikes are light brown to brownish-red with tightly packed spikelets, feel light and slightly firm, and carry a faint fresh-grass scent with no musty or scorched smell. The processed form is usually lightly stir-fried: slightly darker, a touch more aromatic, and crisper. Common look-alikes are the fruit spikes of other Lamiaceae plants — for example Yi Mu Cao (Motherwort), whose spikes are thinner, darker green, and far less fragrant, without Prunella's characteristic light brownish-red tone.

Traditional Properties & Historical Lineage

Nature, Flavour & Channel Tropism

Acrid, Bitter; ColdLiverGallbladder

1. Records in Classic Materia Medica

Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing: listed as a lower-grade herb; treats cold-heat, scrofula, and head sores, breaks accumulations, disperses goiter-like lumps, and helps leg swelling and damp bi.
Ming Yi Bie Lu: adds that it can "lighten the body."
Ben Cao Gang Mu: notes it "treats eye pain and jaundice."
De Pei Ben Cao: records it with Dang Gui for eye pain with tearing, and with Xiang Fu for painful, swollen breast abscesses.

2. How Views of Its Nature Changed

Different physicians saw it differently. Some stressed its clearing-and-dissolving side, using it mainly for scrofula and bound-qi conditions; others focused on its liver-clearing, eye-benefiting action for red swollen eyes; still others emphasized its limits — that cold-deficient constitutions should not use it alone, lest the cold harm the upright qi. These differing emphases made its use more targeted, and helped prevent casual misuse.

Core Efficacies & Traditional Applications

Traditional Functions

Clears heat, drains fire, brightens the eyes, and disperses nodules and swelling.

1. First Direction: Clearing Liver Fire

The traditional action is to clear liver-gallbladder fire, easing fire-driven head-face discomfort. It is typically seen in headache with dizziness, red swollen eyes, dry eyes, and a bitter mouth with dry throat, often with irritability and poor sleep. It is usually combined with other liver-fire clearing herbs such as Ju Hua and Jue Ming Zi to strengthen the effect. People with spleen-stomach cold should not use it on their own, since the cold nature may worsen stomach discomfort, abdominal pain, or diarrhea.

2. Second Direction: Dissolving Lumps

The traditional action is to dissolve bound lumps in the body, easing lump-type conditions that come from qi stagnation with phlegm binding. It is typically seen in neck scrofula, painful breast swelling, and breast nodules, often with emotional strain and chest-flank tightness. It is usually combined with lump-dissolving herbs such as Zhe Bei Mu and Mu Li to help free the bound qi. People with weak digestion should not self-use it long-term in large amounts, to avoid harming spleen-stomach qi.

3. Classic Pairing: Xia Ku Cao With Ju Hua

The classic herb pair is Xia Ku Cao with Ju Hua. Ju Hua enters the liver and lung, clearing lung and liver fire; Xia Ku Cao enters the liver and gallbladder, focusing on liver-gallbladder fire. Together they synergistically strengthen liver-fire clearing, suiting fire-driven red swollen eyes, headache, and dizziness, with a stronger clearing-and-draining effect — yet their combined coldness is not overly fierce. Use requires a practitioner's pattern diagnosis to confirm the fire is truly liver-fire excess; cold-deficient constitutions are not suitable.

Modern Research

Modern research offers useful context, but Traditional Chinese Medicine prescribes on whole-pattern diagnosis rather than isolated compounds.

1. Main Chemical Constituents

Detected constituents include triterpenoid saponins, flavonoids, coumarins, organic acids, plus volatile oils and polysaccharides. In vitro tests have observed some antioxidant activity among certain triterpenoid saponins; animal experiments have shown some anti-inflammatory response to Prunella extracts. There is not yet sufficient human clinical research to draw firm conclusions about clinical efficacy, and studies are still ongoing.

2. Current Research Directions

Work mainly focuses on activity screening of the constituents and on the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects seen in vitro and in animals. Studies show that some components can scavenge free radicals and reduce oxidative damage in test settings.

3. Limitations of Current Research

Lab results are not clinical efficacy — in vitro and animal findings cannot be equated with what happens after a person takes the herb.
Extracts and monomers are not the same as traditional decoction pieces — the concentrations used in experiments differ greatly from the amounts of cut herb a person drinks.
Methods and doses vary between studies, so results may differ.
A single component does not define the whole herb — the full effect comes from many components working together.

