Jin Qian Cao (金钱草) — Christina Loosestrife / Gold Coin Grass
Jin Qian Cao is the primary Chinese herb for kidney stones and gallstones. Widely used in modern Chinese hospitals as an adjunct in extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy, it dissolves stones and promotes their expulsion by promoting urination and bile flow.
On this page
- Overview
- Properties
- Actions and indications
- Dosage
- Cautions and incompatibilities
- Key formulas
- Treatment at my clinic
1. Overview
Jin Qian Cao (金钱草) — Christina Loosestrife / Gold Coin Grass (Lysimachia christinae) — is a Chinese herb in the Drain Dampness category. I prescribe it as part of bespoke pharmaceutical-grade granule formulas from Sun Ten in Taiwan at my clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire and via online herbal consultations.
2. Properties
| Pinyin name | Jin Qian Cao |
|---|---|
| Chinese characters | 金钱草 |
| Latin name | Lysimachia christinae |
| English name | Christina Loosestrife / Gold Coin Grass |
| Nature | Neutral |
| Flavour | Sweet, salty |
| Channels entered | Liver, Gallbladder, Kidney, Bladder |
| Category | Drain Dampness |
3. Actions and indications
Principal actions
- Promotes urination and dissolves stones
- Clears Damp-Heat
- Promotes bile flow and clears jaundice
Indications
- Urinary calculi (kidney stones)
- Gallstones and cholelithiasis
- Cholecystitis with Damp-Heat
- Skin toxicity and snake bite (external use)
4. Dosage
15–60g
5. Cautions and incompatibilities
- Not a substitute for surgical management of large stones
- Consult a stone specialist in acute renal colic
- Reduce dose in Yin deficient elderly
6. Key formulas
Jin Qian Cao is used in a range of bespoke prescriptions rather than a fixed classical formula in modern practice. Consult a qualified TCM herbalist for individual prescription.
7. Treatment at my clinic
I prescribe Jin Qian Cao where its indications and TCM pattern match the patient’s presentation, always as part of a tailored formula. Return to the Chinese herbs directory or the Chinese herbal medicine main page.
