LeavesHemostaticFolium Artemisiae Argyi

Ai Ye (Mugwort Leaf)

艾葉 · Ai Ye

Hemostatic herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Traditional functions: Warms the channels, stops bleeding, disperses cold, and calms the fetus.

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Quick Facts

Latin Name	Folium Artemisiae Argyi
Chinese Name & Pinyin	艾葉 · Ai Ye
Medicinal Part	Leaves
Efficacy Category	Hemostatic
Botanical Origin	The dried leaf of Artemisia argyi Levl. et Vant. (Asteraceae).
Nature & Flavour	Acrid, Bitter; Warm
Channels Entered	Liver, Spleen, Kidney

What Is Ai Ye?

Ai Ye (Mugwort Leaf) is a medicinal herb of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Hubei (Qichun), Anhui, Shandong and Hebei.

Nature & Flavour: Acrid, Bitter; Warm
Channels Entered: Liver, Spleen, Kidney

Ai Ye: Materia Medica Profile

Identification & Quality Standard

Folium Artemisiae Argyi

Botanical Origin

The dried leaf of Artemisia argyi Levl. et Vant. (Asteraceae).

Production Regions

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Hubei (Qichun), Anhui, Shandong and Hebei.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material is thick, grey-white beneath, and intensely aromatic.

Macroscopic Features

Crumbled leaves, ovate-elliptical, grey-white tomentose beneath, dark green above; aromatic and slightly bitter.

Traditional TCM Properties

Acrid, Bitter; WarmLiverSpleenKidney

Traditional Functions

Warms the channels, stops bleeding, disperses cold, and calms the fetus. Apply to deficiency-cold bleeding, dysmenorrhea, and restless fetus from cold.

How Ai Ye Is Used in TCM

In the Chinese materia medica, Ai Ye is classified among the Hemostatic herbs. It appears in 1 classical formulas in our library.

Formulas containing Ai Ye are traditionally used for:

Irregular Menstruation Abdominal Pain Fatigue & Low Energy

Classical Formulas Containing Ai Ye

Xiong Gui Jiao Ai Tang

芎歸膠艾湯

Formula CategoryBlood-Tonifying FormulasPrimary PatternBlood DeficiencyPrimary FunctionNourish Blood, stop bleeding, regulate menstruationRelated ConditionsIrregular Menstruation·Abdominal Pain·Fatigue & Low Energy

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Herbs Commonly Combined with Ai Ye

Chuan Xiong Dang Gui Bai Shao Shu Di Huang E Jiao Gan Cao

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ai Ye? Are moxa wool, Xiao Ji and Pu Huang the same?

Official Ai Ye (艾叶) is the dried leaf of Artemisia argyi. The pharmacopoeial name is Artemisiae Argyi Folium. Moxa wool is processed leaf used for moxibustion—not equal-weight internal decoction pieces. Xiao Ji is sweet-cool: cools Blood, stops bleeding, dissipates stasis and resolves toxin to disperse welling-abscess. Pu Huang is sweet-neutral: stops bleeding, transforms stasis and promotes urination. Write Ai Ye or vinegar Ai charcoal. Use caution in yin-vacuity blood heat. Slightly toxic; do not overdose.

What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Ai Ye?

According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Ai Ye is acrid, bitter and warm; slightly toxic, enters the Liver, Spleen and Kidney channels, and acts to warm the channels and stop bleeding, disperse cold and stop pain; externally dispel damp and stop itching. It is used for vomiting of blood, nosebleed, flooding and spotting, heavy menses, fetal spotting, cold pain in the lesser abdomen, cold-pattern irregular menses and cold womb infertility; externally for skin itching. Vinegar Ai charcoal warms the channels and stops bleeding, for vacuity-cold bleeding. Acrid-warm and slightly toxic, it suits vacuity-cold bleeding and menstrual cold—not yin-vacuity blood heat.

How do you choose raw Ai Ye versus vinegar Ai charcoal? Can one self-moxa?

Dispersing cold, stopping pain and cold-pattern irregular menses more often use raw leaf. Vacuity-cold bleeding more often uses vinegar Ai charcoal. Externally use an appropriate amount for moxibustion or fumigation-wash. Moxa requires point selection and distance; do not moxa broken skin or excess-heat flushed face. Use caution if allergic to essential oil or moxa smoke. Do not treat kitchen mugwort or an unidentified Artemisia leaf as pharmacopoeial Ai Ye.

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Related Products

Nong's Xiong Gui Jiao Ai Tang Extract Granules

Nong's Xiong Gui Jiao Ai Tang (Chuan Xiong, Angelica and Donkey-Hide Gelatin Decoction) 5:1 Concentrated Granules $60.88

Hoi Tin Jiao Ai Tang (Donkey-Hide Gelatin and Mugwort Decoction) 5:1 Concentrated Granules $45.80

Learn More About Ai Ye

Explore our in-depth article covering the traditional uses, properties, functions, and TCM context of Ai Ye.

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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.