Whole herbsHeat-clearingHerba Taraxaci

Pu Gong Ying (Dandelion)

Q: What is Pu Gong Ying? Are Zi Hua Di Ding, Ye Ju Hua and Yu Xing Cao the same?

Official Pu Gong Ying (蒲公英) is the dried whole plant of Taraxacum mongolicum, Taraxacum borealisinense or several species of the same genus . The pharmacopoeial name is Taraxaci Herba . Zi Hua Di Ding is bitter-acrid and cold: clears heat, resolves toxin, cools Blood and disperses swelling, leaning to the Blood aspect. Ye Ju Hua is bitter-acrid and slightly cold: clears heat, resolves toxin, drains fire and calms the Liver. Yu Xing Cao is acrid and slightly cold: clears heat, resolves toxin, disperses abscess, expels pus and promotes urination to free strangury—better for Lung abscess. Write Pu Gong Ying. Use caution when there is no excess heat, and in yin abscess.

Q: What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Pu Gong Ying?

According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Pu Gong Ying is bitter, sweet and cold , enters the Liver and Stomach channels, and acts to clear heat, resolve toxin, disperse swelling, dissipate nodes and promote urination to free strangury . It is used for boils and swollen toxin, breast abscess, scrofula, red eyes, Lung abscess, intestinal abscess, damp-heat jaundice and painful heat strangury. Bitter-sweet and cold, it suits heat-toxin sores and heat strangury—not non-excess-heat patterns, yin abscess or Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold.

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

The pharmacopoeial decoction dose is 10–15 g . Externally, a suitable amount of fresh herb is used. It is not a four-season “dandelion fire-draining tea.” Too large a dose can loosen the stool. Without excess heat, cold only injures Spleen yang. Breast abscess and heat strangury need a practitioner to name a short course.

Q: How do you choose and store Pu Gong Ying?

Choose wrinkled whole plants, oblanceolate leaves, a hollow scape, a yellow capitulum, a faint odor and a slightly bitter taste . Moldy, moth-eaten, fluff-only or dirty lots are discarded. Store ventilated and dry against moisture and moths. Buy pharmacopoeial Pu Gong Ying; do not replace clearing heat, resolving toxin, dispersing swelling, dissipating nodes and freeing strangury with Tokyo violet or tea bags by equal weight.

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

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Last reviewed Oct 13, 2026

Quick Facts

Latin Name	Herba Taraxaci
Chinese Name & Pinyin	蒲公英 · Pu Gong Ying
Medicinal Part	Whole herbs
The herb	Pu Gong Ying is the dried whole herb of the official dandelions above. Zi Hua Di Ding and Tian Kui Zi are different official drugs.
Nature and channels	Bitter, sweet, cold. Enters the Liver and Stomach. Bitterness resolves toxin. Sweetness moderates. Cold reduces swelling, dissipates nodules, promotes urine, and treats strangury.
Pharmacopoeia line	Clears heat and resolves toxin. Reduces swelling and dissipates nodules. Promotes urination and treats strangury. Used for boils, breast abscess, scrofula, red eyes, sore throat, Lung abscess, intestinal abscess, damp-heat jaundice, and hot strangury with hesitant pain.
Pattern cues	Breast abscess. Hot strangury. Jaundice. Sore throat. Boils. Red tongue with yellow coating.
In this article	Pu Gong Ying versus Zi Hua Di Ding, Tian Kui Zi, and Yin Chen. Reducing swelling and treating strangury versus “liver detox” marketing. Why abscesses need a clinic. Who should skip it.

What Is Pu Gong Ying?

Pu Gong Ying (蒲公英; Pú Gōng Yīng; Latin: Taraxaci Herba; English: dandelion) is the dried whole herb of Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz., Taraxacum borealisinense, or related official species. In Chinese medicine it is a heat-clearing, toxin-resolving herb. It is bitter, sweet, and cold, enters the Liver and Stomach channels, and its core actions are to clear heat and resolve toxin, reduce swelling and dissipate nodules, and promote urination and treat strangury. The teaching point is breast abscess and hot strangury. It is not Zi Hua Di Ding. Tokyo violet cools the blood and reduces swelling, and is mentioned more for boils and erysipelas. Dandelion reduces swelling and dissipates nodules, and is used more widely for breast abscess, damp-heat jaundice, and hot strangury. Roadside dandelion is not the official piece. Breast abscess, Lung abscess, and intestinal abscess need a clinic. A cold weak spleen is a contraindication. It is not a year-round “liver detox tea” for people with no heat.

