Pharmaceutical Name:

Rhizoma Imperatae

Botanical Name:

Imperata cylindrical Beauv. Var. major (Nees.) C. E. Hubb.

Common Name:

Imperata rhizome
Woody grass

Source of Earliest Record:

Shennong Bencao Jing

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations:

The rhizomes are dug in spring or autumn, cleaned, dried in the sun and cut into small pieces.

Properties and Taste:

Sweet and cold

Meridians:

Lung, stomach, and urinary bladder

Functions:

To cool blood and stop bleeding
To clear heat and promote urination

Indications and Combinations:

1.     Hemorrhages due to extravasation of blood by heat.
*Use with Biota tops (Cebaiye), Smell thistle (Xiaoji) and Cattail pollen (Puhuang).

2.      Hot urination, edema and damp-heat jaundice.
*Use with Plantain seed (Cheqianzi) and Lysimachia (Jinqiancao).

Dosage:

15-30 g (30-60 g. if fresh herb)