Whole herbsBlood-activatingVerbenae Herba

Ma Bian Cao (European Verbena Herb)

Q: What are the contraindications of Mabiancao? Can pregnant women use it?

Not suitable for pregnant women. Slightly toxic. Stop if nausea or abdominal pain occur. Seek immediate medical care for severe dysmenorrhea or high fever.

A practical guide to Ma Bian Cao: 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 29, 2026

Quick Facts

Latin Name	Verbenae Herba
Chinese Name & Pinyin	馬鞭草 · Ma Bian Cao
Medicinal Part	Whole herbs
The item	Ma Bian Cao is the dried aerial part of vervain. It usually goes into plain decoctions.
Nature and channels	Bitter, cool. Enters the Liver and Spleen. Bitter cool clears heat, drains dampness, invigorates blood, and disperses stasis.
Pharmacopoeia line	Clears heat and resolves toxin. Invigorates blood and frees menstruation. Benefits water and reduces swelling. Used for damp-heat dysentery, jaundice, edema, scanty urine, blood-stasis irregular menses, amenorrhea, and abdominal masses.
Pattern cues	Sticky foul stool. Yellow skin and eyes. Short red urine. Menses with clots. Dysmenorrhea.
In this article	Ma Bian Cao versus Yi Mu Cao. Clearing damp-heat versus invigorating blood. Why pregnancy is forbidden. Why jaundice and malaria need a clinic. Who should skip it.

What Is Ma Bian Cao?

Ma Bian Cao (马鞭草; Mǎ Biān Cǎo; Latin: Verbenae Herba; English: vervain) in the current pharmacopoeia is the dried aerial part of Verbena officinalis, cut when flowering in summer and autumn and used raw. It is bitter and cool, enters the Liver and Spleen channels, and its core actions are to clear heat and drain dampness, and to invigorate blood and disperse stasis. It usually goes into plain decoctions. The usual amount is 5–15 g. It needs no special decocting order — a 20-minute simmer is enough. There is no standard external use; in food therapy, a weak vervain and mung bean drink is an occasional summer option for damp-heat types.

It is not Yi Mu Cao. Motherwort is slightly cold and acrid-bitter, its blood-invigorating, menses-regulating action is stronger, and it also reduces swelling, appearing more often in postpartum patterns. Ma Bian Cao leans more to clearing damp-heat. Use caution in pregnancy — in fact it is forbidden in pregnancy. Heavy periods is a poor match. Spleen-stomach deficiency-cold, with loose stools and cold limbs, gets worse if it is added. Jaundice and malaria need a clinic first. Do not take it on your own for weeks.

It is used most often for three patterns:

Damp-heat dysentery, jaundice, edema, scanty dark urine
Blood-stasis irregular menses, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, abdominal masses
Summer-damp malaria with alternating chills and fever — seek care

Bitter and cool, it is not a daily “blood or dampness tea” to keep increasing. Draining when there is no damp-heat, in a cold weak stomach, consumes qi and blood.

When damp-heat blocks the middle, or damp-heat stasis steams the skin, dysentery, jaundice, and edema are common. Ma Bian Cao is bitter and cool. It drains damp-heat and moves stasis, which is why it appears in Ma Bian Cao Tang (Vervain Decoction)–type formulas, paired with Yin Chen and Zhi Zi. It drains more than it holds. A cold weak spleen and stomach, with no damp-heat, get worse if more is added.

Ma Bian Cao is not a catch-all blood or dampness tea. In spleen-stomach deficiency-cold, with no damp-heat or stasis, or in pregnancy, using it alone is a poor match. Whether it suits your pattern, and whether it belongs in a formula, should be decided by a licensed Chinese medicine practitioner after pattern diagnosis.

Ma Bian Cao: Materia Medica Profile

Identification & Quality Standard

Verbenae Herba

Botanical Origin

The dried aerial part of Verbena officinalis L. (Verbenaceae).

Production Regions

Produced nationwide; main production in Hubei, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Guangxi.

Quality Requirements

Superior material is green, leafy, with spikes.

