☯ TCM Properties
Clears Heat, removes Dampness, controls bleeding and removes toxicity
Traditional Chinese Uses
Ma Lin Zi is the ripe seed of Iris lactea var. chinensis (Iridaceae), a sweet, neutral medicinal that clears Heat, drains Dampness, cools the Blood to stop bleeding, and resolves toxicity. Entering the Spleen and Lung channels, it is used for Damp-Heat patterns such as jaundice and damp-heat diarrhea and dysentery, and for Heat-type bleeding—nosebleed, vomiting of blood, and uterine flooding (metrorrhagia). Its toxin-resolving action lends it to throat swelling and pain, mouth sores, and hot sores and boils, and it is a traditional adjunct for goitre. The usual dose is 3-9 g decocted, or powdered into pills. Being cool and draining, it is generally mild but is best avoided in Cold-from-Deficiency and in dry-heat conditions without Dampness.
Botanical Description
Iris lactea var. chinensis is a clump-forming rhizomatous perennial herb of the Iridaceae, native to grasslands, alkaline meadows, and forest margins across much of northern and northeastern China, Mongolia, and Korea. Tough, fibrous, persistent leaf-base sheaths surround the short, branching rhizome. The narrow, linear, slightly glaucous leaves are 20–50 cm long and 3–6 mm wide, forming dense tufts. In late spring and early summer, scapes shorter than or about equal to the leaves bear one to three pale lilac-blue to whitish flowers with darker veins on the falls. The fruit is a narrowly oblong capsule with a prominent beak, containing many flattened, dark brown to nearly black seeds with a small wing. The dried mature seeds are gathered in autumn and used medicinally.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
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.
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