Whole herbsHemostaticAgrimoniae Herba

Xian He Cao (Hairyvein Agrimonia Herb)

Q: What is the composition and traditional use of Xian He Cao?

It is listed as Xian He Cao, Latin Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. It is bitter and astringent, neutral, and enters the Heart and Liver channels. Traditional uses include astringing and stopping bleeding, stopping malaria and dysentery, detoxifying, and supplementing deficiency, for conditions such as coughing blood, vomiting blood, metrorrhagia and bleeding, malaria, bloody dysentery, boils and sores, genital itching and vaginal discharge, and overstrain.

Q: How do you choose raw versus prepared? Can Bai Ji replace it?

It is used cut into sections, raw or char-fried. Bai Ji leans toward generating flesh and does not have the same deficiency-supplementing action, so it cannot replace Xian He Cao by equal weight; commercial products should follow regulated processing and not be self-modified.

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

The usual decocted dose is 6–12 g, and modern use should be set by a practitioner. It is not meant as a year-round daily tea. For bleeding, use should be short-term and guided by a practitioner; it does not replace proper assessment.

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

It is not suitable at the onset of external contraction. Pregnancy requires practitioner assessment. If loose stool or abdominal pain appears, stop using it. Heavy bleeding or high fever needs immediate medical care.

Q: Can Xian He Cao astringe and stop bleeding, stop malaria and dysentery, detoxify and supplement deficiency?

It can help with coughing blood, vomiting blood, metrorrhagia and bleeding, malaria, bloody dysentery, boils and sores, genital itching and vaginal discharge, and overstrain. It does have those traditional actions, but it is not a specific remedy for every kind of bleeding or every kind of fatigue.

Q: Can Xian He Cao be drunk daily as a hemostatic or deficiency-supplementing tea?

Not as a general daily tea. Deficiency-type bleeding may be included in a short formula, but onset of external contraction should not be self-treated with it. Its use, form, and dose should be decided by a practitioner.

Q: How do you choose among Xian He Cao, Bai Ji, Di Yu, Huai Hua and San Qi?

Xian He Cao is chosen for astringing and stopping bleeding, stopping malaria and dysentery, and supplementing deficiency, especially for various bleeding and overstrain. Bai Ji is more for generating flesh, Di Yu and Huai Hua for cooling blood and stopping bleeding, and San Qi for dissipating stasis and stopping bleeding. Selection should follow pattern differentiation, and large Xian He Cao use is not for onset of external contraction.

A practical guide to Xian He 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 28, 2026

Quick Facts

Latin Name	Agrimoniae Herba
Chinese Name & Pinyin	仙鶴草 · Xian He Cao
Medicinal Part	Whole herbs

What Is Xian He Cao?

Xian He Cao (仙鹤草), or Agrimony (the dried above-ground part of Agrimonia pilosa), is a balanced, astringing herb recorded in the Ming Yi Bie Lu. In Chinese medicine it belongs to the herbs that astringe to stop bleeding, and tonify deficiency and stop dysentery, traditionally used for light bleeding and chronic diarrhea with deficiency.

The herb targets the patterns of spleen failing to command the blood, and qi-blood deficiency with intestinal disharmony. Typical signs include light, short bleeding — wound oozing, pale blood in the stool, heavy menses without obvious clots, small-volume spitting of blood with fatigue — and chronic, recurring diarrhea with mild fatigue and poor appetite. It is widely used for gentle daily regulation of these light complaints.

After summer begins, in the field ridges and forest edges outside town you often see a herb with small yellow flowers — thin but upright stems, leaf edges with fine small teeth, a faint fresh grass scent when the wind blows — many people treat it as an ordinary wild grass, not knowing it is a common folk herb. When I was a child helping my family gather wild vegetables, the elders would deliberately pick a few plants of this grass, wash them, and boil water for people with weak spleen-stomach, saying it could help regulate the appetite; later, at the old village healer's, people often asked about its uses — this is the Xian He Cao we are talking about today. It is not as precious as Ren Shen or Lu Rong, yet it hides in the daily mountains and life, quietly helping solve many small health troubles.