Macroscopic Features

Stem quadrangular, 0.1~0.5 cm diameter; externally yellowish-green; nodes obvious; leaves opposite, mostly shrunken, ovate, pinnately lobed; spikes terminal, flowers small, calyx tubular; texture brittle; faint odor; bitter taste.

Main Regions and Quality Identification

Traditional materia medica and industry experience value the Ma Bian Cao of certain producing areas south of the Yangtze, but actual quality also depends on variety, harvest time, processing, and storage. The main producing areas cover several provinces of eastern and southeastern China; plants of different areas differ slightly in form — the flower spikes of the southern-producing plants are denser, while the leaves of the northern-producing plants are wider. On quality: good-quality Ma Bian Cao has green-brown or yellow-green stems with longitudinal ridges and sparse short hairs on the surface; mostly wrinkled, broken leaves — the intact ones show serrated edges when flattened; slender, pale-purple flower spikes; a faint odor; and a slightly bitter taste. The common look-alike is the Mu Jing leaf of the same family — its leaves are palmate compound, different from Ma Bian Cao's single opposite leaves — note the difference.

Traditional Properties & Historical Lineage

Nature, Flavour & Channel Tropism

Bitter; CoolLiverSpleen

1. Records in Classic Materia Medica

Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing: lists it as a lower grade — "governs zheng-jia, blood bi, breaks blood, and kills worms."
Ming Yi Bie Lu: supplements that it can "disperse swelling toxin and evil sores."
Xin Xiu Ben Cao: mentions that it can "treat chronic malaria and break blood."
Ben Cao Gang Mu: defines that it can "dispel carbuncle toxin, treat dysentery, invigorate blood, and free menstruation."
De Pei Ben Cao: records that "paired with Qing Hao, it treats summer malaria; paired with Sheng Di, it treats blood heat."
Zhong Hua Ben Cao: summarizes its actions as "clearing heat and resolving toxin, invigorating blood and freeing menstruation, benefiting water and reducing swelling."

These records all revolve around its core clearing-draining and blood-invigorating actions — not involving tonifying effects.

2. How Views of Its Nature Changed

Views among physicians differ: some ancient physicians stress its blood-invigorating, stasis-dispersing action, mostly for the gynecological stasis-blockage patterns of irregular menses and zheng-jia; others lean to its heat-clearing, dampness-draining effect, for the patterns of dysentery, jaundice, and edema caused by damp-heat; still others define its contraindications — pregnant women must avoid it, and it should not be used alone long-term, to avoid consuming qi and blood. This difference is not a sign of chaotic natures, but shows the flexible application of the same herb under different patterns — and from another side proves it is not a wonder drug; it must be used by pattern differentiation according to the situation.

Core Efficacies & Traditional Applications

Traditional Functions

Activates blood and disperses stasis, resolves toxin, promotes diuresis and resolves jaundice.

1. First Direction: Clearing Damp-Heat

Traditional action: clear the damp-heat pathogen in the body, improving the discomfort of damp-heat blockage.
Typical signs: mostly the patterns of damp-heat dysentery, jaundice, edema, and unsmooth urination — shown as abdominal pain and diarrhea, sticky foul stool, yellow eyes and skin, limb swelling, and short, red urine.
Usual combinations: often paired with Huang Lian, Huang Qin, and Ma Chi Xian to strengthen the heat-clearing, dampness-drying, toxin-resolving, dysentery-stopping action; for jaundice, paired with Yin Chen and Zhi Zi to strengthen the dampness-benefiting, yellow-reducing effect.
Who should not self-use: those with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold — shown as abdominal pain liking warmth, loose stool, and cold hands and feet — should not use Ma Bian Cao alone, to avoid worsening the deficiency-cold symptoms; those without damp-heat blockage — with normal stool and no yellow eyes or skin — are also not advised to self-take.

