Tu Yin Chen
StarOriganum vulgare L.
Synonyms: Thymus origanum (L.) Kuntze, Origanum vulgare subsp. vulgare, Origanum normale D.Don
☯ TCM Properties
Induces diaphoresis , eliminates Dampness; Regulates Qi
Traditional Chinese Uses
Written to the scientific name Origanum vulgare (oregano), known in Chinese medicine as Niu Zhi, this is an aromatic herb classed among the Dampness-transforming medicinals. Pungent and cool, it releases the Exterior and induces mild sweating, transforms and eliminates Dampness, regulates Qi and clears summer-heat. It is used for summer-damp colds with fever, headache, chest oppression and poor appetite, for damp-heat patterns, and—reflecting the name “Tu Yin Chen” (local Yin Chen)—as a regional substitute for Yin Chen (Artemisia capillaris) in damp-heat jaundice. It is usually decocted at 3–9 g or taken as a medicinal tea.
“Tu Yin Chen” is a regional folk name applied to several unrelated substitute plants, so the botanical source should be verified before use.
Botanical Description
Tu Yin Chen is the aerial part of Origanum vulgare (Lamiaceae), oregano or wild marjoram, an aromatic perennial herb 30 to 80 centimetres tall. The erect, four-angled stems are often purplish and softly hairy, branching in the upper part. The opposite, short-stalked leaves are ovate, 1 to 4 centimetres long, entire or faintly toothed and dotted with translucent oil glands that release a warm, pungent aroma when crushed. Small two-lipped flowers, pale purple-pink to whitish, are crowded into dense, flat-topped corymbose panicles subtended by conspicuous purple-tinged bracts. The fruit comprises four tiny smooth nutlets. The whole flowering herb is collected in summer and dried for use.
Grows on sunny grassy slopes, thickets, roadsides and forest margins from lowlands to about 3600 m across temperate Eurasia, including much of China.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 9-15g | 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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