Its main traditional actions are astringing to stop bleeding, and tonifying deficiency to stop dysentery — balancing the targeted astringent hemostasis with the gentleness of deficiency-tonifying, fitting the common modern light health problems of post-bleeding weakness and chronic diarrhea. It can respond to the light situations of wound bleeding or internal bleeding, while attending to the recovery of the upright qi at the same time — not as fierce as some hemostatic herbs — fitting gentle daily regulation or auxiliary improvement of related discomfort.

Xian He Cao: Materia Medica Profile

Identification & Quality Standard

Agrimoniae Herba

Botanical Origin

The dried aerial portion of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb.(Rosaceae)

Production Regions

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material has purple stem, blue-green leaves, numerous and intact, without foreign matter.

Macroscopic Features

Whole herb is 50~100cm long, all covered in white soft hairs, lower portion of stem is cylindrical, 4~6mm diameter, reddish-brown, upper portion is square cylindrical, indented four sides, greenish-brown, with longitudinal grooves and ridges, and joints; Light in weight, hard texture, easily broken, fractured surface is hollow in the center. Singular alternating pinnately compound leaves, dark green, wrinkled; brittle texture, easily broken, 2 kinds of leaves, large and small, alternating grown on rachis, apex small leaf is relatively large, intact small leaf is oval or long elliptical after flattened, apex is pointed, base is wedge-like, edge has saw-teeth, 2 stipules, embracing stem, sloped oval shape. Raceme is thin and long, lower portion of calyx is tube-like, upper portion has hook-sting, 5 lobes at apex, yellow petals. faint odor, slightly bitter taste.

Main Regions and Quality Identification

Traditional materia medica and industry experience value the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions, but actual quality also depends on variety, harvest time, processing, and storage. Besides Jiangsu and Zhejiang, the common regions include Henan, Hebei, and Shandong — Xian He Cao from different regions differs slightly in stem thickness and leaf count, but the core active-constituent content has no obvious regional barrier. In appearance, good-quality Xian He Cao has brownish-dark stems, complete leaves with fresh green color, a few small yellow flowers, a slightly bitter odor, and a dry, non-damp texture. The difference between raw and processed mainly lies in the degree of drying: the raw product is in its naturally dried state; processing generally needs no special treatment — just removing impurities. The common look-alikes are other herbs of the same family, such as Wei Ling Cai — its leaves are pinnately compound but with more closely arranged leaflets, and its flowers are mostly yellow but with a different inflorescence form — observing the leaf and fruit features distinguishes them.

Traditional Properties & Historical Lineage

Nature, Flavour & Channel Tropism

Bitter, Astringent; NeutralHeartLiver

1. Records in Classic Materia Medica

Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing: does not clearly record Xian He Cao — but later materia medica mostly place it in the effective-herb category.
Ming Yi Bie Lu: mentions that it can "treat evil sores and dysentery" — corresponding to the later hemostatic and anti-dysentery actions.
Xin Xiu Ben Cao: records that it can be used for "metal-wound bleeding arrest" — corresponding to the external or internal use for wound bleeding.
Ben Cao Gang Mu: clearly calls it Long Ya Cao, mentioning that it can "treat sores and tinea, and disperse abscesses and swellings," while also touching its tonifying-deficiency action.
De Pei Ben Cao: adds its pairing uses — for example, paired with Da Zao it tonifies deficiency; paired with Huang Lian it stops dysentery.
Zhong Hua Ben Cao: organizes its traditional actions — astringing to stop bleeding, tonifying deficiency to stop dysentery, resolving toxin and reducing swelling, and more.

These records are mostly summaries of its actual applications — not modern-medicine pharmacological conclusions.