Comparing Similar Herbs

1. What They Share

Both have clearing liver fire as a main action.
Both are used for fire-driven red swollen eyes, headache, and dizziness.
Both may appear in liver-clearing teas or light recipes.
Both require attention to constitution and dose, to avoid cold harming the upright qi.

2. The Key Differences: Xia Ku Cao vs. Ju Hua

Nature and flavors: Xia Ku Cao is cold, bitter and pungent, entering the liver and gallbladder, with a settling tendency; Ju Hua is cold, pungent, bitter and sweet, entering the liver and lung, with a scattering tendency.
Focus: Xia Ku Cao's strength is clearing liver-gallbladder fire while also dissolving lumps — more inward, downward clearing; Ju Hua's strength is clearing lung-liver fire while scattering head-face wind-heat — more outward, upward scattering.
Qi tendency: Xia Ku Cao drains and dissolves, a descending tendency that guides pathogens down and out; Ju Hua scatters and clears, a slightly rising tendency that guides pathogens out and up.
Best fit: Xia Ku Cao suits liver-fire excess with lumps — neck scrofula, painful breast swelling; Ju Hua suits liver-fire excess with head-face wind-heat — red eyes, headache with wind-heat signs.
Not suitable: Xia Ku Cao's cold is stronger — those with spleen-stomach cold or frequent abdominal pain and diarrhea should avoid it; Ju Hua is cold but lighter, so cold-deficient people should be cautious but it is less likely to cause marked stomach upset.
Use scenes: Xia Ku Cao appears in lump-dissolving formulas and food therapy; Ju Hua appears in head-face wind-heat teas and formulas, better for everyday mild head-face care.

3. One-Sentence Summary

Simply put, Xia Ku Cao leans toward clearing liver-gallbladder fire while dissolving lumps, whereas Ju Hua leans toward clearing lung-liver fire while scattering head-face wind-heat. Both can be used for fire-driven red swollen eyes, but they are not interchangeable.

Classical Formulas Containing Xia Ku Cao

Classic Formula 1: Xia Ku Cao Tang (Prunella Decoction)

Combination logic: Xia Ku Cao is the lord, clearing liver fire and dissolving lumps to address fire-driven lump conditions. It is paired with Dang Gui (moves blood and unblocks channels) and Bai Shao (nourishes blood and softens the liver), which temper its cold and strengthen the overall regulation. Why not use it alone? Because its clearing-and-scattering power is strong, and used alone it may harm the upright qi; adding blood-nourishing, blood-moving herbs makes the whole formula gentler, balancing lump-dissolving with support for the upright.

Traditional use: the formula was traditionally used for lump-type conditions — scrofula (cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis) and breast abscess (acute mastitis) — aimed at the pattern of qi-phlegm binding with liver-fire excess.

Modern note: modern clinical use requires a doctor's pattern diagnosis and standard care. A formula name resembling a disease does not mean you should apply it to yourself; a professional must judge whether it fits your pattern.

Classic Formula 2: Xia Ku Cao San (Prunella Powder)

Combination logic: Xia Ku Cao is the lord, clearing liver fire and brightening the eyes, to address fire-driven red swollen eyes, headache, and dizziness. It is paired with Ju Hua and Jue Ming Zi, which strengthen liver-fire clearing and eye-brightening, while Ju Hua's scattering nature assists Xia Ku Cao's clearing. Why not use it alone? Because its clearing alone is single-faceted; adding the pair covers fire in different locations, making the regulation more complete.

Traditional use: the formula was traditionally used for fire-driven red swollen eyes, headache with dizziness, and dry eyes.

Modern note: modern clinical use requires professional diagnosis and standard care; do not self-take, and let a practitioner adjust the combination and dose to your condition.

Formulas vs. Single Herbs

A formula is many herbs working together, using lord-minister-assistant-courier combinations to cover different patterns and body needs.
A single herb cannot replicate a full formula — the combination tempers each herb's bias and boosts the effect; a lone herb acts in a comparatively narrow way.
Dose and combination in a formula are holistic — every amount is weighed, all working toward one goal.
Don't build your own formula from online articles — such introductions often lack pattern differentiation and may not fit your constitution, bringing safety risks.

