Quick Facts
| Latin Name | Eriocauli Flos |
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| Chinese Name & Pinyin | 谷精草 · Gu Jing Cao |
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| Medicinal Part | Flowers |
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| Efficacy Category | Heat-clearing |
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| Botanical Origin | The dried flower head and accompanying stem of Eriocaulon buergerianum Koern.(Eriocaulaceae) |
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| Nature & Flavour | Acrid, Sweet; Neutral |
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| Channels Entered | Liver, Lung |
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What Is Gu Jing Cao?
Gu Jing Cao (Buerger Pipewort Head) is a medicinal herb of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Anhui, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Zhejiang.
Nature & Flavour: Acrid, Sweet; Neutral
Channels Entered: Liver, Lung
Gu Jing Cao: Materia Medica Profile
Identification & Quality Standard
Eriocauli Flos
Botanical Origin
The dried flower head and accompanying stem of Eriocaulon buergerianum Koern.(Eriocaulaceae)
Production Regions
Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Anhui, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Zhejiang.
Quality Requirements
Superior medicinal material has large and tight ‘pearls’, grayish-white color, short yellowish-green stem, no roots, leaves or foreign matter.
Macroscopic Features
Flower head is sub-spherical, 4~5mm diameter; base has scale-like pale yellow bracts, densely arranged in a plate-like shape; 30~40 small flowers, grayish-white, densely arranged, externally covered white thin powder; after hand-crushing, numerous black small granules and grayish-green small seeds can be seen. Below the flower head, one thin long stem is connected, 15~18cm long, lustrous. Soft texture, difficult to break. faint odor; tasteless, becomes a lump when chewed.
Traditional TCM Properties
Acrid, Sweet; NeutralLiverLung
Traditional Functions
Disperses wind-heat, brightens the eyes and removes nebula.
How Gu Jing Cao Is Used in TCM
In the Chinese materia medica, Gu Jing Cao is classified among the Heat-clearing herbs.
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.