2. How Views of Its Nature Changed

Different physicians saw it somewhat differently. Early physicians mostly stressed its astringent hemostasis and toxin-resolving, dysentery-stopping actions — for example, Song-dynasty physicians focused more on its use in surgical sores and dysentery; from the Ming-Qing period, people began to notice its tonifying-deficiency action — some physicians mentioned that it can ease the deficiency fatigue after labor, the origin of the name "Tuo Li Cao"; modern Chinese medicine emphasizes its balanced character — holding that it fits light bleeding and deficiency regulation, avoiding the earlier one-sided emphasis on a single action. This change reflects the gradual clarification of its application scenes rather than a denial of its actions — its scope has been gradually expanded in practice.

Core Efficacies & Traditional Applications

Traditional Functions

Astringes and stops bleeding, stops malaria, checks diarrhea, resolves toxin, and supplements deficiency.

1. First Direction: Astringing to Stop Bleeding

Traditional action: astringe to stop bleeding — one of the core traditional actions: recorded in the classics for all kinds of bleeding patterns, including wound bleeding, spitting blood, blood in the stool, and metrorrhagia — especially fitting light bleeding.
Typical signs: mostly small-volume, short-duration bleeding, or bleeding with mild deficiency — such as wound oozing that won't stop, pale blood in the stool, heavy menses without obvious blood clots, and small-volume spitting blood with fatigue.
Usual combinations: clinically often paired with other hemostatic herbs — Bai Ji for wound bleeding or lung bleeding, Di Yu for blood in the stool, E Jiao for metrorrhagia with deficiency — the purpose is strengthening the hemostatic effect while attending to tonifying deficiency or regulating other accompanying symptoms.
Who should not self-use: if the bleeding is large-volume and won't stop, or with severe dizziness, palpitations, and a pale face (collapse manifestations) — do not self-use Xian He Cao; seek medical care promptly. Also, bleeding of the excess-heat type — large volume, bright red, with dry mouth and tongue and dry, bound stool — is not suited to Xian He Cao alone; the use must be adjusted by a physician's pattern diagnosis.

2. Second Direction: Tonifying Deficiency and Stopping Dysentery

Traditional action: tonify deficiency and stop dysentery — another important traditional action: both tonifying the upright qi of the body and astringing the intestines to ease diarrhea and dysentery.
Typical signs: mostly chronic diarrhea or dysentery — few episodes but recurring, with mild fatigue and poor appetite; or the later stage of dysentery with reduced pus-blood stools while the body still feels weak — without obvious high fever or severe abdominal pain.
Usual combinations: often paired with spleen-tonifying or dysentery-stopping herbs — Bai Zhu and Fu Ling for spleen-deficiency diarrhea; Huang Lian and Mu Xiang for the deficiency of the later dysentery stage — the purpose is strengthening the tonifying and dysentery-stopping effects and improving intestinal function.
Who should not self-use: acute dysentery with high fever, severe abdominal pain, many pus-blood stools, and obvious tenesmus — do not self-use Xian He Cao; seek medical care promptly. Also, diarrhea of the excess-heat type — foul stools, burning anus, dry and bitter mouth — is not suited to use alone; the use should be under a physician's pattern diagnosis.

3. Classic Pairing: Xian He Cao With Da Zao

The common herb pair is Xian He Cao with Da Zao. Xian He Cao astringes to stop bleeding and stops dysentery while tonifying deficiency; Da Zao tonifies the middle, boosts qi, nourishes blood, and calms the spirit. Paired together, they strengthen the tonifying-deficiency action of Xian He Cao, harmonize the nature, and reduce the bitter-astringent taste — fitting the conditions of chronic bleeding with deficiency, or spleen-stomach weakness in the later dysentery stage, such as fatigue after heavy menses and chronic diarrhea with poor appetite. Note: even with the pair, a practitioner's pattern diagnosis is still needed; do not self-combine casually, especially for those with other underlying diseases.

