A practical guide to Zhu Ye: what it is, how Traditional Chinese Medicine uses it, the classical formulas it appears in, and who should be careful with it.
Last reviewed Oct 13, 2026| Latin Name | Herba Lophatheri |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name & Pinyin | 竹葉 · Zhu Ye |
| Medicinal Part | Leaves |
| The item | Formula Zhu Ye is the leaf of henon bamboo and related Phyllostachys. Fresh leaf is Xian Zhu Ye. Official Dan Zhu Ye is Lophatherum gracile. It is not this entry. |
| Nature and channels | Sweet, bland, cold. Enters the Heart, Lung, and Stomach. Sweet cold clears heat and eliminates vexation. Blandness drains. |
| Actions (traditional) | Clears heat and eliminates vexation. Generates fluids and promotes urination. Used for febrile thirst, Heart fire flaming up, mouth and tongue sores, and scant dark urine. Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang is for lingering heat after a febrile disease, with qi and fluids both damaged. |
| Pattern cues | Vexing thirst. Lingering heat. Mouth and tongue sores. Scant dark urine. |
| In this article | Zhu Ye versus Dan Zhu Ye, Shi Gao, and Mai Dong. Why a garden bamboo leaf is not Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang. Why a weak spleen should skip it. Who should skip it. |
In the formula literature, Zhu Ye (竹叶; English: bamboo leaf) usually means the leaf of henon bamboo, Phyllostachys nigra (Lodd.) Munro var. henonis (Mitf.) Stapf ex Rendle. Fresh leaf is called Xian Zhu Ye. It is sweet, bland, and cold, enters the Heart, Lung, and Stomach channels, and its core actions are to clear heat and eliminate vexation, and to generate fluids and promote urination. It is not the pharmacopoeia drug Dan Zhu Ye. That is Lophatherum gracile. The leaf is narrower and shows cross-veins. Clearing the Heart and promoting urine are close. The plants are different. Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang uses bamboo leaf. Do not silently fill it with lophatherum. Any backyard bamboo leaf is not the drug. A cold weak spleen and loose stools are a caution.
It is used most often for three patterns:
The usual fresh-leaf decoction dose is often 6–15 g. Sweet, bland, and cold, it is not a daily “clear-the-Heart bamboo tea.” Thirst with no heat, and middle-cold diarrhea, get worse if more clearing is added.
When lingering heat remains after a heat disease and qi and fluids are already damaged, thirst and shortness of breath are common. Zhu Ye is sweet-cold. It clears and eliminates vexation, which is why it is paired with Shi Gao, Mai Dong, and Ren Shen in Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang. It clears and drains more than it holds. An abdomen that likes warmth and loose stools loosen further if more cooling is added.
Zhu Ye is not a catch-all vexation or diuretic leaf. In middle-cold diarrhea or thirst with no heat, using it alone can injure the middle. Bamboo leaf or lophatherum should be decided by a licensed Chinese medicine practitioner after pattern diagnosis.
Identification & Quality Standard
Herba Lophatheri
Botanical Origin
The dried stem leaf of Lophatherum gracile Brongn. (Poaceae).
Production Regions
Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Hunan and Hubei.
Quality Requirements
Superior medicinal material is green, intact, and free of yellowed old leaves.
Long lanceolate leaves with parallel veins, 5~20cm long; pale green; stems slender with prominent nodes; weak odor, bland taste.
While traditional records favor bamboo leaves from Zhejiang, Anhui, and Jiangsu, quality ultimately depends on the variety, harvest time, and storage.
Sweet, Bland; ColdHeartLungStomach
Ancient medical texts highlight its ability to clear heat and soothe the organs, though it was never viewed as a "cure-all":
Historically, TCM practitioners have used Zhu Ye (Bamboo Leaf) with slight variations based on clinical focus:
Traditional Functions
Clears heat, relieves vexation, and promotes urination. Apply to heat in the heart channel, vexation, thirst, and painful hot urination.
Zhu Ye (Bamboo Leaf) is primarily known for its ability to clear excess heat from the Heart and Stomach, relieving discomfort caused by this pathogenic heat.
Its second major function is to disperse "damp-turbidity" trapped in the Lung meridian, easing respiratory discomfort.
A classic pairing is Zhu Ye (Bamboo Leaf) and Deng Xin Cao (Juncus/Rush Pith).
Modern research offers useful context, but Traditional Chinese Medicine prescribes on whole-pattern diagnosis rather than isolated compounds.
Modern laboratory analysis shows that the plant contains flavonoids (like rutin and luteolin), volatile oils, polysaccharides, and amino acids.
Current scientific research is mostly focused on its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Scientists are isolating its flavonoids to see how they clear free radicals. Right now, this is mostly preliminary lab work rather than established clinical treatments.
Both Zhu Ye (Bamboo Leaf) and Dan Zhu Ye (Lophatherum) share the ability to clear pathogenic heat and promote urination. They are both used to relieve restlessness and scanty urine, often appear in summer heat-clearing dietary therapies, and neither should be taken in large amounts long-term.
Zhu Ye (Bamboo Leaf) provides gentle, balanced clearing for the Heart, Stomach, and Lungs, whereas Dan Zhu Ye (Lophatherum) is a more targeted herb for draining Heart fire downward through urination.
Raw Zhu Ye is the most common form, used after simple cleaning and drying. It requires no special preparation. For home use, you can simply steep it in boiling water for tea, or add it directly to a soup pot with other ingredients. Note that raw herbs cannot be directly compared to modern lab extracts in terms of dosage or effect.
When used at normal doses, it is generally safe. Overuse can lead to mild digestive upset, such as stomach cramps or frequent bowel movements. Stop immediately and seek emergency medical help if you experience severe symptoms like persistent vomiting, sudden weakness, or allergic reactions (rash, itching, difficulty breathing).
Hoi Tin Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang (Bamboo Leaf and Gypsum Decoction) 5:1 Concentrated Granules
$27.71
Nong's Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang (Bamboo Leaf and Gypsum Decoction) 5:1 Concentrated Granules
$56.60
Hoi Tin Qing Shu Yi Qi Tang (Clear Summerheat and Augment Qi Decoction) 5:1 Concentrated Granules
$30.50
Nong's Qing Shu Yi Qi Tang (Clear Summerheat and Augment Qi Decoction) 5:1 Concentrated Granules
$53.39
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.
