Roots and rhizomesOrifice-openingRhizoma Acori Tatarinowii

Shi Chang Pu (Grassleaf Sweetflag Rhizome)

A practical guide to Shi Chang Pu: 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 NameRhizoma Acori Tatarinowii
Chinese Name & Pinyin 石菖蒲 · Shi Chang Pu
Medicinal PartRoots and rhizomes
The herbShi Chang Pu is the dried rhizome of Acorus tatarinowii, aromatic, with close nodes. Calamus and Jiu Jie Chang Pu are not this official item.
Nature and channelsAcrid, bitter, warm. Enters the Heart and Stomach. Acridity opens the orifices. Bitterness dries dampness and flushes phlegm.
Pharmacopoeia lineOpens the orifices and flushes phlegm. Awakens the spirit and benefits the mind. Transforms dampness and opens the appetite. Used for phlegm veiling the clear orifices, clouded spirit, epilepsy, forgetfulness, tinnitus, deafness, focal distention with no hunger, and lockjaw-like dysentery.
Pattern cuesPhlegm-clouded spirit. Epilepsy. Forgetfulness and tinnitus. Focal distention and no hunger. Greasy coating.
In this articleShi Chang Pu versus Yuan Zhi, Yu Jin, and calamus. Opening orifices versus calming the spirit. Why yin deficiency is a caution. Who should skip it.

What Is Shi Chang Pu?

Shi Chang Pu (石菖蒲; Shí Chāng Pú; Latin: Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma; English: grass-leaf sweet flag) is the dried rhizome of Acorus tatarinowii Schott. In Chinese medicine it is an orifice-opening herb. It is acrid, bitter, and warm, enters the Heart and Stomach channels, and its core actions are to open the orifices and flush phlegm, awaken the spirit and benefit the mind, and transform dampness and open the appetite. The official species is A. tatarinowii. Sweet flag (Acorus calamus) has a different constituent profile. Some regions restrict β-asarone–rich calamus. Do not swap it in yourself. Jiu Jie Chang Pu is another source and has long been a mix-up. It does not carry this official opening action. The aroma moves through Heart and Stomach. The dose should stay modest. Clouded spirit and epilepsy are emergencies. Shi Chang Pu is not a home “open-the-orifices pill.”

It is used most often for three patterns:

  • Phlegm veiling the clear orifices — clouded spirit, epilepsy with phlegm rattle
  • Heart orifice not clear — forgetfulness, tinnitus, deafness
  • Turbid damp obstructing the middle — focal distention, no hunger, dysentery with lockjaw-like refusal of food

It is usually used raw. The usual decoction dose is 3–10 g. Yin deficiency with yang rising, seminal slip, copious sweat, and dry-mouth restlessness are cautions. Acrid-warm and fragrant-dry, it is not a daily “brain root tea.”

When phlegm-damp veils the orifices, or damp blocks Stomach qi, clouded thinking, poor memory, and focal distention with no appetite are common. Shi Chang Pu is acrid-opening and bitter-drying. It unblocks and transforms, which is why it appears in Chang Pu Yu Jin Tang–type formulas. It is more aromatic and mobile than it is settling. Yin-deficiency fire and insomnia with a red face get more restless if more opening is added.

Shi Chang Pu is not a catch-all nootropic. In yin-deficiency fire with no phlegm and no dampness, using it alone can consume yin and stir fire. Whether it belongs in a formula should be decided by a licensed Chinese medicine practitioner after pattern diagnosis. Clouded spirit and convulsions need emergency care first.

Shi Chang Pu Grass-Leaf Sweetflag

Shi Chang Pu: Materia Medica Profile

Identification & Quality Standard

Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii

Botanical Origin

The dried rhizome of Acorus tatarinowii Schott.(Araceae)

Production Regions

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Zhejiang.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material is thick, with off-white fractured surface, and potent aromatic odor.