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 flavonoids, phenolic acids, triterpenoids, and small amounts of volatile oil and polysaccharides. In in vitro experiments, some flavonoid constituents showed certain antioxidant action in cell-level oxidative-stress models; in animal experiments, the Xian He Cao extract showed a certain hemostatic effect on experimental bleeding models, shortening the bleeding time. In current human clinical research, there is not yet sufficient evidence clarifying its efficacy on specific diseases — the related research is still ongoing.

2. Current Research Directions

Current pharmacological research on Xian He Cao mainly focuses on several directions:

Effects related to bleeding — experiments observed that its extract shows certain hemostatic activity in animal bleeding models.
Regulation of intestinal function — research also focuses on its regulating action on intestinal motility, possibly related to improving intestinal function.
Antioxidant action — some in vitro experiments show that its constituents have certain antioxidant activity.

But these results mostly stay at the experimental level — more human research is still needed to verify their actual application value.

3. Limitations of Current Research

Lab results are not clinical efficacy — in vitro and animal results cannot be directly equated with the effect after taking it in humans, because the human physiological environment differs greatly from the experimental environment — animal metabolism and immune mechanisms are not exactly the same as in humans, and the experimental doses also differ from the daily human-use dose.
Extracts and monomers are not the same as traditional decoction pieces — the extracts or monomers used in modern research are purified high-concentration substances, while the traditional use is the whole dried slice of Xian He Cao — the dose forms and constituent ratios differ; they cannot be directly substituted.
Doses and preparation methods vary between studies — the doses, extraction methods, and preparation processes differ between studies, causing deviations in results; conclusions cannot be directly unified, and the most fitting effective human dose is hard to determine.
A single component does not define the whole herb — the actions of Xian He Cao are the joint result of many constituents; because one constituent has some experimental action does not mean the whole herb has the same action — the constituents of the whole plant influence each other, and the overall action is not exactly the same as a single constituent's action.

Comparing Similar Herbs

1. What They Share

Choosing Bai Mao Gen as the similar herb for comparison, the two share three main points:

Both have a certain hemostatic action, usable for light bleeding.
Both can be used for intestinal-related discomfort — Bai Mao Gen can clear and drain intestinal damp-heat, Xian He Cao can stop dysentery — both involve intestinal-function regulation.
Both need constitution and dose care — whichever herb is used, the dose must be adjusted to the constitution to avoid discomfort from improper use.

2. The Key Differences: Xian He Cao vs. Bai Mao Gen

Nature and flavors: Xian He Cao is balanced with bitter-astringent-sweet flavors — gentle overall, neither cold nor hot; Bai Mao Gen is cold with a sweet flavor — leaning cool, with a heat-clearing character. The two have an obvious cold-heat difference: Xian He Cao fits those leaning cold or with no obvious cold-heat; Bai Mao Gen fits those with heat signs.
Focus: Xian He Cao's core actions are astringing to stop bleeding and tonifying deficiency to stop dysentery — leaning astringing and tonifying, fitting bleeding with deficiency and chronic diarrhea with deficiency; Bai Mao Gen's core actions are cooling blood to stop bleeding and clearing heat to promote urination — leaning heat-clearing and diuresis, fitting blood-heat bleeding, difficult urination, or damp-heat intestinal discomfort.
Qi tendency: Xian He Cao belongs to astringe-plus-tonify — its effect on qi movement leans astringing and guarding, without over-scattering the upright qi — fitting insufficient upright qi; Bai Mao Gen belongs to clear heat and promote urination — its effect on qi movement leans clear-discharging and freeing — driving the qi downward — fitting heat-evil blockage.
Best fit: the bleeding Xian He Cao fits is mostly small-volume with a pale color and fatigue; the diarrhea is mostly chronic, recurring, with poor appetite; the bleeding Bai Mao Gen fits is mostly bright red with dry mouth and tongue and dry, bound stool (blood-heat), and the intestinal discomfort is damp-heat diarrhea with foul stools and a burning anus.
Not suitable: Xian He Cao is not for large-volume uncontrolled bleeding with collapse, nor excess-heat bleeding or diarrhea; Bai Mao Gen itself is stronger in cold — not for those with a cold constitution or spleen-stomach cold, and not for long-term use, to avoid injuring the spleen-stomach yang qi.
Use scenes: Xian He Cao often appears in light regulating formulas or folk food therapy — fitting daily small-discomfort regulation; Bai Mao Gen often appears in heat-clearing, diuretic formulas — fitting acute or chronic intestinal and urinary-system discomfort with clear heat signs.

