This product is the whole herb of the perennial herbaceous plant Lycopus lucidus (Lycopus lucidus Turcz.) or Lycopus lucidus var. hirtus (L. lucidus Turcz. var. hirtus Regel.) of the Lamiaceae family. It is mainly produced in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, and other provinces. The above-ground part is harvested in summer when the stems and leaves are lush but the flowers have not yet opened, cleaned of soil and impurities, and dried.

Shiny Bugleweed and Fortune Eupatorium are sometimes confused. In some areas of Hunan, Fujian, Guangdong, and Guizhou provinces, the herbaceous plant Fortune Eupatorium (Eupatorium fortunei Turcz.) or Shiny Bugleweed (山蘭) (E. japonicum Thunb.) of the Asteraceae family is used as Shiny Bugleweed. However, since the two herbs have different functions and indications, they should not be mixed. The most distinguishable feature between Asteraceae Fortune Eupatorium and Shiny Bugleweed is that Fortune Eupatorium has a cylindrical herbaceous stem, while Shiny Bugleweed has a square stem with red nodes.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Bitter and acrid, slightly warm. Benjing: "bitter, slightly warm." "Wu Pu materia medica": "Shen Nong, Huang Di, Qi Bo, Tong Jun: sour, nontoxic. Li: warm." Bielu: "sweet, nontoxic." Yaoxing Lun: "bitter and acrid." act on liver and spleen meridians. Diannan Bencao: "Act on liver and spleen meridians." Leigong Paozhi Yaoxing Jie: "Act on small intestine meridian."

bubble_chart Efficacy

Invigorating blood and resolving stasis, promoting diuresis and reducing swelling.

bubble_chart Indications

Used for amenorrhea, abdominal mass, postpartum pain, edema, and traumatic injuries.

1. Bencao Jing Jizhu: "Stephania Tetrandra is used as an envoy. When paired with fourstamen stephania root, it promotes blood circulation and diuresis, unblocking water and dispersing edema; when paired with Fortune Eupatorium, it invigorates blood and removes stagnation, breaking blood stasis, and promotes menstruation and diuresis; when paired with Chinese Angelica, it activates blood circulation, breaking blood stasis, moving qi, and promoting menstruation; when paired with Coptis Rhizome, it invigorates blood and resolves stasis, clears heat, and purges fire."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

3-9 grams, decocted for oral use. Apply fresh product externally as needed. After slicing, avoid exposure to sunlight or drying.

bubble_chart Cautions and Contraindications

Contraindicated for pregnant women. Use with caution in those without static blood. Depei Bencao: "Contraindicated in cases of blood deficiency and constipation."

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

Contains volatile oils, glucosides, tannins, and resins; also contains flavonoids, phenols, amino acids, organic acids, saponins, and various sugars.