Whole herbsHeat-clearingRabdosiae Rubescentis Herba

Dong Ling Cao (Rabdosia Herb / Donglingcao)

Q: What is Dong Ling Cao? Are barbat skullcap and hedyotis the same?

Official Dong Ling Cao (冬凌草) is the dried aerial part of Rabdosia rubescens . The pharmacopoeial name is Rabdosiae Rubescentis Herba . It is mainly produced in Henan. Barbat skullcap is acrid-bitter and cold: clears heat, resolves toxin, disperses stasis and stops bleeding. Hedyotis is sweet, slightly bitter and cold: clears heat, resolves toxin, drains dampness and frees lin. The three cannot be interchanged by equal weight. Write Dong Ling Cao. Use caution in Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold and pregnancy.

Q: What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Dong Ling Cao?

According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Dong Ling Cao is bitter, sweet and slightly cold , enters the Lung, Stomach and Liver channels, and acts to clear heat, resolve toxin, move Blood and stop pain . It is used for swollen painful throat, abdominal masses and lumps, and snake or insect bites. Bitter-sweet and slightly cold, it suits heat-toxin throat pain—not Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold, or wind-cold throat pain.

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

The pharmacopoeial decoction dose is 30–60 g , or steeped in wine. It is not a four-season “Rabdosia toxin tea.” Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold only loosens further as it cools. Swollen painful throat needs a practitioner to name a short course; it does not replace ENT assessment.

Q: How do you choose and store Dong Ling Cao?

Choose intact stems and leaves, a gray-green or yellow-green surface, a faint odor and a bitter taste . Moldy, dirty or leafless lots are discarded. Store dry. Buy pharmacopoeial Dong Ling Cao; do not replace clearing heat, resolving toxin, moving Blood and stopping pain with barbat skullcap or hedyotis by equal weight.

A practical guide to Dong Ling 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 13, 2026

Quick Facts

Latin Name	Rabdosiae Rubescentis Herba
Chinese Name & Pinyin	冬凌草 · Dong Ling Cao
Medicinal Part	Whole herbs
The herb	Dong Ling Cao is the dried aerial part of Rabdosia rubescens. Ban Lan Gen and Pu Gong Ying are different official drugs.
Nature and channels	Bitter, sweet, slightly cold. Enters the Lung, Stomach, and Liver. Bitter sweet slight cold clears heat, resolves toxin, invigorates blood, and relieves pain.
Pharmacopoeia line	Clears heat and resolves toxin. Invigorates blood and relieves pain. Used for swollen sore throat, concretions and focal masses, and snake and insect bite.
Pattern cues	Swollen sore throat. Concretions and focal masses. Snake and insect bite.
In this article	Dong Ling Cao versus Ban Lan Gen, Pu Gong Ying, and Xuan Shen. Clearing heat versus invigorating blood. Why the dose is large. Why a mass needs a clinic. Who should skip it.

What Is Dong Ling Cao?

Dong Ling Cao (冬凌草; Dōng Líng Cǎo; Latin: Rabdosiae Rubescentis Herba; English: rabdosia) is the dried aerial part of Rabdosia rubescens (Hemsl.) Hara. In Chinese medicine it is a heat-clearing, toxin-resolving herb. It is bitter, sweet, and slightly cold, enters the Lung, Stomach, and Liver channels, and its core actions are to clear heat and resolve toxin, and to invigorate blood and relieve pain. The usual decoction dose is 30–60 g. External use is a suitable amount.

It is not Ban Lan Gen. Isatis root is bitter-cold. It clears heat, resolves toxin, cools the blood, and eases the throat. It leans toward heat-toxin in the throat. It is not Pu Gong Ying. Dandelion is bitter, sweet, and cold. It clears heat, resolves toxin, reduces swelling, dissipates nodules, drains dampness, and frees strangury. Dong Ling Cao is bitter, sweet, and slightly cold. Besides clearing heat and resolving toxin, it also invigorates blood and relieves pain. Modern constituent research is not a treatment claim. Concretions and focal masses need a clinic. This is not an anti-cancer tea. Snake or insect bite needs emergency care. A cold weak spleen is a poor match. Use caution in pregnancy.

It is used most often for three patterns:

Swollen sore throat — heat-toxin
Concretions and focal masses — seek care
Snake and insect bite — emergency care

Bitter, sweet, and slightly cold, it is not a daily “toxin rabdosia” tea. Clearing when there is no heat-toxin injures middle yang.

When heat-toxin attacks the throat, swelling and pain are common. Dong Ling Cao is bitter, sweet, and slightly cold. It clears, resolves, and invigorates blood, which is why it appears in throat heat-toxin formulas. It clears more than it supports. Loose stools and fear of cold get worse if more is added.