3. One-Sentence Summary

Simply put, Xian He Cao leans toward gentle astringing with concurrent tonifying-deficiency, whereas Bai Mao Gen leans toward clearing heat, promoting urination, and cooling blood to stop bleeding. Both can be used for light bleeding or intestinal discomfort, but they are not interchangeable.

Classical Formulas Containing Xian He Cao

Classic Formula 1: Long Ya Cao San (Agrimony Powder)

Combination logic: In Long Ya Cao San, Xian He Cao is the lord — mainly playing the astringing-to-stop-bleeding and tonifying-deficiency-to-stop-dysentery actions. The formula also combines Bai Mao Gen, Bai Zhu, and Fu Ling: Bai Mao Gen strengthens the cool-blood hemostasis, and Bai Zhu and Fu Ling strengthen the spleen and tonify deficiency — together regulating intestinal function. Xian He Cao alone can only play part of the actions and cannot attend to both heat-clearing and spleen-strengthening; combined with the other herbs it forms a complete regulating approach, solving the combined problem of bleeding and intestinal discomfort.

Traditional use: the traditional indications are all kinds of light bleeding patterns — including wound bleeding, blood in the stool, and metrorrhagia — and also chronic dysentery and spleen-deficiency diarrhea, especially fitting bleeding with deficiency and poor intestinal function.

Modern note: modern clinical use requires a doctor's pattern diagnosis and standard care; do not self-apply just because the formula name relates to a condition. The application must combine the patient's specific symptoms and constitution, with the physician adjusting the combination and dose — do not self-use.

Classic Formula 2: Tuo Li Cao Tang (Fatigue-Herb Decoction)

Combination logic: In Tuo Li Cao Tang, Xian He Cao is the core herb, as the lord playing the tonifying-deficiency, dysentery-stopping, and spirit-calming actions. The formula combines Da Zao, Huang Qi, and Mu Xiang: Da Zao and Huang Qi strengthen the tonifying-deficiency, qi-boosting action; Mu Xiang regulates the intestinal qi movement, easing diarrhea and abdominal distension. The tonifying force of Xian He Cao alone is limited; combined, it can attend to both tonifying qi and regulating qi — fitting deficiency with intestinal discomfort.

Traditional use: the traditional indications are deficiency fatigue after labor, chronic diarrhea, and body weakness in the later dysentery stage — also mild qi-blood deficiency with a poor complexion and low spirit.

Modern note: modern clinical use requires a doctor's pattern diagnosis and standard care; do not self-apply. The application must clarify the patient's deficiency type and intestinal state, with the physician adjusting the use — to avoid improper use.

Formulas vs. Single Herbs

A formula is many herbs acting together — through the lord-minister-assistant-courier combination, it attends to different actions and regulating directions, forming an overall regulating approach. A single herb can only play part of the actions and cannot reach the formula's comprehensive action. A single herb cannot simply replicate a full formula's effect — the doses and combinations in a formula are holistic; a herb's action in a formula is synergistic with the other herbs and cannot be replaced alone. The common misunderstanding is that a herb that works in a formula also works alone — in fact, this idea is wrong: without the synergy of the other herbs, the action is greatly reduced, and may even bring discomfort. Therefore, do not build your own formulas from online articles.