Macroscopic Features

Flat cylindrical, slightly curved, often has branches, 3~20cm long, 0.3~1cm diameter. Externally brown, brownish-red or grayish-yellow, rough, often branched, internode is 2~8mm long; upper side has slightly triangular leaf scar, left and right alternating arrangment, lower side has spotted root scars, joint sometimes has remnants of hairy scale-like leaf bases. Hard and brittle texture, fractured surface is fibrous, off-white or slightly red; horizontal cut surface has obvious inner cortex ring, often can see “vein spots” and brown oil spots. Aromatic odor, bitter slightly acrid taste.

Authentic Origins and Quality Identification

Historically, the most highly regarded Shi Chang Pu (Sweetflag Rhizome) comes from regions like Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Sichuan in China.

  • Visual Check: A premium rhizome is flat, cylindrical, slightly curved, and features an uneven, rough surface with distinct "rings" or joints. It feels hard and brittle. When snapped, the inside is fibrous, whitish or slightly pink, and speckled with tiny brown oil dots.
  • Aroma and Taste: It has a highly fragrant, crisp aroma and a slightly spicy taste.
  • Watch Out for Fakes: It is sometimes confused with the larger "Water Calamus" (Shui Chang Pu). However, the water variety is much thicker and has a muddy, unpleasant smell rather than the clear, refreshing fragrance of the authentic stone-grown herb.

Traditional Properties & Historical Lineage

Nature, Flavour & Channel Tropism

Acrid, Bitter; WarmHeartStomach

1. Historical Records

This herb has been highly valued for thousands of years:

  • Shennong Bencao Jing (Classic of Herbal Medicine): Ranked as a top-tier herb, it was celebrated for "opening the heart's orifices," nourishing the organs, and sharpening hearing and vision.
  • Mingyi Bielu: Noted its ability to warm the stomach and intestines, improving digestion.
  • Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica): Expanded its uses to include treating sudden pain, epilepsy, and stopping bleeding.
  • De Pei Bencao: Highlighted a famous pairing with Yuan Zhi (Polygala Root) to treat conditions where "phlegm clouds the mind."

2. Evolution of TCM Understanding

Ancient doctors (like those writing the Shennong Bencao Jing) initially viewed it almost like a daily tonic for longevity. However, as TCM evolved, doctors realized its true superpower lies in its "opening and clearing" abilities. Today, it is primarily used to cut through thick, stubborn "Phlegm-Dampness" that causes brain fog, poor memory, or severe digestive stagnation, rather than being used as a simple vitamin-like tonic.

Shi Chang Pu Grass-Leaf Sweetflag

Core Efficacies & Traditional Applications

Traditional Functions

Transforms dampness, opens stomach, opens orifices, sweeps phlegm, arouses spirit, sharpens mind. Apply to abdominal fullness and anorexia, aphasic diarrhea, coma epilepsy, amnesia and deafness.

1. Primary Focus: Opening the Orifices and Awakening the Spirit

  • Traditional Function: Shi Chang Pu (Sweetflag Rhizome) is famous for "opening the orifices" of the mind. It clears out stubborn phlegm-dampness that clouds consciousness.
  • Target Symptoms: It is ideal for brain fog, poor focus, memory loss, dizziness, and a heavy head. It also helps with mental fatigue caused by overthinking or digestive dampness.
  • Common Pairings: It is frequently combined with Yuan Zhi (Polygala Root) to calm the mind, Fu Ling (Poria) to drain dampness, and Yu Jin (Turmeric Tuber) to move stagnant Qi.
  • When to Avoid: Do not use if you suffer from "Yin Deficiency with Fire" (characterized by irritability and feeling hot) or a high fever, as the herb's warm nature can worsen heat symptoms.

2. Secondary Focus: Resolving Dampness and Harmonizing the Stomach

  • Traditional Function: It effectively transforms dampness to relieve digestive stagnation and wake up the Spleen and Stomach.
  • Target Symptoms: A bloated stomach, poor appetite, nausea, a thick greasy tongue coating, or digestive issues triggered by summer humidity or cold foods.
  • Common Pairings: Works synergistically with Sha Ren (Amomum Fruit), Cang Zhu (Atractylodes Rhizome), and Hou Po (Magnolia Bark) to boost digestion and reduce bloating.
  • When to Avoid: Avoid if you have Stomach Yin deficiency (dry mouth, dull stomach pain) or heat from food stagnation (bitter taste, constipation), as its drying nature can aggravate these conditions.