Dong Ling Cao is not a catch-all heat or toxin herb. In middle-cold diarrhea, or when there is no heat-toxin, using it alone can cool and injure the middle. Whether it belongs in a formula should be decided by a licensed Chinese medicine practitioner after pattern diagnosis.

Dong Ling Cao: Materia Medica Profile

Identification & Quality Standard

Rabdosiae Rubescentis Herba

Botanical Origin

The dried aerial part of Isodon rubescens (Hemsl.) Hara (Lamiaceae).

Production Regions

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Henan, Hebei, Shanxi and Anhui.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material is green-leaved, tender, and intensely bitter, without yellowed old stems.

Macroscopic Features

Stems square, branched, externally grayish-brown to purplish-brown; leaves opposite, ovate with serrate margins, often crumpled; weak aromatic odor, bitter taste.

Authentic Origins and Quality Identification

Historically and professionally, the best Dong Ling Cao is believed to come from the Taihang Mountains, right on the border of Henan and Shanxi provinces.

Good Quality Signs: Premium batches have distinct square, green-brown stems with a white center (pith). The leaves should be mostly intact, offering a faint, grassy aroma and a slightly bitter taste.
Things to Watch Out For: It can sometimes be confused with other plants in the same family. A key difference is that look-alikes often have much finer leaf edges, darker purple stems, and will never produce that signature "frosty" coating in the winter.

Traditional Properties & Historical Lineage

Nature, Flavour & Channel Tropism

Bitter, Sweet; Slightly coldLungStomachLiver

1. Historical Records in Materia Medica

Classic texts like the Ben Cao Gang Mu Shi Yi (Supplement to the Compendium of Materia Medica) note its traditional use for throat swelling and pain.
More modern TCM compilations describe it as a cooling herb that helps resolve oral and throat inflammation by clearing "heat-toxins" and gently invigorating the blood to relieve pain.

2. Evolution of TCM Understanding

Historically, TCM practitioners focused almost entirely on its ability to clear heat for sore throats and mouth sores. Over time, doctors also recognized its mild blood-invigorating properties, utilizing it to ease chest and rib discomfort caused by a combination of internal heat and stagnant Qi (energy).

Important Precaution: Because it is very cold in nature, practitioners warn against using it if you have a "Cold and Deficient Spleen and Stomach" (a tendency toward cold hands, poor digestion, or loose stools). Taking too much of a cold herb can easily upset a weak digestive system.

Core Efficacies & Traditional Applications

Traditional Functions

Clears heat, resolves toxin, and dissipates nodules to reduce swelling. Apply to swollen sore throat, lumps, and heat-toxin sores.

1. Primary Focus: Clearing and Soothing the Throat

Traditionally, Dong Ling Cao (Rabdosia) is highly valued for clearing heat-toxins and soothing throat pain, making it a go-to herb for throat discomfort caused by internal heat or dryness.

Common signs: It is excellent for a sore or swollen throat, dry and itchy throat, hoarseness, and mouth sores. It works especially well for mild discomfort caused by vocal strain, dry weather, or eating too much spicy food.
Common pairings: It is frequently paired with other cooling and moistening herbs like Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle) and Mai Dong (Ophiopogon) to boost its throat-soothing effects.
Caution: If you have a "Cold and Deficient Spleen and Stomach" (you often experience stomach aches, diarrhea, or loose stools), you should avoid using this on your own, as its cold nature can easily upset your digestion.

2. Secondary Focus: Clearing Heat-Toxins

Beyond the throat, it is also used to clear out general internal "heat-toxins" in the body.

Common signs: It can help with swollen gums, canker sores, a dry and bitter taste in the mouth, and dark, scanty urine—symptoms that often show up alongside throat issues.
Common pairings: For stronger heat-clearing action, practitioners might combine it with herbs like Huang Lian (Coptis) or Zhi Zi (Gardenia).
Caution: People with a generally cold constitution—those who are always afraid of the cold and have icy hands and feet—should avoid using it to prevent further draining their body's warmth (Yang energy).

3. Common Single-Herb Pairing: Jin Yin Hua

Dong Ling Cao (Rabdosia) and Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle) make a classic, highly effective herbal pair.

The Synergy: Jin Yin Hua is sweet and cold, excelling at clearing wind-heat from the body's surface. Dong Ling Cao is bitter and cold, focusing on the throat and deep heat-toxins. Together, they create a powerful combo for severe sore throats and mouth sores driven by heavy internal heat.
Important note: This pairing requires professional assessment. It is not suitable if your sore throat is caused by a cold (wind-cold virus) or if you have a weak, cold digestive system.

