English: Japanese catnip

Chinese: 荆芥

Parts used: Aerial portion and flowers, or the spikes only (in which case it is called Jing Jie Sui)

TCM category: Warm/Acrid herbs that release the Exterior

TCM nature: Neutral

TCM taste(s): Pungent

Organ affinity: Liver Lung

Scientific name: Schizonepeta tenuifolia

Other names: Fineleaf schizonepeta, Jing Jie Sui,

Use of Jing Jie (japanese catnip) in TCM

Please note that you should never self-prescribe TCM ingredients. A TCM ingredient is almost never eaten on its own but as part of a formula containing several ingredients that act together. Please consult a professional TCM practitioner, they will be best able to guide you.

Preparation: Remove impurities, wash and moisten thoroughly, bake at 50°C for 1 hour, cut into sections, and dry. This herb can also be carbonized, in which case it is called Jing Jie Tan.

Dosage: 3 - 9 grams

Main actions according to TCM*: Relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold or Heat depending on the other herbs used. Releases the Exterior for measles. Stops bleeding. Abates swellings.

Primary conditions or symptoms for which Jing Jie may be prescribed by TCM doctors*: Blood in stools Abnormal uterine bleeding Abcesses Swellings Rashes Measles Rubella Sores Ulcers Metrorrhagia Metrostaxis Postpartum anemia

Contraindications*: This herb should not be taken by those with spontaneous sweating or with Liver signs such as headache, especially when there is a Deficiency. It should not be used for skin diseases that have become full blown.

Common TCM formulas in which Jing Jie is used*

Jing Fang Bai Du San

Source date: 1550 AD

Number of ingredients: 13 herbs

Formula key actions: Releases the Exterior. Dispels Wind and Dampness. Augments Qi.

Conditions targeted*: Common coldInfluenza and others

Jing Jie is a king ingredient in Jing Fang Bai Du San. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.

In Jing Fang Bai Du San, Jing Jie relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold. It is especially effective in pronounced Cold invasion patterns. 

Read more about Jing Fang Bai Du San

Jia Wei Xiang Su San

Source date: 1732 AD

Number of ingredients: 10 herbs

Formula key actions: Promote sweating . Releases the Exterior .

Conditions targeted*: Common coldInfluenza and others

Jing Jie is a king ingredient in Jia Wei Xiang Su San. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.

In Jia Wei Xiang Su San, Jing Jie promotes the Qi circulation in the Exterior, opens up the skin pores, and dispel Wind-Cold

Read more about Jia Wei Xiang Su San

Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang

Source date: 1773 AD

Number of ingredients: 12 herbs

Formula key actions: Dispels Wind. Clears toxic-Heat. Disperses Stagnation.

Conditions targeted*: RhinitisTonsillitis and others

Jing Jie is a king ingredient in Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.

In Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang, Jing Jie releases pathogens from the Exterior and dispel Wind.

Read more about Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang

Xiao Feng San

Source date: 1617 AD

Number of ingredients: 13 herbs

Formula key actions: Disperses Wind. Eliminates Dampness. Clears Heat. Cools the Blood.

Conditions targeted*: UrticariaEczema and others

Jing Jie is a king ingredient in Xiao Feng San. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.

In Xiao Feng San, Jing Jie unblock the interstices and pores and disperse external Wind.

Read more about Xiao Feng San

Shi Wei Bai Du San

Source date: 1760-1835 AD

Number of ingredients: 10 herbs

Formula key actions: Dispels Wind and transforms Dampness. Clears Toxic Heat .

Conditions targeted*: AcneBoils and others

Jing Jie is a king ingredient in Shi Wei Bai Du San. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.

In Shi Wei Bai Du San, Jing Jie resolves the Exterior and dissipate the accumulation of Toxic-Heat in the Exterior of the body. 

Read more about Shi Wei Bai Du San

Qing Xin Li Ge Tang

Source date: 1602 AD

Number of ingredients: 13 herbs

Formula key actions: Clears Toxic-Heat. Unblocks the stool. Benefits the throat .

Conditions targeted*: TonsillitisPeritonsillar abscess and others

Jing Jie is a king ingredient in Qing Xin Li Ge Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.

In Qing Xin Li Ge Tang, Jing Jie is acrid and cool. It disperses clumped Heat and clear pathogenic Heat. 

Read more about Qing Xin Li Ge Tang

Dang Gui Yin Zi

Source date: 1253 AD

Number of ingredients: 10 herbs

Formula key actions: Nourishes the Blood. Moistens Dryness. Clears Heat. Dispels Wind. Relieves itching .

Conditions targeted*: UrticariaEczema and others

Jing Jie is a king ingredient in Dang Gui Yin Zi. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.

In Dang Gui Yin Zi, Jing Jie unblocks the interstices and pores as well as disperses external Wind. It also vents rashes and relieves itching.

Read more about Dang Gui Yin Zi

Jin Fei Cao San

Source date: 1107 AD

Number of ingredients: 9 herbs

Formula key actions: Disperses Wind-Cold. Descends Lung Qi. Transform Phlegm . Stop cough and calms wheezing .

Conditions targeted*: Common coldInfluenza and others

Jing Jie is a deputy ingredient in Jin Fei Cao San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.

