Spike of Fineleaf Schizonepeta

Chinese
荆芥穗
Pinyin
Jing Jie Sui
Latin
Spica Schizonepetae

TCM Properties

Taste
acrid
Temperature
slightly warm
Channels
Lung, Liver

Traditional Use

Primary Actions

  • Expels wind and releases exterior — preferred over the whole herb for its stronger aromatic dispersing action in wind-heat patterns; treats headache, fever, and nasal congestion
  • Vents skin rashes and relieves itching — primary application for measles with incomplete eruption, urticaria, and wind-heat skin conditions; promotes rash to surface to shorten illness
  • Stops bleeding when charred (Jing Jie Sui Tan 荆芥穗炭) — hemostatic for uterine bleeding, menorrhagia, and postpartum hemorrhage

Secondary Actions

  • Treats early-stage sores and carbuncles before pus formation — disperses wind-heat accumulation in the exterior
  • Relieves wind-heat eye conditions — conjunctivitis, photophobia, and excessive lacrimation from external wind
  • In combination with other exterior-releasing herbs, addresses throat pain and swelling from wind-heat

Classic Formulas

  • Xiao Feng San (消风散) — principal herb for wind-heat skin disease with itching, urticaria, and eczema; combined with Fang Feng and Ku Shen
  • Jing Fang Bai Du San (荆防败毒散) — broad exterior-releasing formula; Jing Jie Sui used for its concentrated volatile oil and stronger dispersing action than the whole plant
  • Huai Hua San (槐花散) — charred Jing Jie Sui (tan form) combined with Huai Hua for intestinal and uterine bleeding from heat

Classical References

  • Bencao Gangmu (本草纲目, Li Shizhen, 1578) — Jing Jie Sui distinguished from the whole herb: flower spikes contain highest concentration of volatile oils; charred form specifically for hemostasis
  • Yi Xue Zhong Zhong Can Xi Lu (医学衷中参西录, Zhang Xichun, 1909) — charred Jing Jie Sui recommended for postpartum hemorrhage when other hemostatics are insufficient

Modern Research

Active Compounds

  • Pulegone (primary volatile oil component, 25–55%)
  • Menthone
  • Isomenthol
  • Limonene
  • Hesperidin
  • Luteolin-7-O-glucoside
  • Rosmarinic acid
  • Caffeic acid derivatives
  • Apigenin

Studied Effects

  • Anti-inflammatory — volatile oil fraction inhibits NF-κB pathway and suppresses COX-2 and iNOS expression; hesperidin inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation
  • Antipyretic and diaphoretic — pulegone and menthone stimulate sweat secretion and reduce febrile response in animal models; confirms classical exterior-releasing action
  • Hemostatic (charred form) — carbonization increases tannin content and astringent surface area; significantly shortens bleeding and clotting time in mice models (PMID 24847832)
  • Antibacterial — volatile oil shows broad inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus, and dermatophytes; supports use for skin wind-heat conditions
  • Antihistaminic — flavonoid fraction reduces mast cell degranulation and histamine release; mechanism for anti-pruritic effect in urticaria

PubMed References

Safety & Interactions

Contraindications

  • Spontaneous or excessive perspiration from exterior deficiency — aromatic dispersing action will further deplete wei qi and worsen sweating
  • Internal fire or yin-deficiency heat without exterior pathogen — acrid warm nature is not appropriate for endogenous heat patterns

Cautions

  • The charred form (Jing Jie Sui Tan) is a distinct preparation with opposite action — hemostatic rather than dispersing; do not substitute one for the other
  • High-dose volatile oil may cause nausea, dizziness, or GI upset; standard decoction dose 3–9 g is safe
  • Short decoction time recommended (add near end) — volatile oils evaporate with prolonged boiling, reducing efficacy

Conditions