A common misunderstanding: that because a herb works inside a formula, taking it alone will work the same way. It will not — the single herb's action and the formula's overall action are different and cannot be equated.

Diet & Daily Home Use

1. Home Teas and Porridge

Tea — Xia Ku Cao with Ju Hua and Gou Qi: Xia Ku Cao 3 g, Ju Hua 2 g, Gou Qi 2 g. Steep in boiling water and let sit 10 minutes. Suited to everyday dry eyes and mild headache from late nights or irritability. Adults: 2–3 times a week, one cup each time. Not for those with spleen-stomach cold or frequent abdominal pain and diarrhea; pregnant women are advised against it.

Porridge — Xia Ku Cao with Fu Ling: Xia Ku Cao 5 g, Fu Ling 10 g, Jing Mi 50 g. Boil the Xia Ku Cao and take the liquid, then cook it with Fu Ling and rice into porridge. Suited to liver-fire excess with mild edema and poor appetite. Adults: 1–2 times a month. Not for those allergic to Fu Ling or Xia Ku Cao; cold-deficient constitutions should be cautious.

A reminder: Xia Ku Cao is a medicinal herb, not an ordinary food — it should not be used in large amounts casually, and the dose must be controlled.

2. Decoction and Processing Differences

The processed product is lightly stir-fried: slightly less cold, crisper, and easier to extract. At home, Xia Ku Cao needs no special timing (no pre-boiling, no late addition, no bagging) — simply put the pieces in a pot, add water to cover by 2–3 cm, bring to a boil, and simmer 15 minutes on low heat. Different forms cannot be converted directly: 10 g of raw cut herb is not the same as 10 g of extract — their active content and effects differ greatly.

3. Dosage and Course

The common dose in traditional prescriptions is 9–15 g; for lump-dissolving use, it may be somewhat larger. Food-therapy doses are usually 3–5 g — far below medicinal doses — for light daily regulation. Long-term continuous use is not advised: a typical course lasts no more than 1 week, and longer regulation needs a doctor or pharmacist. Special groups — pregnant women, children, the elderly — must use it under professional guidance, never deciding dose or course on their own.

Contraindications & Safety Warnings

1. Who Should Avoid It

Spleen-stomach cold — those with frequent abdominal pain, diarrhea, or cold hands and feet should not use it.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding — use cautiously, under a practitioner, to avoid the herb affecting the body's state.
Children and the elderly — weaker constitutions; use only under a doctor, never on their own.
Liver or kidney impairment — consult a doctor first to avoid added burden.
Allergy to Lamiaceae plants — may be allergic to Prunella; avoid it.
Those in special treatment — chronic patients on other medications should consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.

2. Interactions and Diet Notes

Xia Ku Cao may interact with anticoagulants, blood-pressure medications, and blood-sugar medications; if you take any of these, consult a doctor first. There is no sufficient evidence for a general "food clash" between ordinary foods, but certain herbs can interact with specific drugs — anyone on medication should ask first. If you need to take other medicines while using it, space them 1–2 hours apart to avoid affecting absorption or metabolism. There is no reliable evidence that Xia Ku Cao "clashes" with common everyday foods, so there is no need to over-worry about diet pairing.

3. Adverse Reactions and Overdose Risk

Overdose can bring stomach upset — abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea — and long-term heavy use may harm spleen-stomach qi. If marked discomfort appears, along with allergy signs (rash, itching, breathing difficulty), persistent vomiting, altered consciousness, or rapidly worsening symptoms, stop at once and seek medical care. In daily use, strictly control the dose and never raise it on your own, to stay safe.

Frequently Asked Questions About Xia Ku Cao

What is Xia Ku Cao? Are Ju Hua and Jue Ming Zi the same?

Xia Ku Cao (夏枯草) is the dried fruit spike of Prunella vulgaris (Prunellae Spica), a common Chinese herb centered on clearing Liver fire, brightening the eyes and dispersing nodules. Ju Hua disperses wind-heat and brightens the eyes, leaning to wind-heat red eyes. Jue Ming Zi clears the Liver, brightens the eyes and moistens the intestines, leaning to Liver heat with constipation. The three cannot be interchanged by equal weight. Write Xia Ku Cao. Use caution in Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold.

