Pharmaceutical Name:

Spica Prunellae

Botanical Name:

Prunella Vulgaris L.

Common Name:

Prunella Spike
Selfheal Spike

Source of Earliest Record:

Shennong Bencao Jing

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations:

The spikes are gathered in summer and dried in the sun.

Properties and Taste:

Bitter, pungent and cold

Meridian:

Liver and gall bladder

Functions:

To clear the fire in the liver
To dissipate accumulation of nodules

Indications and Combinations:

1.     Flaring up of the liver fire manifested as red, painful, swollen and watery eyes, headaches and dizziness.
*Use with Sea-ear shell (Shijueming) and Chrysanthemum flower (Juhua).

2.      Accumulation of phlegm-fire manifested as scrofula, lipoma, swollen glands or goiter.
*Use with Oyster shell (Muli), Scrophularia (Xuanshen) and Laminaria (Kunbu).

Dosage:

10-15 g

Cautions:

This herb should be used with caution in cases with a weak stomach and spleen.