Da Ji - Japanese Thistle
TCM Materia Medica
Da Ji TCM Herb Classifications and Usages
The TCM herb "da ji" which in english is "japanese thistle", is categorized within the "herbs that stop bleeding" functional grouping. It is thought to enter the liver and spleen channels and exhibits cool and sweet (gan) taste/temperature properties.
Dosages and preparations will vary according to each individual and the overall approach of a formula, but generally this herb has the following dosage and/or preparation guidelines:
- Dosage: 4.5-15g
- Fresh: 30-60g
- Available in our store in granules - da xiao ji - 100 gram Cirsium granules
Of many possible clinical applications, it may be considered to influence the following issues/symptoms:
- Cools the blood, stops bleeding due to reckless movement of hot blood - nosebleed, vomiting blood, blood in urine or stool, uterine bleeding, heavy menstrual bleeding.
- Reduces swelling, generates flesh - topically for carbuncles, sores, swellings.
- Internal abscesses - intestinal, lung.
- Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
- Nephritis, hematuria.
- Can be used alone for hypertension, particularly from liver heat or liver fire, but can be used in conjunction with other formulas.
- Studies have shown benefits for pancreatic beta cells - pancreatic cancer, diabetes.
Da Ji has some precautions to be considered (see our precautions list).
- Use with caution and only under direct supervision with pregnancy.
- Use with caution when signs of stomach and/or spleen deficiency are present - particularly watery stools.
- Use with caution in patients with no or limited signs of blood stagnation.
- As Da Ji contains vitamin K it may reduce the effect of certain blood thinners. While it isn't necessarily to be avoided, it should be used with caution on patients using drugs such as warfarin.
A single herb is not often thought of as an empirical way to influence a TCM diagnostic pattern. Da Ji, however, is a strong candidate to be considered when needing to influence heat in the blood, liver and gallbladder damp heat and/or liver fire.
Da Ji may potentially be used, in coordination with a well tailored formula (in most cases), to influence the following conditions: diabetes type i, diabetes type ii, hypertension (high blood pressure), jaundice, menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding), nephrotic syndrome, nosebleed (epistaxis), pancreatic cancer and/or uterine bleeding
As noted above, da ji is within the herbs that stop bleeding functional group. All the herbs in this category are listed below.
(truncated intro "... useful for uterine bleeding, excess menses, bleeding from trauma, vomiting of blood, nose bleeds, and blood in the urine. )".
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