Qin Jiao (秦艽) — Large-Leaf Gentian
Qin Jiao is a mainstay Chinese herb for Wind-Damp Bi (rheumatoid-type joint pain) with a Heat component. Uniquely, it is a moist rather than drying Wind-Damp herb, and is safe in Yin-deficient constitutions where other Bi-treating herbs would be too drying.
On this page
- Overview
- Properties
- Actions and indications
- Dosage
- Cautions and incompatibilities
- Key formulas
- Treatment at my clinic
1. Overview
Qin Jiao (秦艽) — Large-Leaf Gentian (Gentiana macrophylla) — is a Chinese herb in the Dispel Wind-Damp Bi 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 | Qin Jiao |
|---|---|
| Chinese characters | 秦艽 |
| Latin name | Gentiana macrophylla |
| English name | Large-Leaf Gentian |
| Nature | Cool |
| Flavour | Bitter, acrid |
| Channels entered | Stomach, Liver, Gallbladder |
| Category | Dispel Wind-Damp Bi |
3. Actions and indications
Principal actions
- Dispels Wind-Damp
- Relaxes sinews and frees the channels
- Clears Empty-Heat and steaming-bone
- Moistens the intestines and moves stool
Indications
- Rheumatoid-type Bi pain with Heat
- Post-stroke hemiplegia
- Steaming-bone tidal fever
- Constipation from Blood deficiency
4. Dosage
3–9g
5. Cautions and incompatibilities
- Reduce in Spleen-Cold constitutions
- Not for chronic damp diarrhoea
6. Key formulas
7. Treatment at my clinic
I prescribe Qin Jiao 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.