Diet & Daily Home Use

1. Home Tea and Porridge

Tea — Xian He Cao Da Zao Cha: Xian He Cao 10 g, Da Zao 3 pieces (pitted). Wash and cut the Xian He Cao into segments, break the Da Zao open, put them together in a cup, steep in boiling water, cover 10 minutes, and drink; can be re-steeped until the taste fades. Suited to the daily regulation of mild deficiency fatigue, chronic diarrhea, or heavy menses — fitting those with a balanced or deficiency-leaning constitution; 2–3 times a week. Not for those with a heat-leaning constitution prone to fire, or patients with acute bleeding or acute dysentery.

Porridge — Xian He Cao Zhou: Xian He Cao 15 g, Jing Mi 50 g, Hong Zao 2 pieces. Wash the Xian He Cao first, decoct it with water 20 minutes, and strain the liquid; then cook the Jing Mi and Hong Zao in the herbal liquid with some water into porridge, and season with a little sugar to taste. Suited to the chronic diarrhea and poor appetite of spleen-stomach weakness, or the post-illness deficiency regulation — 2–3 times a week. Not for those with excess-heat diarrhea, those prone to fire, or those with high blood sugar (simply omit the sugar). Note: Xian He Cao is a medicinal slice — do not use it in large amounts as an ordinary food; confirm the quality of the slice before use, and avoid deteriorated or confused herbs.

2. Decoction and Processing Differences

The raw Xian He Cao is the common slice; generally no special processing is needed — just removing impurities, washing, and cutting into segments. At home, put the slices directly into the pot, add some water, soak 30 minutes, bring to a boil on high heat, then simmer 15–20 minutes, strain, and drink. Xian He Cao needs no pre-boiling, late addition, bag-boiling, or direct swallowing — the home decoction method is fairly simple. Different forms cannot be converted directly — the slice dose and the granule dose differ; do not substitute casually.

3. Dosage and Course

The common dose range in traditional prescriptions is 10–15 g; for hemostasis or dysentery-stopping, the dose can be appropriately increased, but generally not over 30 g. The difference between food and medicinal doses: the food-therapy dose is usually about half the medicinal dose — for example, the tea uses 10 g and the porridge 15 g — to avoid too large a dose. Long-term continuous use is not advised — generally each use lasts 3–5 days with 2–3 days of rest, or adjust according to the situation; special groups — pregnant women, children, and the elderly — should consult a doctor or pharmacist before confirming the dose and course.

Contraindications & Safety Warnings

1. Who Should Avoid It

Heat-leaning constitution prone to fire — such as frequent dry mouth and tongue, mouth sores, and dry, bound stool — not suited to long-term use, to avoid worsening the heat signs.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding — avoid self-use; a physician should evaluate before confirming suitability.
Children and the elderly — weaker body functions; adjust the dose when using; do not self-administer.
Liver or kidney impairment — use under a doctor's guidance, to avoid adding burden to the liver and kidneys.
Allergy to Rosaceae (rose-family) plants — may be allergic to Xian He Cao; use with caution.
Those in special treatment — such as chemotherapy or anticoagulation therapy — consult a doctor before use, to avoid drug interactions.

2. Interactions and Diet Notes

Xian He Cao currently has no clear severe interaction with other drugs, but those taking anticoagulants, blood-pressure, blood-sugar, or sedative medications should consult a doctor or pharmacist before use, to avoid possible interactions. Certain herbs may interact with specific drugs — anyone on medication should consult a doctor or pharmacist first. There is no sufficient evidence of a general "food clash" between ordinary foods; when using Xian He Cao, there is generally no special dietary taboo — just avoid large amounts of raw, cold, or spicy food, to avoid affecting the regulating effect.

3. Adverse Reactions and Overdose Risk

Xian He Cao has few adverse reactions; a few people may have mild gastrointestinal discomfort, such as nausea and abdominal distension, which generally eases after reducing the dose or stopping. Overdose may worsen the gastrointestinal discomfort, or bring fire manifestations such as dry mouth and mouth sores. If marked discomfort, allergy signs, persistent vomiting, breathing difficulty, altered consciousness, or rapidly worsening symptoms appear, stop at once and seek medical care — to avoid delaying the condition.

