Plantago Seed Chinese Herb
Plantago Seed (Che Qian Zi): A Sweet Herb for Promoting Urination, Clearing Damp-Heat, and Brightening the Eyes
Introduction
Plantago seed, known as Che Qian Zi (车前子) in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is sweet and cold. It is valued for promoting urination, draining damp-heat, clearing the Liver and Lung, and improving eye health. Che Qian Zi is especially used for urinary difficulty, diarrhea from damp-heat, cough with phlegm, and eye redness or blurred vision. Its downward-directing and draining nature makes it an essential herb for dampness and heat disorders.
What Is Plantago Seed?
Che Qian Zi comes from the mature seeds of Plantago asiatica or Plantago depressa, small annual or perennial herbs commonly found in fields and roadsides. In TCM, it is classified as sweet and cold, entering the Kidney, Liver, Lung, and Small Intestine meridians. Its sinking nature allows it to promote urination, clear damp-heat, and benefit the eyes.
Health Benefits of Plantago Seed
Promotes urination and drains dampness – Effective for edema, urinary difficulty, and damp-heat strangury.
Clears damp-heat from intestines – Used for diarrhea or dysentery due to damp-heat.
Clears Liver heat and benefits the eyes – Treats red, swollen, or painful eyes, blurred vision.
Clears Lung heat and transforms phlegm – Helps relieve cough and wheezing with thick sputum.
How to Use Plantago Seed
Decoction – Commonly boiled, but seeds should be wrapped in cloth or gauze to avoid dispersal in water.
Powder – Ground seeds may be taken with water for urinary problems.
Pills or herbal formulas – Often combined with other herbs for damp-heat or phlegm disorders.
Where to Buy Plantago Seed
TCM shops – Available as whole dried seeds.
Herbal suppliers – Sold online in bulk or powdered form.
Look for: small, glossy, brown seeds with a slightly sweet, bland taste.
Are There Any Side Effects?
Che Qian Zi is generally safe but should be used with caution in those with spermatorrhea from Kidney deficiency or those with slippery stools. Its draining nature may aggravate weakness or diarrhea if overused.
Conclusion
Plantago seed (Che Qian Zi) is a sweet, cooling herb that drains damp-heat, promotes urination, clears the eyes, and transforms phlegm. Its ability to both sink and drain makes it indispensable in treating dampness-related urinary, intestinal, eye, and respiratory conditions.
FAQ
Can it help with eye problems? – Yes, it clears Liver heat and improves vision in redness or blurriness.
Does it relieve urinary issues? – Yes, it promotes urination and eases damp-heat painful dribbling.
Should it be wrapped in decoction? – Yes, to prevent seeds from dispersing in water.