Natural Herb Library

Morning Glory Seed

Chinese
牵牛子
Pinyin
Qian Niu Zi
Latin
Semen Pharbitidis
Botanical illustration of Pharbitis Seed, Ipomoea nil and Ipomoea purpurea, showing mixed Qian Niu Zi seeds, capsules, and source-vine details.
Botanical plate by Kodi .

Known in TCM as Qian Niu Zi (牵牛子), this bitter and acrid, cold herb enters the Lung, Kidney, and Large Intestine. Traditionally, it drastically drives out water through stool and urine - a classic harsh expellant for edema, ascites, swollen face, and distension when water retention is severe and excess in nature, most often applied for edema, constipation, and wheezing. Modern research has identified Pharbitin among its active constituents.

Part used: Seed

Also Known As

Bai Chou Hei Chou

Latin: Semen Pharbitidis | Pinyin: Qian Niu Zi | Chinese: 牵牛子

TCM Properties

Taste
bitter, acrid
Temperature
cold
Channels
Lung, Kidney, Large Intestine

Traditional Use

Primary Actions

  • Drastically drives out water through stool and urine - a classic harsh expellant for edema, ascites, swollen face, and distension when water retention is severe and excess in nature.
  • Unblocks the bowels and disperses accumulation - used for severe constipation and abdominal fullness from replete stagnation rather than dryness from deficiency.
  • Drains phlegm and retained fluid downward - applied to wheezing, asthma, and cough when phlegm-fluid obstructs the chest and a strong descending approach is needed.
  • Kills and expels intestinal parasites - used for worm accumulation with abdominal pain, distension, or constipation.

Secondary Actions

  • Qian Niu Zi is the umbrella record for Semen Pharbitidis, while Bai Chou and Hei Chou are the white and black seed-form sibling names reflected elsewhere in the import.
  • Traditional practice values processed or fried forms to reduce harshness, but the herb remains forceful and only suits excess repletion patterns.

Classic Formulas

  • Mu Xiang Bing Lang Wan (木香槟榔丸) - a classic intestinal accumulation formula where Qian Niu Zi helps purge replete stagnation contributing to constipation and tenesmus.
  • Zhou Che Wan (舟车丸) - a drastic water-expelling formula for severe edema or ascites in stronger patients, with Qian Niu Zi opening the downward exit route.
  • Traditional combinations with Ting Li Zi, Sang Bai Pi, or Bing Lang - used when phlegm-fluid, edema, cough, parasites, and accumulation appear together.

Classical References

  • Traditional materia medica places Qian Niu Zi among the harsh downward-draining herbs, emphasizing edema, constipation, wheezing from retained fluid, and intestinal parasites.
  • The modern review confirms that Pharbitidis Semen is also known as Bai Chou or Hei Chou, so those sibling records are aliases or appearance variants rather than separate herb identities.
  • Older sources uniformly warn that it should be used in small doses, for short courses, and only in patients strong enough to tolerate a drastic expelling strategy.

Modern Research

Active Compounds

  • Pharbitin - a resin glycoside complex long regarded as central to the herb's purgative activity
  • Pharbitic acid - glycosidic acid fraction examined in mechanistic studies
  • Phar-genin - aglycone fraction associated with altered intestinal tone
  • Resin glycosides - the broader compound family most closely tied to the herb's harsh expelling effect
  • Phenylpropanoid and fatty-acid fractions - additional phytochemical groups described in the modern review

Studied Effects

  • A 2023 review summarized the herb's phytochemistry, laxative activity, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant findings, and toxicology while noting that its exact active and toxic substances are still incompletely defined (PMID 37178984).
  • Experimental work showed that pharbitin increased colon tonus via acetylcholine receptors while reducing ileal tension, which provides a mechanistic explanation for the herb's traditional bowel-opening action (PMID 35317794).
  • Fried morning glory seed retained laxative effect while showing less subchronic toxicity than the raw seed, supporting the traditional insistence on proper processing (PMID 31883474).
  • Long-term rat toxicology work linked morning glory seed exposure to metabolic shifts and renal injury signals, reinforcing why Qian Niu Zi remains a high-caution herb (PMID 20435118).

PubMed References

Safety & Interactions

Contraindications

  • Pregnancy
  • Frailty or major deficiency
  • Dehydration, chronic diarrhea, or fluid depletion
  • Patterns lacking clear excess accumulation or retained water

Cautions

  • Qian Niu Zi is mildly toxic but clinically high-risk because its downward purgative effect can be severe.
  • Misuse can cause marked diarrhea, abdominal pain, dehydration, and organ toxicity, especially with prolonged exposure.
  • Only properly processed medicinal material should be used, and fried forms are safer than raw but still not casual self-care herbs.

Conditions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Morning Glory Seed used for?

Morning Glory Seed is traditionally used to Drastically drives out water through stool and urine - a classic harsh expellant for edema, ascites, swollen face, and distension when water retention is severe and excess in nature., Unblocks the bowels and disperses accumulation - used for severe constipation and abdominal fullness from replete stagnation rather than dryness from deficiency., Drains phlegm and retained fluid downward - applied to wheezing, asthma, and cough when phlegm-fluid obstructs the chest and a strong descending approach is needed., Kills and expels intestinal parasites - used for worm accumulation with abdominal pain, distension, or constipation.. Research has investigated its effects on: A 2023 review summarized the herb's phytochemistry, laxative activity, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant findings, and toxicology while noting that its exact active and toxic substances are still incompletely defined (PMID 37178984).; Experimental work showed that pharbitin increased colon tonus via acetylcholine receptors while reducing ileal tension, which provides a mechanistic explanation for the herb's traditional bowel-opening action (PMID 35317794)..

What are other names for Morning Glory Seed?

Morning Glory Seed is also known as Bai Chou, Hei Chou. In TCM: 牵牛子 (Qian Niu Zi); Semen Pharbitidis.

Is Morning Glory Seed safe during pregnancy?

Morning Glory Seed is not recommended during pregnancy.

What are the contraindications for Morning Glory Seed?

Morning Glory Seed should not be used in: Pregnancy; Frailty or major deficiency; Dehydration, chronic diarrhea, or fluid depletion; Patterns lacking clear excess accumulation or retained water. Consult a qualified practitioner before use.