It is used most often for three patterns:

Boils, breast abscess, scrofula — breast abscess needs a clinic
Hot strangury with hesitant pain, damp-heat jaundice
Lung abscess, intestinal abscess, red eyes, sore throat — abscesses need a clinic

The usual decoction dose is 10–15 g. Bitter, sweet, and cold, it is not a daily “dandelion tea.” Bitter cold with no heat-toxin and no damp-heat injures the spleen and stomach.

When heat-toxin binds, or damp-heat pours down, breast abscess, burning urine, and red eyes are common. Pu Gong Ying is bitter, sweet, and cold. It clears, dissipates nodules, and treats strangury, which is why it appears in breast-abscess and hot-strangury formulas. It cools and drains more than it supports. Loose stools and fear of cold get worse if more clearing is added.

Pu Gong Ying is not a catch-all toxin or dampness herb. In middle-cold diarrhea, or when there is no heat and no dampness, using it alone can bitter-cool and injure the stomach. Breast abscess and intestinal abscess need a clinic first. Whether it belongs in a formula should be decided by a licensed Chinese medicine practitioner after pattern diagnosis.

Pu Gong Ying: Materia Medica Profile

Identification & Quality Standard

Herba Taraxaci

Botanical Origin

The dried whole herb of Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz.(Asteraceae)

Production Regions

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Shaanxi, Hebei and northeastern areas.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material is grayish-green, without foreign matter, and dry.

Macroscopic Features

Wrinkled lumps, root is cylindrical, often curled, 3~7cm long, brown, root head has hairs, leaves are broken, intact leaf is inverse lanceolate, dark grayish-green or greenish-brown, edge is shallow cracked or with pinnate incision, base is downy and stem-like, lower surface has obvious main veins, one or more scales, flower head grows from the apex, yellowish-brown or pale yellowish-white, sometimes with numerous obvious long elliptical achenes with white hairs. faint odor, slightly bitter taste.

3 Regional Sources and Quality Identification

Historically, high-quality Pu Gong Ying (Dandelion) comes from regions like Hebei, Shandong, and Henan.

Quality Check: Premium dried herbs should feature brownish wrinkled roots, dark green leaves, a faint natural herbal scent, and a slightly bitter taste.
Beware of Mix-ups: It can sometimes be confused with other similar weeds like the sow thistle (Ku Ju Cai), which lacks the deep leaf lobes and has a different seed structure.

Traditional Properties & Historical Lineage

Nature, Flavour & Channel Tropism

Sweet, Slightly bitter; ColdLiverStomach

1. 2 Historical Records

Pu Gong Ying (Dandelion) has a rich history in ancient TCM texts:

Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing classified it as a "top-grade" herb, noting its use for breast swellings.
Xin Xiu Ben Cao praised its ability to quickly resolve breast abscesses when boiled as a tea or applied topically.
De Pei Ben Cao noted that when paired with Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle Flower), it is excellent for skin sores, and with licorice, it clears stomach fire.

2. 3 Evolution of TCM Understanding

Over centuries, TCM doctors refined their understanding of this herb:

Targeted Relief: Famous physician Zhang Xichun emphasized its power to dissolve localized stagnation, especially in the breast and throat.
Not a Solo Herb: Many experts advise against using it alone for long periods due to its strong cooling nature.
Constitution Matters: It is not a generic "heat-clearing" herb for everyone. If a patient has a weak, cold digestive system (cold-deficiency), taking this herb can actually worsen their symptoms.

Core Efficacies & Traditional Applications

Traditional Functions

Clears heat, resolves toxin, resolves swelling, eliminates binds. Apply to upper respiratory tract infection, conjunctivitis, mumps, hyperglycemia, acute mastitis and swelling pain, gastritis, diarrhea, hepatitis, cholecystitis, acute appendicitis, urinary tract infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, abscess, boils, furuncle, sore, pharyngitis, acute mastitis, lymphadenitis, scrofula, furuncle toxin and swelling sore, acute conjunctivitis, cold fever, acute tonsillitis, acute bronchitis, urinary tract infection.

1. 1 First Primary Action: Clearing Heat Pathogens

The primary traditional function of Pu Gong Ying (Dandelion) is to clear heat from the Liver and Stomach meridians.