3. Common Herb Pairings: Synergistic Duos

Shi Chang Pu (Sweetflag Rhizome) and Yuan Zhi (Polygala Root) make a classic TCM duo. While Yuan Zhi calms the spirit, Shi Chang Pu clears the mind and settles the stomach. Together, they are excellent for treating "phlegm clouding the mind," helping with insomnia, forgetfulness, and bloating. However, this combination requires a practitioner to balance the ratio based on your specific body type.

Shi Chang Pu Grass-Leaf Sweetflag

Modern Research

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

1. Key Chemical Components

Modern laboratory analysis shows that the magic of Shi Chang Pu (Sweetflag Rhizome) largely lies in its essential oils, specifically compounds like alpha-asarone and beta-asarone, along with various flavonoids and alkaloids.

  • Lab Observations: Test-tube studies suggest these volatile oils have mild antibacterial properties. In animal studies, the extract has shown the potential to improve learning and memory in mice. However, human trials are still in the early stages, mostly observing its effects on attention span and easing damp-related stomach discomfort.

2. Modern Pharmacological Focus

Current Western scientific research on this herb is relatively focused on two main areas:

  • Central Nervous System: Exploring how its compounds might interact with brain neurotransmitters.
  • Digestive System: Investigating how it might regulate gut movement and digestive juices to relieve bloating and discomfort.

3. Limitations of Modern Research

While the science is interesting, it should be read with caution:

  • Lab ≠ Real Life: Results from mice or petri dishes do not automatically apply to the human body.
  • Extracts vs. Teas: Labs use highly concentrated, isolated chemicals. This is vastly different from drinking a traditional, gently boiled herbal decoction.
  • Inconsistent Methods: Different labs use different doses and extraction methods, making it hard to draw a single, universal conclusion.
  • Holistic Synergy: TCM relies on the whole plant's complex matrix of compounds working together, which single-chemical studies fail to capture.
Shi Chang Pu Grass-Leaf Sweetflag

Comparing Similar Herbs

1. Shared Traits with Similar Herbs

Both Shi Chang Pu (Sweetflag Rhizome) and Yuan Zhi (Polygala Root) clear phlegm to awaken the mind. They both target heart and spleen issues, support mental clarity, and are commonly found in formulas designed to calm the spirit.

2. Core Differences

  • Nature: Shi Chang Pu is warm, spicy, bitter, and drying. Yuan Zhi is milder, slightly warm, and lacks that strong drying effect.
  • Strengths: Shi Chang Pu excels at clearing dampness for brain fog and stomach bloating. Yuan Zhi is better at calming the heart, easing anxiety, and boosting memory.
  • Energy Movement: Shi Chang Pu disperses energy—opening the mind upwards and settling the stomach downwards. Yuan Zhi gathers and nourishes, protecting your heart's energy.
  • Target Symptoms: Use Shi Chang Pu for a heavy head and a greasy tongue. Use Yuan Zhi for palpitations, insomnia, and anxiety.
  • Contraindications: Shi Chang Pu is too drying for Yin deficiency or heavy sweating. Yuan Zhi should be used cautiously if you have Yin deficiency, and avoided in large doses if your digestion is weak without phlegm.

3. A One-Sentence Summary

Shi Chang Pu (Sweetflag Rhizome) is your go-to for clearing dampness and brain fog, while Yuan Zhi (Polygala Root) is the specialist for calming anxiety and nourishing the mind.

Shi Chang Pu Grass-Leaf Sweetflag

Classical Formulas Containing Shi Chang Pu

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. Home Herbal Teas

  • Sweetflag Green Tea: Steep 3g of dried Shi Chang Pu (Sweetflag Rhizome) and 2g of green tea in boiling water for 5 minutes.
  • Best For: Clearing mild brain fog, poor appetite, or slight bloating, especially during humid summer days.
  • Not For: People with Yin deficiency (dry mouth, insomnia) or pregnant women.
  • Frequency: Limit to 2-3 times a week. Remember, this is a medicinal herb, not a daily beverage.

