Di Fu Zi
Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad.
☯ TCM Properties
Clears Heat and Drains Dampness; Promotes Urination and Relieves Stranguria; Dispels Wind and Stops Itching
Botanical Description
Bassia scoparia (syn. Kochia scoparia), summer cypress or burningbush, is a much-branched annual herb of the family Amaranthaceae (formerly Chenopodiaceae) native to temperate Eurasia and widely naturalised — often as a noxious weed — across North America, Australia and elsewhere. It forms a dense, pyramidal to ovoid bush 50-150 cm tall with slender, finely striate green to reddish stems and numerous narrow, linear to lanceolate sessile leaves 2-5 cm long, light green in summer and turning vivid red in autumn. Inconspicuous greenish, sessile, perfect or pistillate flowers without true petals are borne singly or in small clusters in the upper leaf axils, the perianth developing five short, transverse, membranous wings in fruit. The fruit is a small, depressed-globose utricle 1-3 mm wide containing a single flattened blackish seed.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 9-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional Chinese Uses
Di Fu Zi (broom cypress fruit, kochia fruit) is a cold herb used in Chinese medicine primarily to drain Damp-Heat from the Bladder and skin. It relieves itching and burning from Damp-Heat skin conditions — including eczema, genital itching, and urticaria — both when used topically as a wash and when taken internally. Its diuretic action also addresses urinary burning, painful urination, and fluid retention from Damp-Heat accumulation in the lower burner.
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.