Elsholtzia
Other Names: Small Elsholtzia, Wild Perilla, Elsholtzia Grass, Xiang Rong.
Flavor Profile and Energetic Properties: Pungent (่พ); Slightly warm (ๅพฎๆธฉ).
Meridian Affinity: Enters the Lung and Stomach meridians.
Medicinal Part Used: The entire plant with roots or the aerial parts of *Elsholtzia splendens* or *Mosla chinensis*, both plants belonging to the Lamiaceae family.
How to Use and Dosage of Elsholtzia
Usage: Decoction for oral intake, 3-9g.
Preparation Method: Remove impurities, moisten with water, remove residual roots, cut into sections, and dry in the sun.
Traditional Actions and Effects of Elsholtzia
Actions: Induces sweating to release external pathogens, transforms dampness and harmonizes the Middle Jiao (Spleen and Stomach), promotes urination to reduce swelling.
Main Indications: Common cold due to wind-cold invasion, edema, and beriberi (a condition characterized by fluid retention in the legs, often referred to as "foot qi" in TCM).
Contraindications for Elsholtzia
Avoid in cases of exterior deficiency (a TCM pattern characterized by a weakened protective *Qi* on the body's surface, making one prone to external pathogens).
Traditional Formulas and Combinations using Elsholtzia
โ To address disharmony of the Spleen and Stomach, chest and diaphragm stagnation, internal perception of wind-cold, external invasion of cold pathogens, aversion to cold with high fever, body aches and pains, lethargy in limbs and joints, cholera-like vomiting, stomach pain with acid reflux/upset, alcohol intoxication/hangover, and headaches from seasonal cold/flu: Take two ounces of Elsholtzia (soil removed), half an ounce of licorice (baked), one ounce each of stir-fried hyacinth bean, processed magnolia bark (peeled, stir-fried with ginger juice), and Poria with pine root. Grind all into a fine powder. For each dose, take two *qian* (approx. 6g), mix with boiling water and a pinch of salt. (From "Ju Fang" Xiang Ru Tang).
โก To treat cholera with vomiting and diarrhea, limb pain, cold sweats, and excessive thirst: Take two ounces of Elsholtzia and one ounce of water pepper seeds. Roughly pound and sift these two ingredients. For each dose, take two *qian bi* (a small spoon, approx. 6g), add one cup of water, decoct until seven tenths remain, remove dregs, and drink warm three times a day. (From "Sheng Ji Zong Lu" Xiang Ru Tang).
โข To treat cholera with abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea: Take one *sheng* (approx. 1 liter) of fresh Elsholtzia (chopped), one *sheng* of crushed small garlic, six ounces of processed magnolia bark, and ten ounces of fresh ginger. Chop these four ingredients, add one *dou* (approx. 10 liters) of water, boil until three *sheng* remain. Divide into three doses, drink warm until vomiting and diarrhea stop. (From "Jiu Ji Fang" Xiang Ru Tang).
โฃ To treat sudden wind-water edema, generalized swelling, or swelling with sores: Take one *jin* (approx. 500g) of dried Elsholtzia and seven ounces of White Atractylodes. Pound the Atractylodes and sift it. Decoction Elsholtzia thickly to extract its juice, then mix with the Atractylodes powder to form pills the size of Wutong seeds. Take ten pills per dose, four to five times day and night. It is extremely effective for promoting urination. In summer, using both flowers and leaves is also good. Avoid eating blue fish, seaweed, Chinese cabbage, peaches, plums, and sparrow meat. (From "Seng Shen Ji Fang" Xiang Ru Shu Wan).
โค To treat sudden bleeding from the tongue, as if pierced by a drill: Drink one *sheng* of Elsholtzia juice three times a day. (From "Zhou Hou Fang").
โฅ For heatstroke (e.g., lying in dampness and wind during summer, or irregular diet of cold food, causing headache, fever, muscle cramps, dry heaving, cold limbs, etc.): Take one *jin* of Elsholtzia, half a *jin* each of processed magnolia bark (stir-fried with ginger juice) and slightly stir-fried hyacinth bean. Coarsely chop these ingredients. For each dose, take five *qian* (approx. 15g), add two bowls of water and half a bowl of wine, decoct into one bowl. Let it cool in water before drinking. Take two doses consecutively for good effect. This formula is called "Xiang Ru Yin." The hyacinth bean in this formula can be replaced with processed Coptis (stir-fried with ginger juice). (Elsholtzia is often used to address the effects of summer-heat, particularly when combined with an external cold invasion).