2. Second Direction: Invigorating Blood and Dispersing Stasis

Traditional action: invigorate the blood and disperse the stasis — freeing the locally blocked qi and blood, improving the discomfort of stasis.
Typical signs: mostly the patterns of stasis-blockage irregular menses, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, and zheng-jia accumulations — shown as a disordered menstrual cycle, menstrual pain, scanty menses with clots, and abdominal masses.
Usual combinations: often paired with Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong, and Hong Hua to strengthen the blood-invigorating, menstruation-freeing action; for zheng-jia accumulations, paired with San Leng and E Zhu to strengthen the stasis-breaking, accumulation-dissolving effect.
Who should not self-use: pregnant women must absolutely avoid it, to prevent miscarriage; those with heavy menses should not use it alone, to avoid worsening the bleeding; those without stasis signs — with regular menses and no abdominal masses — are also not advised to self-take.

3. Classic Pairing: Ma Bian Cao With Qing Hao

A common pair is Ma Bian Cao with Qing Hao: Qing Hao clears heat, relieves summer heat, and stops malaria; Ma Bian Cao clears damp-heat and invigorates blood to disperse stasis. Combined, they strengthen the summer-heat-clearing, dampness-benefiting, and malaria-stopping action — fitting the malaria of summer dampness, shown as alternate chills and fever, chest oppression and nausea, headache and a heavy body. This pairing is mutually coordinating: Qing Hao's summer-heat-relieving, malaria-stopping action is brought out, while Ma Bian Cao's dampness-benefiting, stasis-dispersing effect improves the damp-heat stasis state inside — use it under the physician's pattern guidance; do not pair on your own.

Modern Research

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

1. Main Chemical Constituents

The main constituents detected in the plant are terpenoids, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, and volatile oils — the terpenoids include verbascoside and lupeol, the flavonoids include luteolin and apigenin, the phenylpropanoids include caffeic acid, and the volatile oil contains limonene and eucalyptol. In in vitro experiments, some constituents show certain anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity; in animal experiments, its extract may help improve blood-rheology indicators and reduce local inflammatory responses; currently, no sufficient human clinical research reaches a clear efficacy conclusion.

2. Current Research Directions

Current pharmacological research on Ma Bian Cao mainly focuses on:

The isolation and identification of its active constituents.
Its in vitro anti-inflammatory and antibacterial actions.
Its anti-thrombotic action in animals.

Experiments show that some of its extracts inhibit Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli to a degree in vitro, and can reduce the local tissue inflammatory response in animal models — but these results cannot be directly equated with the therapeutic effect in humans.

3. Limitations of Current Research

Lab results are not clinical efficacy — the in vitro and animal results are obtained under specific laboratory conditions and may differ from the reaction after taking it in humans — the therapeutic action in humans cannot be directly inferred.
Extracts and monomers are not the same as traditional slices — the doses and preparation methods of the Ma Bian Cao extracts or monomers used in modern research differ completely from the decocting and taking of traditional slices — cannot be simply converted.
Doses and preparation methods vary between studies — the extract concentrations and administration routes differ across studies — the results are hard to unify and no clear conclusion can be formed.
A single component does not define the whole herb — Ma Bian Cao's effect is the synergy of many constituents — a single constituent's activity cannot represent the whole herb's action — judge comprehensively with the traditional application.

Comparing Similar Herbs

1. What They Share

Choosing Yi Mu Cao as the similarly acting herb, the two share three main points:

Both have the action of invigorating blood and dispersing stasis, usable for the gynecological patterns of stasis blockage — irregular menses and dysmenorrhea.
Both need the constitution and dose considered — an excessive dose or an unfit constitution may bring discomfort.
Both can appear in the qi-blood-regulating formulas or food-therapy scenes, often used for daily qi-blood regulation.

