Pharmaceutical name: Semen Plantaginis (seeds)
Botanical name: Plantago major L. or Plantago depressa
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Common name: Asiatic plantain, broadleaf plantain, greater plantain, large plantain
Properties: Sweet, cold
Channels entered: Liver, kidney, bladder and lung channels
Part used: Seed

Actions & Indications: Being sweet and cold for lubricating, clearing, lowering and descending, the herb can clear away damp-heat from the lower-jiao to induce diuresis and treat stranguria, and it is indicated for edema, stranguria, diarrhea and other syndromes due to damp-heat. The herb can also clear away heat from the lung and liver, relieve cough, improve vision and treat cough due to lung-heat and conjunctival congestion due to liver-heat and other syndromes.

Effects: Inducing diuresis, treating stranguria, clearing heat from the liver for improving vision, removing heat from the lung to clear phlegm, to improve vision, to treat flaming-up of the liver-fire and conjunctival congestion with swelling and pain; to nourish the liver and improve vision, to treat Yin-deficiency of the liver and kidney and blurred vision. To treat cough with yellow, sticky and thick phlegm due to lung-heat.

Cautions & Contraindications: Do not use during pregnancy. Use caution in cases deficient Yang Qi or exhaustion.

If you have any questions about the safety of any herb used in Chinese medicine, consult with Dr. April L. Schulte-Barclay, DAOM, LAc