Common Symptoms: It is traditionally used for discomforts caused by internal heat build-up, such as sore throats, red and swollen gums, bad breath, dry mouth, a burning sensation in the stomach, and dry stools.
Common Pairings: It is often paired with Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle Flower) to boost overall heat-clearing, Lu Gen (Reed Rhizome) for stomach heat, or Ju Hua (Chrysanthemum Flower) for liver heat.
Caution: If you have a "Spleen and Stomach cold-deficiency" (you often feel cold, have loose stools, or get stomach aches after catching a chill), you should avoid using this on your own, as its cold nature can worsen your digestive issues.

2. 2 Second Primary Action: Dissipating Stagnation and Nodules

Its second major function is breaking down internal stagnation and lumps.

Common Symptoms: It is heavily utilized in TCM for localized swellings, such as early-stage breast lumps, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, skin boils, or internal blockages in the lungs and intestines.
Common Pairings: For nodules, it is often combined with Xia Ku Cao (Prunella Spike) for neck lumps, Zhe Bei Mu (Thunberg Fritillary Bulb) for breast nodules, or Yu Xing Cao (Heartleaf Houttuynia) for lung heat.
Caution: If your swelling is "cold" in nature (pale in color, only slightly painful, accompanied by a feeling of coldness), do not use Pu Gong Ying (Dandelion), as it could slow down the healing process.

3. 3 Common Single Herb Pairing: The Herb Pair

A classic and highly effective TCM pairing is Pu Gong Ying (Dandelion) with Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle Flower).

Synergy: While Pu Gong Ying focuses on Liver and Stomach heat and shrinking nodules, Jin Yin Hua is excellent at clearing systemic heat-toxins. Together, they form a powerful duo for treating sore throats, skin boils, and early-stage breast swellings caused by toxic heat.
Note: This powerful combo should be used under a practitioner's guidance. Even if you show signs of heat, using this pair indiscriminately can damage your digestive energy if your underlying constitution is weak.

Modern Research

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

1. 1 Key Chemical Components

Modern science has identified several active compounds in the plant, including flavonoids (like luteolin and quercetin), triterpenes, and organic acids. While lab tests show these compounds have antioxidant properties, human clinical trials on single extracts are still inconclusive.

2. 2 Modern Pharmacological Focus

Current scientific research on Pu Gong Ying (Dandelion) is mostly limited to labs and animal models. Researchers are mainly looking into:

Its effects on inflammatory cells in test tubes.
Potential regulation of metabolic markers in animals.
Antibacterial effects in petri dishes.

3. 3 Limitations of Modern Research

It is important to view modern studies through a critical lens:

Lab vs. Real Life: What works in a petri dish or a mouse doesn't automatically translate to human healing.
Extracts vs. Whole Herbs: Labs often use highly purified, concentrated single compounds. This is completely different from a traditional TCM decoction that utilizes the synergy of the whole plant.
Inconsistent Methods: Different studies use different extraction methods and dosages, making it hard to draw universal conclusions.
The Holistic View: The healing power of Pu Gong Ying (Dandelion) comes from the interaction of all its compounds together. We cannot judge the entire herb's value based on just one isolated chemical.

Comparing Similar Herbs

1. 2 Similarities with Comparable Herbs

Let's compare it with Zi Hua Di Ding (Tokyo Violet Herb).

Both clear heat-toxins and resolve nodules.
Both are traditionally used for skin boils, sores, and swollen throats.
Both are cold in nature, meaning neither should be used long-term, especially by people with a weak, cold digestive system.

2. 3 Core Differences

Nature and Flavor: While both are cold, Pu Gong Ying is sweet and bitter, making it slightly more gentle. Zi Hua Di Ding is strictly bitter, making its purging action much stronger and more direct.
Primary Focus: Pu Gong Ying specifically targets the Liver and Stomach (great for swollen gums, stomach heat, and breast nodules). Zi Hua Di Ding focuses on clearing systemic and surface-level heat-toxins (better for severe, red, painful skin sores and boils).
Applicable Symptoms: Use Pu Gong Ying when you have signs of internal heat (dry mouth, bad breath, constipation). Use Zi Hua Di Ding when you have severe surface infections, boils with pus, or intense localized redness.

3. 4 One-Sentence Summary

Pu Gong Ying (Dandelion) is your go-to for clearing Liver/Stomach heat and gently resolving lumps, while Zi Hua Di Ding (Tokyo Violet Herb) is a stronger, more direct herb for severe skin surface boils and systemic heat-toxins.