โฆ For edema: Take fifty *jin* of Elsholtzia, chop and put into a pot, add water and boil for a long time. Remove dregs and continue to concentrate the decoction until it can be kneaded into pills, the size of Wutong seeds. Take five pills per dose, three times a day. The dosage can be gradually increased daily until urination is smooth. This formula is called "Xiang Ru Jian." Another formula: Take one *jin* of Elsholtzia leaves, add one *dou* of water, boil until soft, remove dregs, and further concentrate into a paste. Add seven ounces of White Atractylodes powder to form pills the size of Wutong seeds. Take ten pills per dose, with rice water. This formula is called "Shen Shi Ru Shu Wan."
โง For vexation and hypochondriac pain: Take one to two *sheng* of pounded Elsholtzia juice and drink it.
โจ For persistent nosebleeds: Grind Elsholtzia into powder, take one *qian* with water.
Classical Commentaries and Scholarly Discussions on Elsholtzia
1. "Bencao Yanyi Buyi" states: "Elsholtzia has the ability to act throughout the body, from top to bottom, and is very effective in treating water retention. When the Lung benefits from it, its clearing and transforming functions proceed, and heat naturally subsides. Large-leaf Elsholtzia also treats summer-heat injury and promotes urination. A thick decoction concentrated into a paste, made into pills and taken, is effective for hydrops. The 'Bencao' (Materia Medica) states that it is indispensable for treating cholera."
2. "Bencao Gangmu" states: "Physicians traditionally use Xiang Ru Yin as the primary medicine for summer illnesses. However, summer illnesses resulting from excessive cooling or cold drinks, where Yang Qi is suppressed by Yin pathogens, leading to headache, fever, aversion to cold, vexation, thirst, or vomiting and diarrhea, or cholera-like symptoms, are suitable for this herb to activate Yang Qi, disperse water, and harmonize the Spleen. If, however, the summer illness is due to irregular diet, overexertion, or emotional distress, presenting with intense heat, extreme thirst, profuse sweating, vexation, shortness of breath, or severe diarrhea and vomiting, these are internal injury patterns due to fatigue. In such cases, one must use formulas like Dongyuan's Qing Shu Yi Qi Tang (Clear Summer-Heat and Augment Qi Decoction) or Ren Shen Bai Hu Tang (Ginseng White Tiger Decoction) to clear heat and replenish *Yuan Qi*. Using Elsholtzia in such cases would further deplete the exterior and intensify heat. Elsholtzia is a summer exterior-releasing herb, similar to Ma Huang in winter. Those with Qi deficiency should not take it in large amounts. People nowadays, unaware that summer-heat can injure *Yuan Qi*, indiscriminately use it as a tea, claiming it dispels summer-heat, which is utterly foolish. Furthermore, its warm nature means it should not be drunk hot, as it can cause vomiting. It should only be consumed cold to avoid discomfort. Its efficacy in treating water retention is indeed remarkable." PMID: 34293998
3. "Bencao Jingshu" states: "Elsholtzia, being pungent and dispersing, warm and้ (tonifying/unblocking), can resolve summer-heat trapped by cold. Cholera-like abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and muscle cramps often arise in summer due to excessive consumption of raw and cold foods, with external pathogens combining with internal injury. Its pungent warmth unblocks Qi, thereby harmonizing the Middle Jiao and releasing the exterior, hence its indications. Its ability to disperse edema is due to its function of eliminating dampness and promoting diuresis."
4. "Bencao Huiyan" states: "Elsholtzia is an herb that harmonizes the Spleen and treats water retention. When used for summer-heat injury, it eliminates accumulated water; when used for cholera, it calms vexation; when used for edema, it promotes urination. Its pungent warmth facilitates water movement, demonstrating effects throughout the body, from top to bottom. Its sweet warmth harmonizes the Spleen, exhibiting the function of dispelling turbidity and restoring clarity. Therefore, when the Lung benefits from it, the clear Qi circulates, and accumulated heat naturally subsides. When the Spleen benefits from it, turbid Qi does not obstruct, and the water pathways flow smoothly."
