Sang Ye (Mulberry Leaf)

Official Sang Ye (桑叶) is the dried leaf of Morus alba. The pharmacopoeial name is Mori Folium. Leaves gathered after the first frost are Shuang Sang Ye / Dong Sang Ye, better to clear and disperse. Mi Sang Ye is honey-fried: less cold, better to moisten the Lung and stop cough. Sang Zhi is the young twig: dispels wind-damp and benefits the joints. Sang Bai Pi is the root bark: drains the Lung, calms wheezing and promotes urination. Sang Shen is the fruit spike: enriches Yin, supplements Blood and generates fluid. Same tree, different parts—not equal swaps. Write Sang Ye or Mi Sang Ye.

According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Sang Ye is sweet, bitter and cold, enters the Lung and Liver channels, and acts to disperse wind-heat, clear the Lung and moisten dryness, and clear the Liver to brighten the eyes. It is used for wind-heat common cold, Lung-heat dry cough, dizziness and headache, and red eyes with blurred vision. Sweet-bitter-cold, light and upward—suited to wind-heat, Lung dryness and Liver-heat eye disorders, not to Spleen-Stomach deficient cold or overuse in Liver dryness with fluid injury.

Wind-heat common cold and red eyes use raw frost Sang Ye; Lung-dryness dry cough uses honey-fried Sang Ye. Chop and decoct; first- or late-decoction is not required. Externally, decoct and wash the eyes or fumigate—only clean, pesticide-free leaf. Pairing with chrysanthemum and mint strengthens dispersal.