Plantain (车前草)
Basics
- Latin name：Plantago asiatica
- Common names：Asian plantain, che qian cao
- Nature：Sweet, cold
- Part used：Whole herb
Uses
- Clears heat, promotes urination, unbinds lin (heat lin, painful scant urine)
- Drains bladder damp–heat (syndrome differentiation required)
Harvest & storage
Harvest aerial parts spring through autumn; wash and dry. Use modest fresh/dried doses for decoction tea; short-term only.
How to identify
Basal rosette leaves with wavy margins; spike inflorescence. Avoid prolonged high-dose solo diuresis.