☯ TCM Properties
Clears Heat, cools and invigorates the Blood, dissipates Stagnation, reduces swelling, removes skin spots and alleviates pain; Dispels Wind and dredges the meridians
Traditional Chinese Uses
Jiu Jie Cha (also Zhong Jie Feng), the whole plant of Sarcandra glabra, is a heat-clearing herb that is acrid, bitter and neutral, entering the Heart and Liver. It clears Heat, cools and invigorates the Blood, dissipates stagnation, reduces swelling and relieves pain, and dispels Wind-Damp to free the channels.
It treats Heat-toxin sore throat, tonsillitis, pneumonia and appendicitis, sores and abscesses, and Wind-Damp painful obstruction with joint swelling and pain; its Blood-invigorating action serves traumatic injury, fracture and bleeding, and it is used in supportive care of tumours. Taken as a decoction or, popularly, as a tea in parts of southern China, it is also applied topically to bruises and wounds.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Jiu Jie Cha (九節茶), also known as Zhong Jie Feng (腫節風), is the dried whole plant or aerial portion of Sarcandra glabra (Thunb.) Nakai (Chloranthaceae), an evergreen subshrub native to subtropical China, Taiwan, southern Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia. The plant grows 50–120 cm tall with conspicuously swollen jointed nodes, opposite glossy lanceolate to elliptic serrate leaves, and small greenish-white flowers in terminal spikes, followed by small bright red berries. The whole flowering plant is harvested in summer or autumn and dried. In TCM, Jiu Jie Cha is classified as bitter, pungent, and neutral (some sources slightly warm), entering the Liver and Heart channels, and is used to clear heat, detoxify, dispel wind-damp, invigorate blood, and reduce swelling for traumatic injury, fractures, rheumatic pain, pneumonia, appendicitis, and cancer-supportive care.
Active Constituents
Chloranthalactone (and lindenane sesquiterpenes)
Lindenane-type sesquiterpene lactoneConcentration: Characteristic sesquiterpene class; sesquiterpenes are the most abundant constituents
Signature lindenane sesquiterpenoids of the herb with reported anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antitumour activity.
Shizukaol (dimeric sesquiterpenoids)
Dimeric lindenane sesquiterpenoidConcentration: Characteristic dimeric sesquiterpenes
Dimeric sesquiterpenoids characteristic of the genus, studied for anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic/antitumour activity.
Sarcandrolide / sarcandralactone
Sesquiterpene lactoneConcentration: Characteristic constituent
Sesquiterpene lactones contributing to the herb's antitumour and anti-inflammatory profile.
Isofraxidin
CoumarinConcentration: Quality-control marker coumarin
A marker coumarin with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity used in standardisation of the herb.
Astilbin
Dihydroflavonol glycosideConcentration: Major flavonoid (over 40 flavonoids reported)
Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory flavanonol glycoside.
Fumaric acid and succinic acid
Organic acidsConcentration: Notable organic-acid fraction
Organic acids linked to the herb's antibacterial action and its clinical use in raising platelet counts (anti-thrombocytopenia).
Rosmarinic acid / caffeoylquinic acids
Phenolic acidsConcentration: Notable phenolic fraction
Phenolic acids providing antioxidant and antiviral/anti-inflammatory activity.
Quercetin and kaempferol glycosides
Flavonol glycosidesConcentration: Common flavonoids
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory flavonols contributing to overall activity.
⚠ Drug Interactions
Anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs (warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel)
Sarcandra glabra promotes platelet production and is used clinically for thrombocytopenia; in theory this platelet-raising effect could partially oppose antiplatelet/anticoagulant therapy. No human interaction reports exist and reference sources document no established interactions.
Clinical note: Speculative; monitor platelet-related therapy if co-used. Major integrative-oncology references list no documented drug or CYP interactions for this herb.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
Preparation Methods
Decoction (Tang)
Parts: whole herb (aerial parts and root)
Typical adult dose 9-30 g of the dried whole herb decocted in water to clear heat, cool and invigorate the blood, and reduce swelling.
Tablet / injection (Zhongjiefeng preparations)
Parts: whole herb
Standardised Zhongjiefeng tablets and injections are used in China as adjuncts for chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-associated thrombocytopenia and as antibacterial/antiviral and antitumour support. Injectable forms should be used only under medical supervision.
External wash / poultice
Parts: fresh or dried whole herb
Decoction is applied externally, or the fresh herb pounded as a poultice, for bruises, sores, fractures and traumatic swelling.
Clinical Studies
Revealing the multi-target compounds of Sarcandra glabra: identification and inhibition of novel target genes for the treatment of pancreatic cancer
Used network pharmacology and experimental validation to identify multi-target antitumour compounds of Sarcandra glabra against pancreatic cancer, supporting its investigated antitumour activity. Human oncology efficacy remains unproven; clinical use to date is mainly adjunctive for chemotherapy/radiotherapy-associated thrombocytopenia.
Historical Texts
Sheng Cao Yao Xing Bei Yao (Essentials of the Nature of Fresh Medicinal Herbs)
Qing dynasty (18th century)Ben Cao Gang Mu Shi Yi (Supplement to the Compendium of Materia Medica), Zhao Xuemin
Qing dynasty (1765)References
- Cao P, Xie P, Wang X, et al.. The Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Sarcandra glabra (Thunb.) Nakai, a Chinese Herb With Potential for Development: Review . Frontiers in Pharmacology (2021) [DOI]
- Wu J, Zhou Y, Wang L, et al.. A comprehensive review on the chemical constituents, sesquiterpenoid biosynthesis and biological activities of Sarcandra glabra . Natural Products and Bioprospecting (2023) [DOI]
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.
📝 Notes
Public notes from the community and your own private notes on Jiu Jie Cha.
No notes yet.