2. Usage and Preparation

Raw Shi Chang Pu (Sweetflag Rhizome) is highly aromatic, perfect for waking up the mind. Processed (stir-fried) versions are milder and better suited for treating digestive dampness. To brew at home, simply soak it with your other herbs for 30 minutes, bring to a boil, then simmer for 20-30 minutes. Do not swap raw herbs for powdered extracts, as the dosages and absorption rates are totally different.

3. Dosage and Usage Cycle

Clinical doses usually range from 3-9g, but for home use in teas, stick to about 3g. Do not use it long-term. Keep continuous use under 7 days. If you need longer support, consult a TCM practitioner. Special populations (children, pregnant women, those with liver/kidney issues) must seek professional advice first.

Shi Chang Pu (Grass

Contraindications & Safety Warnings

1. Who Should Avoid It

  • Yin Deficiency: Avoid if you experience dry mouth, night sweats, or feel hot easily, as this herb is very drying.
  • Vulnerable Groups: Pregnant and nursing women should avoid it due to a lack of safety data. Children and seniors need a doctor's supervision.
  • Liver/Kidney Issues: Do not self-prescribe if you have liver or kidney dysfunction to avoid extra organ strain.
  • Allergies: Avoid if you are allergic to Araceae (arum) family plants.
  • Medication Users: Consult a doctor if taking blood thinners, blood pressure/sugar medications, or sedatives.

2. Medication Interactions and Dietary Notes

Shi Chang Pu (Sweetflag Rhizome) can interact with sedatives, potentially increasing drowsiness. It may also enhance the effects of blood pressure or blood sugar medications, dropping levels too low. It can even affect blood thinners. Always check with your doctor before mixing this herb with prescription drugs.

3. Adverse Reactions and Overdose Risks

Side effects like dry mouth, irritability, or stomach upset usually happen from taking too much. Severe overdose can cause nausea, dizziness, headaches, or palpitations. Stop taking it immediately and see a doctor if you experience allergic reactions, trouble breathing, or symptoms that rapidly get worse.