What is the composition and traditional use of Xia Ku Cao?

Pharmacopoeial name Xia Ku Cao, Latin Prunella vulgaris. Acrid, bitter and cold; enters the Liver and Gallbladder channels. It acts to clear Liver fire, brighten the eyes and disperse nodules and swelling. It is used for red, swollen and painful eyes, night pain of the eyes, headache and dizziness, scrofula, goiter, breast abscess, breast lumps and breast distention and pain. Clears Liver fire and disperses nodules.

How do you choose raw versus prepared? Can Ju Hua replace it?

Generally used raw after removing impurities. Ju Hua leans to dispersing wind-heat without heavy nodule-dispersing; it cannot replace the formula by equal weight. Commercial products follow regulated processing; do not self-modify.

What is the usual dosage? Can it be drunk daily as a Liver-clearing tea?

Decocted, 9-15 g. Modern use requires a practitioner to name the dose. It is not a four-season “Prunella tea.” Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold only injures further. Liver fire needs a practitioner to name a short course; it does not replace assessment.

What are the contraindications? Can it be used in pregnancy?

Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold, deficiency without fire and pregnancy require practitioner assessment. Rich in potassium; avoid with potassium-sparing drugs. Stop if loose stool or fatigue appears. Sudden vision loss or rapidly enlarging nodules need immediate medical care.

Can Xia Ku Cao clear Liver fire, brighten the eyes and disperse nodules?

It can help red, swollen and painful eyes, headache and dizziness from Liver fire flaring upward, or scrofula and goiter from phlegm-fire binding. It clears Liver fire, brightens the eyes and disperses nodules and swelling—not a specific for every red eye or every nodule.

Can Xia Ku Cao be drunk daily as a Liver-clearing, eye-brightening or nodule-dispersing tea?

Liver fire red eyes may enter a short formula; Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold only injures further. “Prunella must clear the Liver” does not replace ophthalmological or endocrine assessment. Clearing Liver fire, brightening the eyes and dispersing nodules should be named by a practitioner with form and dose.

How do you choose among Xia Ku Cao, Ju Hua, Jue Ming Zi, Long Dan Cao and Bei Mu?

Xia Ku Cao clears Liver fire while dispersing nodules, leaning to red eyes, scrofula and goiter. Ju Hua disperses wind-heat and brightens the eyes, leaning to wind-heat. Jue Ming Zi clears the Liver, brightens the eyes and moistens the intestines, leaning to Liver heat with constipation. Long Dan Cao clears Liver fire, leaning to damp-heat. Bei Mu transforms phlegm and disperses nodules, leaning to phlegm binding. Liver fire red eyes and scrofula favor Xia Ku Cao; wind-heat favors Ju Hua; constipation favors Jue Ming Zi; damp-heat favors Long Dan; phlegm binding favors Bei Mu. They may be referenced after pattern differentiation; Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold forbids large Xia Ku Cao.

How is Xia Ku Cao commonly modified? What is the representative use?

Depends on the pattern. Red eyes may add Ju Hua and Jue Ming Zi; scrofula may add Bei Mu and Xuan Shen. Write Xia Ku Cao; do not replace the nodule-dispersing action with an equal weight of Ju Hua.

How do you choose and store Xia Ku Cao?

Choose regulated Chinese medicinal materials with intact spikes. Moldy, damp, or abnormal-smelling lots are discarded. Store cool and dry. Buy “Xia Ku Cao”; do not replace clearing Liver fire and dispersing nodules with an equal weight of Ju Hua or Jue Ming Zi.

Related Products

Nong's Xia Ku Cao (Prunella Spike) Single Herb 5:1 Concentrated Granules $55.01

Hoi Tin Xia Ku Cao (Common Selfheal Spike) Single Herb 10:1 Concentrated Granules, 100 g TCM Herbal Supplement

Hoi Tin Xia Ku Cao (Common Selfheal Spike) Single Herb 10:1 Concentrated Granules $27.78

Medical Disclaimer — This article is provided for educational purposes only and describes traditional Chinese medicine concepts. It is not medical advice, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using any herb, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a diagnosed condition.