2. The Key Differences: Ma Bian Cao vs. Yi Mu Cao

Nature and flavors: Ma Bian Cao is cool with a bitter flavor, entering the liver and spleen channels — a clearing-draining herb leaning to clear-purge; Yi Mu Cao is slightly cold with acrid and bitter flavors, entering the heart, liver, and bladder channels — leaning to invigorating blood and regulating menses, with a water-benefiting, swelling-reducing action as well.
Focus: Ma Bian Cao's focus is clearing damp-heat and dispersing stasis — good at improving the dysentery, jaundice, and edema of damp-heat stasis; Yi Mu Cao's focus is invigorating blood, regulating menses, and benefiting water to reduce swelling — good at improving the gynecological stasis of irregular menses and postpartum lochia not ending — its blood-invigorating and menstruation-regulating action is more prominent, while Ma Bian Cao's clearing action is more obvious.
Qi tendency: Ma Bian Cao mainly acts on the liver and spleen channels — regulating the qi by clear-purging damp-heat and dispersing stasis — a clear-purge tendency, focusing on freeing the damp-heat stasis inside; Yi Mu Cao mainly acts on the heart, liver, and bladder channels — regulating the qi by invigorating blood — a blood-invigorating tendency, focusing on pushing the qi and blood to move, with a water-benefiting action as well.
Best fit: Ma Bian Cao's signs mostly relate to damp-heat — sticky stool, yellow eyes and skin, short, red urine — with damp-heat blockage as the core; Yi Mu Cao's signs mostly relate to gynecological stasis — menses with clots, postpartum pain, lochia not ending — with stasis blockage as the core, and in some cases edema with scanty urine.
Not suitable: Ma Bian Cao — those with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold, or without damp-heat stasis; pregnant women must avoid it; Yi Mu Cao — those with heavy menses, or without stasis blockage; pregnant women must also avoid it — its blood-invigorating action is stronger, and those with heavy menses need more caution.
Use scenes: Ma Bian Cao often appears in the damp-heat-clearing formulas — such as the regulation of dysentery and jaundice — and in some damp-heat gynecological patterns; Yi Mu Cao often appears in the blood-invigorating, menstruation-regulating formulas — such as postpartum regulation and the treatment of irregular menses — and in edema regulation — with a broader application in gynecology.

3. One-Sentence Summary

Simply put, Ma Bian Cao leans toward clearing damp-heat while invigorating blood and dispersing stasis, whereas Yi Mu Cao leans toward invigorating blood, regulating menses, and benefiting water to reduce swelling. Both can be used for the stasis-related gynecological problems, but they are not interchangeable.

Classical Formulas Containing Ma Bian Cao

Classic Formula 1: Ma Bian Cao San (Vervain Powder)

Combination logic: In Ma Bian Cao San, Ma Bian Cao is the main herb — the lord — mainly targeting the malaria of damp-heat stasis; paired with Qing Hao and Cao Guo: Qing Hao strengthens the heat-clearing, summer-heat-relieving, malaria-stopping action, and Cao Guo strengthens the dampness-drying, cold-dispersing action. The three work together — both clearing the summer dampness and dispersing stasis to stop malaria — solving the core cause of malaria. Ma Bian Cao's role in this formula cannot be replicated alone, because the pairing of Qing Hao and Cao Guo attends to both summer-heat-relieving and dampness-drying — using Ma Bian Cao alone cannot reach the same effect.

Traditional use: traditionally for malaria — shown as the summer-dampness stasis patterns of alternate chills and fever, chest oppression and nausea, headache and a heavy body, and a thick greasy tongue coating.

Modern note: in modern clinical use, this formula requires the doctor's pattern diagnosis and standard care — do not self-apply just because the formula name relates to malaria; adjust it to the specific pattern and body state.

Classic Formula 2: Ma Bian Cao Tang (Vervain Decoction)

Combination logic: In Ma Bian Cao Tang, Ma Bian Cao is the lord; paired with Yin Chen, Zhi Zi, and Da Huang: Yin Chen strengthens the dampness-benefiting, yellow-reducing action, Zhi Zi strengthens the heat-clearing, dampness-draining action, and Da Huang strengthens the purgative, stasis-expelling action. The four work together — clearing damp-heat, invigorating blood, and reducing yellow — solving the damp-heat stasis problem of jaundice. Ma Bian Cao's blood-invigorating, stasis-dispersing action combines with the other herbs' clearing actions — using Ma Bian Cao alone cannot attend to the dampness-benefiting, yellow-reducing, and stasis-expelling effects at the same time.