Modern Research

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

1. Main Chemical Compounds

Modern laboratory analysis has found that Dong Ling Cao contains a variety of compounds, most notably diterpenoids (like oridonin), as well as essential oils, flavonoids, and polysaccharides. In test tubes, some of these compounds show mild antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

2. Modern Pharmacological Focus

Current scientific research is heavily focused on the diterpenoid compounds. Researchers are testing how these extracts interact with inflammation markers and certain cell activities in a lab setting. However, extensive human trials are still needed to confirm how these findings translate to real-world health benefits.

3. Limitations of Modern Research

It is important to view modern lab studies on traditional herbs with a critical eye:

Lab vs. Real World: What happens in a petri dish or an animal model does not automatically equal the same result in the human body.
Extracts vs. Whole Herbs: Lab tests often use highly purified, concentrated extracts. This is completely different from the traditional method of boiling the raw dried herb into a tea or decoction.
Inconsistent Methods: Different studies use wildly different extraction methods and dosages, making it hard to draw a single, unified conclusion.
The Power of Synergy: In TCM, an herb works because of the complex interaction of all its natural parts. Isolating just one single chemical completely ignores the holistic, synergistic way the whole plant functions.

Comparing Similar Herbs

1. Common Ground with Similar Herbs

Dong Ling Cao (Rabdosia) and Shan Dou Gen (Sophora Root) share three main similarities:

Both clear heat-toxins and relieve throat pain.
Both target traditional symptoms like sore throats and mouth sores caused by internal heat.
Both are used in short-term throat-soothing teas or formulas and require careful attention to dosage to avoid weakening the body.

2. Core Differences

Nature: Dong Ling Cao is gently cold, making it suitable for longer-term use in small doses. Shan Dou Gen is intensely bitter and extremely cold, making it very harsh on the stomach.
Therapeutic Focus: Choose Dong Ling Cao for mild, nagging throat issues like dryness and itchiness from vocal strain. Choose Shan Dou Gen for severe, acute heat-toxins, like intense throat swelling, difficulty swallowing, and painful gums.
Direction and Risks: While both herbs direct energy downward, the intense coldness of Shan Dou Gen can easily freeze up your digestive energy (Qi stagnation), leading to severe bloating if misused.
Contraindications: Dong Ling Cao is mainly avoided by those with weak stomachs. Shan Dou Gen is so harsh that it is strictly off-limits for anyone with weak overall energy or a cold constitution.

3. One-Sentence Summary

Dong Ling Cao (Rabdosia) is a gentle herb perfect for daily throat care and mild dryness, while Shan Dou Gen (Sophora Root) is a heavy-duty, harsh herb reserved strictly for severe, acute heat-toxins and intense pain.

Classical Formulas Containing Dong Ling Cao

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 Meals and Teas

Dong Ling Cao Throat Soothing Tea:

Ingredients: 3g Dong Ling Cao (Rabdosia) slices, 2g Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle), 2g Mai Dong (Ophiopogon).
Method: Place all ingredients in a mug, add boiling water, cover, and steep for 10 minutes. You can refill with hot water until the flavor fades.
Best for: People who talk a lot for work, or those experiencing dry, itchy throats and mild hoarseness during the dry autumn and winter months.
Caution: Not for those with weak stomachs or prone to diarrhea. Limit to 2-3 times a week, and do not drink it continuously for long periods. Remember: these are medicinal herbs, not everyday food.

2. Decoction and Processing Differences

Raw vs. Processed: Raw Dong Ling Cao is best for clearing heat and soothing the throat. The stir-fried version is slightly less cold, making it a bit friendlier for those with slight stomach weakness who still need to clear internal heat.
Brewing: It can be boiled directly with other herbs or ingredients; it doesn't require special prep like pre-boiling. Note that raw herbs, extracts, and tea bags all have different concentrations, so their dosages cannot be swapped directly.

3. Dosage and Usage Cycle

Clinical Dose: Usually 6 to 15 grams in a doctor's prescription.
Dietary Dose: For home teas, keep it small (3 to 5 grams). Dietary doses are for gentle, daily wellness, not treating illness.
Cycle: Do not use it long-term. Stop once your throat feels better. If symptoms persist for more than 3 days, see a doctor. Pregnant women, kids, and seniors must consult a professional first.

Contraindications & Safety Warnings

1. Who Should Avoid It

Cold Digestions: Anyone who frequently suffers from stomach aches, diarrhea, or loose stools.
Pregnant and Nursing Women: Do not use without a doctor's permission.
Children and Seniors: Their bodies are more sensitive, so caution is highly advised.
Liver/Kidney Issues: Use only under strict medical supervision to avoid straining these organs.
Allergies: If you are allergic to plants in the mint family, you might react to this herb.

2. Drug Interactions and Dietary Notes

Medication Interactions: Dong Ling Cao may interact with blood thinners, blood pressure medications, and diabetes drugs, affecting how your body absorbs or processes them.
General Rule: If you are taking any prescription medications, always consult your doctor or pharmacist before adding herbal teas to your routine to avoid unsafe interactions.