Classical Formulas Containing Pu Gong Ying

Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin

五味消毒飲

Formula CategoryHeat-Clearing FormulasPrimary PatternDamp-HeatPrimary FunctionClear heat, resolve toxin, disperse soresRelated ConditionsFever·Sore Throat

View Formula Profile Read Complete Guide

Formulas vs. Single Herbs

Synergy is Key: A formula is a balanced team. The healing power comes from how the herbs interact, so a single herb cannot simply replicate a full formula's effects.
Holistic Balance: The exact dosage and combination in a formula affect the entire body. Never try to mix or alter these formulas at home based on internet articles.

Diet & Daily Home Use

1. 1 Home Tea or Dietary Application

Pu Gong Ying Soothing Tea:
- Ingredients: 5g Pu Gong Ying (Dandelion), 3g Lu Gen (Reed Rhizome), 2g Ju Hua (Chrysanthemum Flower).
- Method: Place the herbs in a cup, steep in boiling water, and cover for 5 minutes. You can refill with hot water until the taste fades.
- Best For: Mild dry mouth, slightly swollen gums, or dry stools during spring and summer.
- Limits: Drink 2-3 times a week (1 cup per session). Do not drink every day.
- Caution: Strictly avoid if you have a cold-deficient stomach (loose stools, fear of cold) or if you are pregnant. Always buy standardized dried herbs from a reputable pharmacy, not wild-foraged ones of unknown safety.

2. 2 Preparation Differences

Raw vs. Charred: Sheng Pu Gong Ying (Raw) is standard for clearing heat and nodules. Pu Gong Ying Tan (Charred)—roasted until blackened—is much milder and has astringent properties, traditionally used to help manage mild bleeding issues (like slight gum bleeding).
Brewing: At home, simply boil the raw dried herb for 10-15 minutes. No special preparation is needed.
Weight Conversion: 10g of dried herb does not equal 10g of fresh herb or 10g of concentrated extract. Always stick to the specific form and dosage recommended.

3. 3 Dosage and Usage Cycle

Dosage: Clinical prescriptions usually range from 10 to 15 grams. For home dietary use, keep it to 3 to 5 grams.
Cycle: Do not use it continuously. A home cycle should not exceed 1 week. Long-term use of cold herbs will damage your digestion. Vulnerable groups must consult a doctor before using.

Contraindications & Safety Warnings

1. 1 Not Suitable For

Cold-Deficient Constitutions: If you easily feel cold, have loose stools, or get an upset stomach from cold drinks, avoid this herb.
Pregnancy and Nursing: Safety data is insufficient. Always consult your doctor first.
Children and Elderly: Their digestive systems are more sensitive to cold-natured herbs.
Liver/Kidney Issues: Do not self-prescribe, as it may add unnecessary stress to your organs.
Allergies: If you are allergic to plants in the Asteraceae family (like daisies, chrysanthemums, or ragweed), you may be allergic to dandelion.
Medical Treatments: If you are on immunosuppressants or chemotherapy, consult your doctor to avoid interactions.

2. 2 Drug Interactions and Dietary Notes

Medications: Pu Gong Ying may enhance the effects of blood thinners (increasing bleeding risk), blood pressure medications, and blood sugar drugs (potentially causing levels to drop too low).
Spacing: If you are taking Western medications, separate them from herbal teas by at least 1 to 2 hours.
Diet: Avoid combining this with other random herbs or supplements unless guided by a professional.

3. 3 Adverse Reactions and Risks

Digestive Upset: Taking too much can cause mild stomach pain, nausea, or diarrhea.
Allergic Reactions: Watch out for rashes, itching, or swelling.
When to Stop: If you experience severe allergic reactions, persistent vomiting, breathing difficulties, or a rapid worsening of your symptoms, stop using it immediately and seek medical attention. Do not exceed the recommended dietary doses to speed up recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pu Gong Ying

What is Pu Gong Ying? Are Zi Hua Di Ding, Ye Ju Hua and Yu Xing Cao the same?

Official Pu Gong Ying (蒲公英) is the dried whole plant of Taraxacum mongolicum, Taraxacum borealisinense or several species of the same genus. The pharmacopoeial name is Taraxaci Herba. Zi Hua Di Ding is bitter-acrid and cold: clears heat, resolves toxin, cools Blood and disperses swelling, leaning to the Blood aspect. Ye Ju Hua is bitter-acrid and slightly cold: clears heat, resolves toxin, drains fire and calms the Liver. Yu Xing Cao is acrid and slightly cold: clears heat, resolves toxin, disperses abscess, expels pus and promotes urination to free strangury—better for Lung abscess. Write Pu Gong Ying. Use caution when there is no excess heat, and in yin abscess.

What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Pu Gong Ying?