5. "Bencao Fengyuan" states: "Elsholtzia has an ascending and then descending action. Therefore, when taken hot, it can disperse summer pathogens; when drunk cold, it clears heat and promotes urination, being very effective for water retention." PMID: 36881254
6. "You Ke Yao Lue" states: "According to the 'Bencao,' Elsholtzia is pungent and warm, dispersing, and can eliminate stagnant water. For summer-heat with obstructed Qi, no sweating, and thirst due to water retention, Elsholtzia must be combined with apricot kernels, as apricot kernels are bitter, descending, and disperse Qi. It also states that Elsholtzia, being pungent and warm with an ascending Qi, tends to cause vomiting if taken hot. Combining it with bitter-descending herbs like apricot kernels, Coptis, or Scutellaria prevents vomiting."
7. "Bencao Zheng Yi" states: "Elsholtzia has a clear and pungent taste, and a light and ascending nature. On the upper body, it can open the pores, disperse Lung Qi, reach the skin and hair to resolve exterior cold; on the lower body, it can clear the Triple Burner, unblock the bladder, and promote urination to guide out internal water. 'Bielu' indicated it for cholera with abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, which refers to summer cold injury to the Middle Yang from cold food and drinks, causing chaotic Qi circulation, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe abdominal pain. Elsholtzia can unblock Yang Qi, thus treating this condition. However, this only applies to mild 'cold-type cholera.' If symptoms include cold limbs, faint pulse, sunken eyes, pale face, and paper-white lips and tongue, indicating a severe 'true cold' (Yin-type) condition directly attacking the interior, then large doses of Ginger, Aconite, Coptis, and Cornus are needed to save one in ten; light and clear Elsholtzia is not sufficient. Its ability to disperse edema means that when water overflows to the skin surface, it is appropriate to release the exterior by 'opening the 'gate of ghosts' (a metaphor for promoting sweating and opening the pores). Moreover, when Lung Qi is open and clear, its descending function normalizes, leading to smooth urination, and edema naturally subsides. Elsholtzia releases the exterior, unblocks Yang, and also promotes urination, making it very effective for swelling. This principle is no different from how Ma Huang resolves the exterior and can also reduce swelling. 'Bielu' used the word 'disperse,' emphasizing that the reduction of swelling is primarily through dispersing the exterior, not solely through diuresis, which further clarifies its purpose. Ancient practitioners often considered this herb essential for treating summer-heat, referring specifically to cases where cold in summer closes off internal heat, causing symptoms like fever, aversion to cold, and headache. In such cases, Elsholtzia's role in unblocking Yang and releasing the exterior is its specific duty. Its ability to guide water and resolve dampness further aligns with summer conditions involving damp-heat accumulation and impaired bladder function. It does not mean that Elsholtzia can treat all summer illnesses." PMID: 37731737
8. "Bielu" states: "It primarily treats cholera, abdominal pain with vomiting and diarrhea, and disperses edema."
9. "Rihua Zi Bencao" states: "It descends Qi, eliminates vexation and heat, and treats vomiting and cold Qi."
10. "Diannan Bencao" states: "It releases the exterior and expels pathogens, treats headaches from heatstroke, abdominal pain from summer diarrhea, summer-heat cough, induces sweating, warms the Stomach, and harmonizes the Middle Jiao."
3-Second Self-Check, 30-Second Self-Rescue with Elsholtzia
- If you're experiencing a sudden cold with chills, headache, and body aches, especially during summer, feeling like you've been caught in a draft or drank too many cold beverages...
- Then immediately consider a warm decoction containing Elsholtzia to help release the external chill and promote gentle sweating.
- If you feel bloated, heavy, or notice swelling in your legs or feet, indicating potential dampness or water retention...
- Then immediately explore remedies with Elsholtzia, known for its ability to promote urination and reduce swelling, helping to clear excess fluids.
