Description
Cold in nature. Bitter and sweet in taste. It enters the lung, and liver meridians.
· Its Cold nature means it clears Heat and has a cooling effect.
· The Bitter flavour helps to alleviate Heat and Dryness.
· The Sweet flavour adds a mild moistening quality.
· Entering the Lung meridian means it treats respiratory issues.
· Entering the Liver meridian means it treats eye and certain head-related disorders.
Health Benefits
Nourishes yin and moisturizes dryness, harmonizes the stomach, promotes body fluids and quenches thirst, clears internal heat, lowers blood lipids, nourishes the skin, calms the nerves and strengthens the heart. Dispels Wind-Heat, Clears Lung Heat and Moistens Lung Dryness, Clears Liver Heat and Benefits the Eyes
Dispels Wind-Heat
· This is its most classic use. Sāng Yè is a key herb for treating the early stages of common colds and flu that present with Wind-Heat symptoms. These are different from the “chilly” symptoms of a Wind-Cold cold.
· Symptoms it treats : Fever, slight aversion to wind, sore throat, headache, and cough with yellow phlegm.
Clears Lung Heat and Moistens Lung Dryness
· It is especially useful for a dry, hacking cough or a severe cough with thick, difficult-to-expectorate phlegm caused by Heat drying out the Lung fluids. This is common in autumn or in dry climates.
Clears Liver Heat and Benefits the Eyes
· By clearing Heat from the Liver channel (which opens into the eyes), Sāng Yè is used to treat eye conditions.
· Symptoms it treats: Red, swollen, painful eyes, excessive tearing, and blurred vision due to rising Liver Fire or Wind-Heat.
Ideal for Individual Experiencing :
· The Common Cold & Flu : Used in formulas for the early stage of a cold with fever, headache, and sore throat (e.g., in the formula Sang Ju Yin – Mulberry Leaf and Chrysanthemum Decoction).
· Cough : Especially effective for a dry, painful cough with scanty or yellow phlegm.
· Eye Discomfort : Used for conjunctivitis (“pink eye”), blurred vision, and dizziness attributed to Liver Yang rising or Liver Heat.
· Headaches and Dizziness : Associated with Liver Heat or Wind.
Common Usage and Preparation
1. Tea / Decoction : Steep in hot water for 5-10 minutes. Can be re-steeped several times. or Simmer on the stove for a richer flavour.
2. Powder or Capsules : Ground into a powder and taken with warm water or encapsulated. For convenient daily supplementation in smaller, maintained doses.
· This is the quintessential formula for the early stage of a Wind-Heat common cold.
· Chief Herb : Mulberry Leaf (Sāng Yè) and Chrysanthemum (Jú Huá) work together to disperse Wind-Heat.
· Function : It is lighter and more targeted for upper respiratory symptoms (cough, sore throat) than other cold formulas.
Precautions
· An acute condition : Such as common cold or flu with fever and chills.
· Spleen and Stomach Deficiency Cold : Symptoms include chronic loose stools, cold limbs, poor appetite, and abdominal pain that feels better with warmth.
· A Cold-type Common Cold (Wind-Cold) : Characterized by severe chills, slight fever, no sweating, clear nasal discharge, and no thirst.
· Pregnancy and young children : Not recommended to use. All herbs are not for infants.
· Medical Conditions : If you have hypertension, auto-immune diseases, diabetes, allergy or are on medication, consultation with a doctor is essential.
** Disclaimer: Not a substitute for medicine. Individual results may vary. Always consult a qualified TCM practitioner or healthcare professional before consume any herbal medicine, especially when you have underlying health conditions.