According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Pu Gong Ying is bitter, sweet and cold, enters the Liver and Stomach channels, and acts to clear heat, resolve toxin, disperse swelling, dissipate nodes and promote urination to free strangury. It is used for boils and swollen toxin, breast abscess, scrofula, red eyes, Lung abscess, intestinal abscess, damp-heat jaundice and painful heat strangury. Bitter-sweet and cold, it suits heat-toxin sores and heat strangury—not non-excess-heat patterns, yin abscess or Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold.

Does Pu Gong Ying need special processing? Can Zi Hua Di Ding replace it?

Remove foreign matter, wash, cut into sections and dry. Fresh material may be pounded for a poultice under a separate instruction. Tokyo violet leans to cooling Blood and dispersing swelling; it cannot replace promoting urination and freeing strangury by equal weight. Commercial dandelion tea is not equal-weight pieces and should not be a long-term fire-draining tea.

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

The pharmacopoeial decoction dose is 10–15 g. Externally, a suitable amount of fresh herb is used. It is not a four-season “dandelion fire-draining tea.” Too large a dose can loosen the stool. Without excess heat, cold only injures Spleen yang. Breast abscess and heat strangury need a practitioner to name a short course.

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

Use caution when there is no excess heat, and in yin abscess. Unsuitable in Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold with loose stool. Pregnancy needs a practitioner’s assessment. Reduce or stop if diarrhea appears. Breast abscess with high fever, right-lower abdominal pain and deepening jaundice need medical care.

Can Pu Gong Ying clear heat, resolve toxin, disperse swelling, dissipate nodes and free strangury?

It can help heat-toxin boils, breast abscess and heat strangury. Boils join honeysuckle, wild chrysanthemum, Tokyo violet and semiaquilegia in Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin. Breast abscess may join trichosanthes fruit, honeysuckle and burdock fruit. It clears heat, resolves toxin, disperses swelling, dissipates nodes and frees strangury—not a specific for every breast lump or every urinary stone.

Can Pu Gong Ying be drunk daily as a sore, strangury or fire-draining tea?

Heat-toxin sores and heat strangury may enter a short formula; vacuity cold only loosens the stool further as it clears. “Dandelion must free milk and dissolve stones” does not replace breast and urinary assessment. Clearing heat, resolving toxin, dispersing swelling, dissipating nodes and freeing strangury should name 10–15 g.

How do you choose among Pu Gong Ying, Zi Hua Di Ding, Ye Ju Hua, Yu Xing Cao and Che Qian Zi?

Dandelion is bitter-sweet and cold: clears heat, resolves toxin, disperses swelling, dissipates nodes and frees strangury—breast abscess, intestinal abscess and heat strangury. Tokyo violet is bitter-acrid and cold: clears heat, resolves toxin, cools Blood and disperses swelling—boils and erysipelas, leaning to the Blood aspect. Wild chrysanthemum is bitter-acrid and slightly cold: clears heat, resolves toxin, drains fire and calms the Liver—also red eyes. Houttuynia is acrid and slightly cold: clears heat, resolves toxin, disperses abscess and expels pus—better for Lung abscess. Plantago seed is sweet-cold: clears heat, promotes urination, frees strangury, percolates dampness, stops diarrhea, brightens the eyes and dispels phlegm—heat strangury and summer-damp diarrhea. Breast abscess and heat strangury favor Pu Gong Ying (Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin); Blood-aspect boils favor Zi Hua Di Ding; red eyes favor Ye Ju Hua; Lung abscess favors Yu Xing Cao; heat strangury with diarrhea favors Che Qian Zi. They may be paired; Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold forbids large Pu Gong Ying and Zi Hua Di Ding.

Which herbs is Pu Gong Ying combined with? What are the representative formulas?

Boils join honeysuckle, wild chrysanthemum, Tokyo violet and semiaquilegia in Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin. Intestinal abscess may join rhubarb, moutan and peach kernel in a Da Huang Mu Dan Tang type modification. Write Pu Gong Ying 10–15 g; do not replace freeing strangury with Tokyo violet by equal weight.

How do you choose and store Pu Gong Ying?

Choose wrinkled whole plants, oblanceolate leaves, a hollow scape, a yellow capitulum, a faint odor and a slightly bitter taste. Moldy, moth-eaten, fluff-only or dirty lots are discarded. Store ventilated and dry against moisture and moths. Buy pharmacopoeial Pu Gong Ying; do not replace clearing heat, resolving toxin, dispersing swelling, dissipating nodes and freeing strangury with Tokyo violet or tea bags by equal weight.

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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.