3. Adverse Reactions and Overdose Risks

Side Effects: Taking too much or using it for too long can cause digestive upset, such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Some people might also experience mild allergic reactions like skin rashes or itching.
Emergency: If you experience severe discomfort, an allergic reaction, continuous vomiting, difficulty breathing, or if your symptoms suddenly get worse, stop using it immediately and seek emergency medical care.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dong Ling Cao

What is Dong Ling Cao? Are barbat skullcap and hedyotis the same?

Official Dong Ling Cao (冬凌草) is the dried aerial part of Rabdosia rubescens. The pharmacopoeial name is Rabdosiae Rubescentis Herba. It is mainly produced in Henan. Barbat skullcap is acrid-bitter and cold: clears heat, resolves toxin, disperses stasis and stops bleeding. Hedyotis is sweet, slightly bitter and cold: clears heat, resolves toxin, drains dampness and frees lin. The three cannot be interchanged by equal weight. Write Dong Ling Cao. Use caution in Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold and pregnancy.

What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Dong Ling Cao?

According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Dong Ling Cao is bitter, sweet and slightly cold, enters the Lung, Stomach and Liver channels, and acts to clear heat, resolve toxin, move Blood and stop pain. It is used for swollen painful throat, abdominal masses and lumps, and snake or insect bites. Bitter-sweet and slightly cold, it suits heat-toxin throat pain—not Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold, or wind-cold throat pain.

How do you choose raw versus prepared herb? Can barbat skullcap replace it?

Raw herb is stronger for clearing heat and resolving toxin. Barbat skullcap leans to dispersing stasis and stopping bleeding; it cannot replace moving Blood and stopping pain by equal weight. Commercial Rabdosia tea is not equal-weight pieces.

What is the usual dosage? Can it be drunk daily as a toxin tea?

The pharmacopoeial decoction dose is 30–60 g, or steeped in wine. It is not a four-season “Rabdosia toxin tea.” Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold only loosens further as it cools. Swollen painful throat needs a practitioner to name a short course; it does not replace ENT assessment.

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

Use caution in Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold and Spleen vacuity with loose stool. Use caution in pregnancy. Use caution in wind-cold common cold with throat pain. Stop if diarrhea or abdominal pain appears. Swollen painful throat and abdominal masses need medical care.

Can Dong Ling Cao clear heat, resolve toxin, move Blood and stop pain?

It can help heat-toxin swollen painful throat and abdominal masses. It may be decocted alone. It clears heat, resolves toxin, moves Blood and stops pain—not a specific for every throat pain or every mass, and not an anti-tumor wellness product.

Can Dong Ling Cao be drunk daily as a toxin, Blood or pain tea?

Heat-toxin throat pain may enter a short formula; Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold only loosens further as it cools. “Rabdosia must resolve toxin” does not replace assessment. Clearing heat, resolving toxin, moving Blood and stopping pain should name 30–60 g.

How do you choose among Dong Ling Cao, barbat skullcap, hedyotis, belamcanda and isatis root?

Rabdosia is bitter-sweet and slightly cold: clears heat, resolves toxin, moves Blood and stops pain—swollen painful throat and abdominal masses. Barbat skullcap is acrid-bitter and cold: clears heat, resolves toxin, disperses stasis and stops bleeding—heat toxin with stasis obstruction. Hedyotis is sweet, slightly bitter and cold: clears heat, resolves toxin, drains dampness and frees lin—heat toxin with damp lin. Belamcanda is bitter-cold: clears heat, resolves toxin, benefits the throat and disperses phlegm—swollen painful throat. Isatis root is bitter-cold: clears heat, resolves toxin, cools Blood and benefits the throat—warm-heat throat pain. Throat pain and masses favor Dong Ling Cao; stasis obstruction favors barbat skullcap; damp lin favors hedyotis; benefiting the throat favors belamcanda; warm-heat favors isatis root. They may be paired after pattern differentiation; Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold forbids large Dong Ling Cao and barbat skullcap, and pregnancy warrants caution.

Which herbs is Dong Ling Cao combined with? What are the representative formulas?

Swollen painful throat may be used alone or join belamcanda and isatis root. Write Dong Ling Cao 30–60 g; do not replace moving Blood and stopping pain with barbat skullcap by equal weight.

How do you choose and store Dong Ling Cao?

Choose intact stems and leaves, a gray-green or yellow-green surface, a faint odor and a bitter taste. Moldy, dirty or leafless lots are discarded. Store dry. Buy pharmacopoeial Dong Ling Cao; do not replace clearing heat, resolving toxin, moving Blood and stopping pain with barbat skullcap or hedyotis 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.