Traditional use: traditionally for jaundice — shown as the damp-heat stasis patterns of yellow eyes and skin, short, red urine, abdominal fullness with constipation, and a yellow greasy tongue coating.

Modern note: modern clinical use of this formula requires the doctor's pattern diagnosis — do not self-take; especially since the causes of jaundice are complex, first clarify the diagnosis, then adjust the herbs to the pattern.

Formulas vs. Single Herbs

A formula is a whole of many herbs acting together; a single herb cannot simply replicate a full formula's effect. The doses and combinations in a formula are holistic — the dose ratios and pairings of different herbs are designed from clinical experience and pharmacological action — for example, in Ma Bian Cao Tang, the dose of Da Huang must be adjusted to the patient's constipation; taking Ma Bian Cao alone cannot reach the purgative, stasis-expelling effect. The common misunderstanding: if a herb works in a formula, some think it can be taken alone — in fact, this practice may be ineffective due to an insufficient dose or a lack of synergy, and may even bring discomfort — do not build formulas from online articles.

Diet & Daily Home Use

1. Home Drink

Ma Bian Cao Lü Dou Yin (Vervain and Mung-Bean Drink): Ma Bian Cao 10 g, Lü Dou 30 g, rock sugar as needed. Wash the Ma Bian Cao, decoct with proper clean water 20 minutes, strain out the dregs and take the juice; wash the Lü Dou, cook in the medicinal juice until the beans are done, add rock sugar to taste. Suited to the summer damp-heat irritability, thirst, and short, red urine — fitting those of a damp-heat constitution in small amounts. Not for those with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold or pregnant women. Suggested: 1–2 times a week, one small cup each time; do not overdo it. Note: Ma Bian Cao is a medicinal slice — do not use it long-term in large amounts as an ordinary food; choose the proper dose under a physician's guidance.

2. Decoction and Processing Differences

The difference between the raw and processed Ma Bian Cao is small; traditionally the raw form is used, with no special processing. For home decoction, wash the Ma Bian Cao slices, add clean water to cover the herbs 2–3 cm, soak 30 minutes, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat 20 minutes — no pre-boiling, late addition, or bag-boiling. Note: the food-therapy dose of Ma Bian Cao must be far smaller than the medicinal dose — do not use the prescription-dose slices directly to make tea or food therapy, to avoid discomfort from an excessive dose.

3. Dosage and Course

The common dose of Ma Bian Cao in traditional prescriptions is 5–15 g, adjusted to the pattern; the food-therapy or daily regulation dose should be kept at 3–6 g, not exceeding 10 g. Long-term continuous use is not advised — generally continuous use should not exceed 1 week; if the symptoms do not ease, stop and consult a physician. Pregnant women, children, the elderly, and those with liver or kidney impairment need the dose and period determined under the physician's or pharmacist's guidance — do not adjust on your own.

Contraindications & Safety Warnings

1. Who Should Avoid It

Spleen-stomach deficiency-cold — shown as long-term abdominal pain liking warmth, loose stool, and cold hands and feet — should not use Ma Bian Cao, to avoid worsening the deficiency-cold symptoms.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding — contraindicated, to avoid affecting the fetus or infant.
Children and the elderly — weaker body function — use with caution, with a smaller dose.
Liver or kidney impairment — consult a physician first, to confirm whether use fits.
Allergy to Ma Bian Cao or Verbenaceae plants — prohibited.

2. Interactions and Diet Notes

There is currently no sufficient evidence that Ma Bian Cao "clashes" with ordinary foods, but certain herbs can interact with specific drugs — those taking anticoagulants, blood-pressure medications, glucose-lowering medications, or sedatives should first consult a doctor or pharmacist to confirm whether Ma Bian Cao can be used, to avoid affecting drug absorption or metabolism. Ma Bian Cao may have a certain blood-invigorating action: if taken with anticoagulant drugs, the concurrent use may increase the bleeding risk; if taken with blood-pressure medications, Ma Bian Cao's clearing action may synergize with the blood-pressure drug, causing blood pressure to drop too low — adjust under a doctor's guidance.

