Small thistle (Xiaoji)

Pharmaceutical Name : Herba Cirsii segeti

Botanical Name : Cirsium segetum Bge.

Common Name : Small thistle

Source of Earliest Record : Mingyi Bielu

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations : The aerial parts of the plant and its rhizome are harvested in summer when the thistle is flowering. Then they are cleaned, dried in the sun and cut into pieces.

Properties & Taste : Sweet and cool

Meridians : Heart and liver

Functions:
1. To cool blood and stop bleeding;
2. To promote urination

Indications & Combinations:

1. Hemorrhages due to extravasation of blood by heat. Small thistle (Xiaoji) is used with Imperata rhizome (Baimaogen), Cattail pollen (Puhuang) and Biota tops (Cebaiye).

2. Bloody urine, painful urination. Small thistle (Xiaoji) is used with Lotus node (Oujie), Talc (Huashi) and Clematis stem (Mutong) in the formula Xiaoji Yinzi.

Dosage: 10-15 g (30-60 g for fresh herb)