Fruits and seedsDampness-drainingSemen Plantaginis

Che Qian Zi (Plantago Seed)

車前子 · Che Qian Zi

Dampness-draining herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Traditional functions: Clears heat, promotes urination, percolates dampness, stops diarrhea, brightens the eyes, dispels phlegm.

In-Depth Guide

Want to learn more about Che Qian Zi?

Read our in-depth guide →

Quick Facts

Latin NameSemen Plantaginis
Chinese Name & Pinyin車前子 · Che Qian Zi
Medicinal PartFruits and seeds
Efficacy CategoryDampness-draining
Botanical OriginThe dried mature seed of Plantago asiatica L. or Plantago depressa Willd. (Plantaginaceae).
Nature & FlavourSweet, Bland; Slightly cold
Channels EnteredLiver, Kidney, Lung, Small Intestine

What Is Che Qian Zi?

Che Qian Zi (Plantago Seed) is a medicinal herb of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Produced in areas all around China.

Nature & Flavour: Sweet, Bland; Slightly cold
Channels Entered: Liver, Kidney, Lung, Small Intestine

Che Qian Zi: Materia Medica Profile

Identification & Quality Standard

Semen Plantaginis

Botanical Origin

The dried mature seed of Plantago asiatica L. or Plantago depressa Willd. (Plantaginaceae).

Production Regions

Produced in areas all around China.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material is large, evenly full, brownish-red.

Macroscopic Features

Slightly oval or irregular long spherical shape, slightly flat, about 2mm long, 1mm wide. Externally pale brown or brown, slightly rough. With magnification, thin longitudinal wrinkles can be seen; relatively flat side has pale yellow intended spotty hilum in the middle. Hard texture; fractured surface is grayish-white. After placing the seed into water, the outer seed coat becomes mucilaginous. faint odor, sticky when chewed.

Traditional TCM Properties

Sweet, Bland; Slightly coldLiverKidneyLungSmall Intestine

Traditional Functions

Clears heat, promotes urination, percolates dampness, stops diarrhea, brightens the eyes, dispels phlegm. Apply to difficulty in micturition, whitish and turbid urine, edema fullness, leukorrhea, conjunctival congestion and eye screens, cough and panting due to heat and phlegm.

How Che Qian Zi Is Used in TCM

In the Chinese materia medica, Che Qian Zi is classified among the Dampness-draining herbs. It appears in 7 classical formulas in our library.

Formulas containing Che Qian Zi are traditionally used for:

Frequent UrinationAbdominal PainDry Mouth & ThroatConstipationPoor AppetiteLow LibidoPremature EjaculationBitter Taste in MouthLiver Qi StagnationDamp-Heat ConstitutionEdemaFrequent Nocturia

Classical Formulas Containing Che Qian Zi

+3 more

Herbs Commonly Combined with Che Qian Zi

Qu MaiBian XuHua ShiZhi ZiGan CaoMu TongDa HuangShan YaoQian ShiHuang BaiBai GuoBai Zhu

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Che Qian Zi? Is it the same as Che Qian Cao?
Che Qian Zi (车前子) is the dried ripe seed of Plantago asiatica or Plantago depressa. The pharmacopoeial name is Plantaginis Semen. Fruit spikes are harvested in summer and autumn and the seeds rubbed out. Che Qian Cao is the whole herb: stronger to clear heat and resolve toxin, a little weaker to promote urine. The seed is more specific for strangury, brightening the eyes and expelling phlegm. They are two parts of one plant and must not be written interchangeably. Roadside plantain is not a pharmacy slice.
What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Che Qian Zi?
According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Che Qian Zi is sweet and cold, enters the Liver, Kidney, Lung and Small Intestine channels, and acts to clear heat, promote urination and drain strangury, leach dampness to stop diarrhea, brighten the eyes, and expel phlegm. It is used for hot painful urinary dysfunction, edema with fullness, summer-damp diarrhea, red swollen painful eyes and Phlegm-Heat cough. Sweet-cold and slippery, it moves water without being harshly drying and can send dampness out through the urine so the stool firms.
Why must Che Qian Zi be wrapped for decoction? How do raw and salt-fried seeds differ?
Wrap it. The seeds are tiny and mucilaginous; loose in the pot they gel, stick and clog the strainer. Raw seed leans toward clearing heat, draining strangury, clearing Liver heat from the eyes and clearing Lung phlegm. Salt-fried seed is fried until it pops, then sprayed with brine: slightly salty, guided to the Kidney, better when deficiency meets damp edema or dim vision. Dry-frying is also used to leach dampness and stop diarrhea. The script should say raw or salt-fried.
Read the complete guide →

Related Products

Nong's Che Qian Zi Concentrated GranulesNong's Che Qian Zi (Plantain Seed) Single Herb 5:1 Concentrated Granules $49.11 Hoi Tin Ba Zheng San GranulesHoi Tin Ba Zheng San (Eight-Herb Powder for Rectification) 5:1 Concentrated Granules $20.76 nongs-ba-zheng-san-extract-granulesNong's Ba Zheng San (Eight-Herb Powder for Rectification) 5:1 Concentrated Granules $44.83 Nong's Yi Huang Tang Extract GranulesNong's Yi Huang Tang (Change the Yellow Decoction) 5:1 Concentrated Granules $40.55 Hoi Tin Wan Dai Tang Extract GranulesHoi Tin Wan Dai Tang (End Discharge Decoction) 5:1 Concentrated Granules $24.93 Nong's Wan Dai Tang Extract GranulesNong's Wan Dai Tang (End Discharge Decoction) 5:1 Concentrated Granules $56.60 Hoi Tin Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan Wu Zi Yan Zong Ke Li Extract GranulesHoi Tin Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan (Five Seeds Formula) 5:1 Concentrated Granules $33.28 Hoi Tin Long Dan Xie Gan Tang Extract GranulesHoi Tin Long Dan Xie Gan Tang (Gentiana Decoction to Drain the Liver) 5:1 Concentrated Granules $24.93

Related Articles

Learn More About Che Qian Zi

Explore our in-depth article covering the traditional uses, properties, functions, and TCM context of Che Qian Zi.

Read the Che Qian Zi Guide →

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.

© 2026 HJMEDICAL, Powered by Shopify

  • American Express
  • Apple Pay
  • Bancontact
  • Google Pay
  • Mastercard
  • MB WAY
  • PayPal
  • Shop Pay
  • Union Pay
  • Visa

Login

Forgot your password?

Don't have an account yet?
Create account