3. Adverse Reactions and Overdose Risk

Ma Bian Cao has few adverse reactions, but an excessive dose or improper use may cause gastrointestinal discomfort — nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. When marked discomfort, allergy signs (such as rash, itching, and breathing difficulty), persistent vomiting, altered consciousness, or rapidly worsening symptoms appear, stop at once and seek medical care — do not delay the illness.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ma Bian Cao

What is Mabiancao? Is it the same as Yimucao or Honghua?

Mabiancao is the dried aerial part of Verbena officinalis, Latin name Verbenae Herba. It is a common Chinese medicine centered on activating blood and dispersing stasis, detoxifying, promoting urination, clearing jaundice, and intercepting malaria. Yimucao activates blood and regulates menstruation. Honghua activates blood and unblocks meridians. They cannot be used interchangeably in equal amounts. Prescribe as Mabiancao. Caution in pregnancy.

What are the composition and effects of Mabiancao?

Pharmacopoeial name Mabiancao, Latin Verbena officinalis L. Bitter in taste, cool in nature, enters the Liver and Spleen meridians. Functions to activate blood and disperse stasis, detoxify, promote urination, clear jaundice, and intercept malaria. Used for abdominal masses, dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea, throat bi, abscesses, edema, jaundice, and malaria. Activates blood and detoxifies.

How to choose between raw and processed? Can Yimucao replace it?

Aerial parts are used raw. Yimucao emphasizes regulating menstruation rather than strongly intercepting malaria, and cannot replace it in equal amounts. Commercial products are standardized; do not adjust arbitrarily.

What is the dosage of Mabiancao? Can it be used daily as a blood-activating tea?

Decoction, 5-10g. Modern use requires physician-determined dosage. It is not a year-round "Mabiancao tea." Pregnancy will be further injured by prolonged use. Dysmenorrhea requires short-term, physician-determined dosage and cannot replace evaluation.

What are the contraindications of Mabiancao? Can pregnant women use it?

Not suitable for pregnant women. Slightly toxic. Stop if nausea or abdominal pain occur. Seek immediate medical care for severe dysmenorrhea or high fever.

Can Mabiancao activate blood, detoxify, and clear jaundice?

It can assist abdominal masses, dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea, throat bi, abscesses, edema, jaundice, and malaria. It activates blood and disperses stasis, detoxifies, promotes urination, clears jaundice, and intercepts malaria, but is not a specific remedy for all dysmenorrhea or all jaundice.

Can Mabiancao be taken daily as a blood-activating or detoxifying tea?

Blood-stasis dysmenorrhea can be used short-term in formulas; pregnancy will be further injured. The idea that "Mabiancao must activate blood" cannot replace evaluation. Activating blood and detoxifying requires physician-determined formulation and dosage.

How to choose between Mabiancao, Yimucao, Honghua, Danshen, and Yinchen?

Mabiancao activates blood and intercepts malaria, suited to masses and malaria. Yimucao activates blood and regulates menstruation. Honghua activates blood and unblocks meridians. Danshen activates blood and expels stasis. Yinchen drains dampness and clears jaundice. Choose Mabiancao for activating blood; Yimucao for regulating menstruation; Honghua for unblocking meridians; Danshen for expelling stasis; Yinchen for clearing jaundice. Pattern differentiation applies, but large doses of Mabiancao are contraindicated in pregnancy.

How is Mabiancao commonly modified? What is a representative usage?

Modifications depend on the pattern. Add Honghua for dysmenorrhea; add Yinchen for jaundice. Specify Mabiancao; do not substitute Yimucao in equal amounts for intercepting malaria.

How to select and store Mabiancao?

Choose regular Chinese medicinal materials with intact aerial parts. Discard if moldy, damp, or abnormal in odor. Store in a dry place. Purchase "Mabiancao"; do not substitute Yimucao or Honghua in equal amounts for activating blood, detoxifying, and clearing jaundice.

Related Products

Nong's Ma Bian Cao Concentrated Granules

Nong's Ma Bian Cao (European Verbena Herb) Single Herb 5:1 Concentrated Granules $55.01

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.