Frequently Asked Questions About Xian He Cao

What is Xian He Cao? Are Bai Ji and Di Yu the same?

Xian He Cao (仙鹤草) is the dried aerial part of Agrimonia pilosa (Agrimoniae Herba), a common Chinese herb centered on astringing and stopping bleeding, stopping malaria and dysentery, and detoxifying and supplementing deficiency. Bai Ji astringes and stops bleeding, leaning to generating flesh. Di Yu cools blood and stops bleeding, leaning to intestinal wind. The three cannot be interchanged by equal weight. Write Xian He Cao. Use caution at the onset of external contraction.

What is the composition and traditional use of Xian He Cao?

Pharmacopoeial name Xian He Cao, Latin Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. Bitter and astringent, neutral; enters the Heart and Liver channels. It acts to astringe and stop bleeding, stop malaria, stop dysentery, detoxify, supplement deficiency. It is used for coughing blood, vomiting blood, metrorrhagia and bleeding, malaria, bloody dysentery, boils and sores, genital itching and vaginal discharge, and overstrain. Astringes and supplements deficiency.

How do you choose raw versus prepared? Can Bai Ji replace it?

Cut sections used raw or char-fried. Bai Ji leans to generating flesh without specialized deficiency-supplementing; 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 hemostatic tea?

Decocted, 6-12 g. Modern use requires a practitioner to name the dose. It is not a four-season “Xian He Cao tea.” Onset of external contraction only injures further. Bleeding needs a practitioner to name a short course; it does not replace assessment.

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

Not suitable at the onset of external contraction. Pregnancy requires practitioner assessment. Stop if loose stool or abdominal pain appears. Heavy bleeding or high fever needs immediate medical care.

Can Xian He Cao astringe and stop bleeding, stop malaria and dysentery, detoxify and supplement deficiency?

It can help coughing blood, vomiting blood, metrorrhagia and bleeding, malaria, bloody dysentery, boils and sores, genital itching and vaginal discharge, and overstrain. It astringes and stops bleeding, stops malaria and dysentery, detoxifies and supplements deficiency—not a specific for every bleeding or every fatigue.

Can Xian He Cao be drunk daily as a hemostatic or deficiency-supplementing tea?

Deficiency-type bleeding may enter a short formula; onset of external contraction only injures further. “Xian He Cao must stop bleeding” does not replace assessment. Astringing and stopping bleeding, stopping malaria and dysentery, detoxifying and supplementing deficiency should be named by a practitioner with form and dose.

How do you choose among Xian He Cao, Bai Ji, Di Yu, Huai Hua and San Qi?

Xian He Cao astringes and stops bleeding while stopping malaria, dysentery and supplementing deficiency, leaning to various bleeding and overstrain. Bai Ji astringes and stops bleeding, leaning to generating flesh. Di Yu cools blood and stops bleeding, leaning to intestinal wind. Huai Hua cools blood and stops bleeding, leaning to intestinal wind. San Qi dissipates stasis and stops bleeding, leaning to activating blood. Astringing favors Xian He Cao; generating flesh favors Bai Ji; cooling blood favors Di Yu; intestinal wind favors Huai Hua; dissipating stasis favors San Qi. They may be referenced after pattern differentiation; external contraction forbids large Xian He Cao.

How is Xian He Cao commonly modified? What is the representative use?

Depends on the pattern. Coughing blood may add Bai Ji; overstrain may add Huang Qi. Write Xian He Cao; do not replace the deficiency-supplementing action with an equal weight of Bai Ji.

How do you choose and store Xian He Cao?

Choose regulated Chinese medicinal materials with intact aerial parts and faint odor. Discard if moldy, damp or off odor. Store in a ventilated, dry place. Purchase labeled “Xian He Cao”; do not use equal weights of Bai Ji or Di Yu to replace astringing and stopping bleeding, stopping malaria and dysentery, detoxifying and supplementing deficiency.

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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.