Frequently Asked Questions About Shi Chang Pu

What is Shi Chang Pu? Are Shui Chang Pu, Jiu Jie Chang Pu and fresh Chang Pu the same?
Official Shi Chang Pu (石菖蒲) is the dried rhizome of Acorus tatarinowii. The pharmacopoeial name is Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma. Classics praised “nine nodes per inch,” but today’s Jiu Jie Chang Pu is the rhizome of Anemone altaica (Ranunculaceae)—toxic and not interchangeable. Shui Chang Pu is the rhizome of Acorus calamus: similar aroma, not the official article. Fresh Shi Chang Pu opens the orifices more strongly; the dose may be doubled. Volatile oil is best added late. Write Shi Chang Pu; do not dispense Jiu Jie Chang Pu.
What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Shi Chang Pu?
According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Shi Chang Pu is acrid, bitter and warm, enters the Heart and Stomach channels, and acts to open the orifices and expel phlegm, awaken the spirit and benefit intelligence, and transform damp to open the Stomach. It is used for clouded spirit and epilepsy, forgetfulness and insomnia, tinnitus and deafness, epigastric glomus with no hunger, and lockjaw dysentery. Acrid-bitter-warm and aromatic, it suits phlegm-damp veiling the orifices and turbid damp obstructing the middle—not Yin vacuity with Yang hyperactivity, vexation with copious sweat, seminal slippage or coughing of blood.
How do you choose dried versus fresh? Should it be added late?
Routine decoction uses the dried rhizome, cut thick; clouded spirit with phlegm reversal may add the fresh herb or 1–3 g powder swallowed. Volatile oil disperses easily—add it in the last 5–10 minutes. Do not mix it with Jiu Jie Chang Pu or Shui Chang Pu.
What is the usual dosage? Can it be drunk daily as a nootropic tea?
The pharmacopoeial decoction dose is 3–10 g; fresh stock may be doubled. It is not a four-season “Chang Pu intelligence tea.” Yin vacuity with Yang hyperactivity, copious sweat and seminal slippage only suffer more from aromatic dryness. Phlegm veiling the spirit and epigastric glomus need a practitioner to name late addition and a short course—not long high doses.
What are the contraindications? Can it be used in pregnancy?
Use caution in Yin vacuity with Yang hyperactivity, vexation with copious sweat, cough with blood, and seminal slippage. Acrid aroma dries and injures Yin. Pregnancy data are sparse; orifice-opening and roaming need assessment. Tell the practitioner if sedatives or antiepileptics are in use. Stop if dizziness, nausea or flushing appear.
Can Shi Chang Pu open the orifices, benefit intelligence and transform damp?
It can help phlegm-damp veiling the orifices and turbid damp in the middle. Phlegm-heat clouded spirit joins Curcuma, Gardenia and bamboo sap in the Chang Pu Yu Jin Tang pattern. Forgetfulness joins Polygala, ginseng and Poria in Kai Xin San. It aromatically opens the orifices while transforming damp—not a specific for every dementia, every tinnitus or every epilepsy. Sudden coma and ongoing convulsions are emergencies.
Can Shi Chang Pu be drunk daily as a brain, sleep or appetite tea?
Phlegm-damp veiling the orifices and glomus with no hunger may enter a short formula; Yin-vacuity fire only grows drier. “Chang Pu supplements the brain” does not replace neurology and psychiatry. Opening the orifices and transforming damp should name Shi Chang Pu (not Jiu Jie Chang Pu) and a 3–10 g late-added dose.
How do you choose among Shi Chang Pu, Yuan Zhi, Yu Jin, Huo Xiang and Jiu Jie Chang Pu?
Grassleaf sweetflag is acrid-bitter-warm: opens the orifices, expels phlegm, awakens the spirit, benefits intelligence and transforms damp to open the Stomach—aromatic and roaming. Polygala is acrid-bitter-warm: calms the spirit, benefits intelligence, connects Heart and Kidney, dispels phlegm and disperses swelling—more spirit-calming. Curcuma is acrid-bitter-cold: moves Qi and Blood, clears the Heart, resolves constraint and disinhibits the gallbladder—Blood-aspect constraint heat. Agastache is acrid and slightly warm: transforms damp, resolves summerheat and stops vomit—middle-jiao turbid damp. Jiu Jie Chang Pu is another source and toxic—not a substitute. Phlegm veiling clouded spirit favors Shi Chang Pu and Yu Jin; forgetfulness favors Shi Chang Pu and Yuan Zhi; summer-damp vomit and glomus favors Huo Xiang. They may be paired; all are wrong as pure aromatic dryness in Yin vacuity with Yang hyperactivity, and Jiu Jie Chang Pu must not be called the same “Chang Pu.”
Which herbs is Shi Chang Pu combined with? What are the representative formulas?
Phlegm-heat clouded spirit joins Curcuma, Gardenia, Forsythia and bamboo sap in the Chang Pu Yu Jin Tang pattern. Forgetfulness joins ginseng, Polygala and Poria in Kai Xin San. Write Shi Chang Pu, add it late; do not dispense Jiu Jie Chang Pu or Shui Chang Pu.
How do you choose and store Shi Chang Pu?
Choose flattened stout rhizomes, dense nodes, a pale-white or faintly red fibrous fracture, aromatic odor and a bitter slightly acrid taste. Withered scentless, moldy, moth-eaten and Anemone-admixed lots are discarded. Store dry against mold. Buy pharmacopoeial Shi Chang Pu; do not replace opening the orifices and awakening the spirit with an equal weight of Jiu Jie Chang Pu or Shui Chang Pu.

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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.

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Shi Chang Pu (Grass-Leaf Sweetflag): Open the Orifices, Transform Phlegm, and Awaken the Spirit