In Jin Fei Cao San, Jing Jie helps the key herbs to release the Wind-Cold Evil from the Exterior

Read more about Jin Fei Cao San

Fang Feng Tong Sheng San

Source date: 1172 AD

Number of ingredients: 17 herbs

Formula key actions: Disperses Wind. Releases the Exterior. Drains Heat. Unblocks the bowels.

Conditions targeted*: Common coldHypertension and others

Jing Jie is a deputy ingredient in Fang Feng Tong Sheng San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.

In Fang Feng Tong Sheng San, Jing Jie assists Saposhnikovia root and Ephedra in releasing the Exterior

Read more about Fang Feng Tong Sheng San

Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San

Source date: 1107

Number of ingredients: 9 herbs

Formula key actions: Disperses Wind. Removes pain .

Conditions targeted*: Upper respiratory tract infectionsMigraine headache and others

Jing Jie is a deputy ingredient in Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.

In Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San, Jing Jie disperses Wind from both the Exterior and the Channels.

Read more about Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San

Wan Dai Tang

Source date: 1826 AD

Number of ingredients: 10 herbs

Formula key actions: Tonifies the Middle Burner. Removes Dampness. Stops vaginal discharge. Strengthens the Spleen.

Conditions targeted*: PreeclampsiaOtitis media and others

Jing Jie is an assistant ingredient in Wan Dai Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.

In Wan Dai Tang, Jing Jie smooths Qi and Blood interaction and thereby harmonize the Liver and the Spleen

Read more about Wan Dai Tang

Yin Qiao San

Source date: 1798 AD

Number of ingredients: 10 herbs

Formula key actions: Disperses Wind Heat. Clears Heat. Resolves Toxicity.

Conditions targeted*: Common coldInfluenza and others

Jing Jie is an assistant ingredient in Yin Qiao San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.

In Yin Qiao San, Jing Jie is warm and acrid. It encourages Exterior releasing without causing Dryness

Read more about Yin Qiao San

Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang

Source date: 1613 AD

Number of ingredients: 11 herbs

Formula key actions: Releases the Exterior. Vents rashes. Clears. Generates Body Fluids.

Conditions targeted*: MeaslesChickenpox and others

Jing Jie is an assistant ingredient in Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.

In Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang, Jing Jie releases the Exterior, disperse Fire from Stagnation, and facilitates the venting of toxins.

Read more about Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang

Zhi Sou San

Source date: 1732 AD

Number of ingredients: 7 herbs

Formula key actions: Transforms Phlegm and stops coughing. Disperses the Exterior. Spreads the Lung Qi.

Conditions targeted*: Upper respiratory tract infectionsAcute bronchitis and others

Jing Jie is an assistant ingredient in Zhi Sou San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.

In Zhi Sou San, Jing Jie gives the formula a slight, Exterior-releasing (sweating) action that helps eliminate the lingering pathogenic influence.

Read more about Zhi Sou San

Key TCM concepts behind Jing Jie's properties

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Jing Jie belongs to the 'Warm/Acrid herbs that release the Exterior' category. Herbs that release the Exterior aim to to treat the early stages of diseases that affect the upper respiratory tract, the eyes, the ears, the nose, the throat or the skin. TCM believes that External diseases such as colds or allergies can only invade the body if the External environment overwhelms our Wei Qi (the TCM version of the immune system). In order to counteract this invasion Warm/Acrid herbs aim to induce sweating by increasing the flow of sweat to our capillary pores. The belief is that this will expel the disease from the body and stop it from invading further.

As suggested by its category Jing Jie is Neutral in nature. This means that Jing Jie typically doesn't affect the balance in your body. Balance between Yin and Yang is a key health concept in TCM. Eating too many "Hot" (Yang) ingredients can lead to an imbalance whereby one has a Yang Excess. The inverse is true as well: too many "Cold" (Yin) ingredients can lead to a Yin Excess. The Neutral nature of Jing Jie means that you don't have to worry about that!

Jing Jie also tastes Pungent. The so-called 'Five Phases' theory in Chinese Medicine states that the taste of TCM ingredients is a key determinant of their action in the body. Pungent ingredients like Jing Jie tends to promote the circulations of Qi and Body Fluids. That's why for instance someone tends to sweat a lot when they eat spicy/pungent food.

The tastes of ingredients in TCM also determine what Organs and Meridians they target. As such Jing Jie is thought to target the Liver and the Lung. In TCM the Liver is often referred as the body's "general" because it is in charge of regulating the movements of Qi and the Body Fluids. It also takes a leading role in balancing our emotions. In addition to performing respiration, the Lungs are thought in TCM to be a key part of the production chain for Qi and the Body Fluids that nourish the body.

Research on Jing Jie

Shufeng Liangxue Decoction (consisting of schizonepeta spikes) is effective and safe in treating hormone dependence dermatitis, with the efficacy better and relapse rate lower than those of treatment with Western medicine alone.1

Sources:

1. Bai YS, Zhou CY, Wang JQ. (2008). Clinical observation on auxiliary treatment of hormone dependence dermatitis by shufeng liangxue decoction. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. , 28(12):1121-3.